Isaiah 39 1

Isaiah 39:1 kjv

At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.

Isaiah 39:1 nkjv

At that time Merodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered.

Isaiah 39:1 niv

At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery.

Isaiah 39:1 esv

At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered.

Isaiah 39:1 nlt

Soon after this, Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift. He had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick and that he had recovered.

Isaiah 39 verses

Isaiah 39 1 Meaning

Isaiah 39:1 describes the arrival of an embassy from Merodach-Baladan, king of Babylon, to King Hezekiah of Judah. Ostensibly, the reason for this visit was to congratulate Hezekiah on his recovery from a near-fatal illness. However, the true significance lies beneath this polite facade: it represents a crucial moment of spiritual testing for Hezekiah, where an emerging geopolitical power makes overtures to Judah, ultimately setting the stage for the prophetic pronouncements of future Babylonian exile. It underscores the king's human vulnerability despite recent divine intervention and marks a turning point towards Judah's eventual downfall at the hands of this new power.

Isaiah 39 1 Context

Isaiah chapter 39 is a pivotal bridge between Hezekiah's miraculous healing (Isaiah 38) and the second major section of Isaiah, which begins to focus heavily on the Babylonian exile and the future return and redemption. Immediately prior to this verse, Hezekiah has been at death's door, prayed fervently, and received a divine promise of an additional fifteen years of life, marked by the sign of the sundial moving back ten steps. This incredible demonstration of God's power and faithfulness should have instilled profound humility and absolute trust in the Lord.

The historical setting places Judah caught between two great powers: the dominant Assyrian Empire, which had recently threatened Jerusalem (Isaiah 36-37), and the rising Babylonian power, which was still largely subservient to Assyria but was consistently rebelling. Merodach-Baladan was an active player in attempts to destabilize Assyria, seeking alliances with smaller kingdoms in the region. His embassy to Jerusalem, while seemingly an act of concern for Hezekiah's health, was primarily a political maneuver to assess Judah's military and economic strength and to explore the possibility of forming an anti-Assyrian coalition. Hezekiah, in turn, fails a test of faith by proudly displaying all his treasures, likely as a show of strength and readiness for such an alliance, instead of glorifying God for his healing and relying on divine protection. This lapse in judgment then precipitates the prophecy of Judah's future exile to Babylon.

Isaiah 39 1 Word analysis

• At that time (בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖יא, baʿēt hahhîʾ): This phrase directly links chapter 39 to the preceding events in chapter 38, implying a close temporal and thematic connection. It marks the immediate aftermath of Hezekiah's divine healing and the receipt of an extended lifespan. This timing suggests that the test presented by the Babylonian embassy arrived precisely when Hezekiah should have been most spiritually attuned and grateful, making his subsequent failure even more poignant.
• Merodach-Baladan (מְרֹדַ֣ךְ בַּלְאֲדָ֔ן, Merōdaḵ Balʾaḏān): This specific name identifies a significant historical figure, a Babylonian king who famously challenged Assyrian dominance, ruling Babylon twice (c. 722-710 BC and 703 BC). His name is derived from the chief Babylonian deity, Marduk, signifying a kingdom deeply steeped in pagan idolatry, a contrast to Yahweh's Judah. His specific identification emphasizes the foreign, emerging power that would become Judah's future oppressor, shifting focus from Assyria.
• king of Babylon (מֶֽלֶךְ בָּבֶ֛ל, meleḵ Bāvel): While Babylon was currently a subordinate state to Assyria, its ruler's title as "king" and its explicit mention here signals its rising geopolitical importance. This phrase highlights the source of the future exile, a critical detail for Isaiah's prophecies regarding Judah's destiny.
• sent letters (שָׁלַ֧ח סְפָרִ֛ים, šālaḥ sep̄ārîm): The act of sending diplomatic correspondence, standard practice among ancient kingdoms. These letters would have conveyed formal greetings and expressions of concern, but their true purpose was strategic—reconnaissance and alliance-building.
• and a present (וּמִנְחָ֖ה, ûminḥāh): A gift or tribute, a common feature of diplomatic exchanges. While ostensibly a sign of respect and well-wishing for a recovering king, such presents also served to curry favor and smooth the way for political discussions, further indicating the hidden agenda behind the embassy. It can be a temptation or a test.
• to Hezekiah (אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ, ʾel-Ḥizqîyyāhû): Hezekiah, king of Judah, who had just experienced a miraculous recovery. His reception of these emissaries and his subsequent actions (detailed in the next verses) become critical for the unfolding of divine prophecy concerning Judah.
• for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick and had recovered (וַיִּשְׁמַ֕ע כִּ֣י חָלָ֔ה וַיֶּחֱזָֽק, wayyišmaʿ kî ḥālāh wayyeḥezāq): This clause provides the ostensible, diplomatic reason for the visit. "Recovered" (ḥāzaq) implies gaining strength, not merely surviving. This plausible but likely feigned concern masks Merodach-Baladan's actual intentions of forming a strategic alliance against Assyria, exploiting Hezekiah's perceived vulnerability or strength after his recovery. This serves as the initial deception or pretext.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "At that time Merodach-Baladan, king of Babylon": This specific identification and timing mark a significant historical and prophetic shift. The narrative moves from God's personal intervention in Hezekiah's life to the entrance of a major player in international politics, Babylon, who will dominate the near future of Judah, thus connecting personal history to eschatological prophecy.
• "sent letters and a present to Hezekiah": This action represents a formal, diplomatic approach that belies a strategic agenda. It's a calculated move to engage Hezekiah, opening the door for future interactions that would have profound consequences. It subtly highlights how the world's systems interact with God's people.
• "for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick and had recovered": This seemingly innocuous reason functions as a pretense. It's an invitation to discern spiritual realities behind physical appearances and political niceties. The recovery should have been a reminder of God's power, but it inadvertently attracts worldly attention and subsequent temptation.

Isaiah 39 1 Bonus section

• The Merodach-Baladan episode is significant because it highlights a recurrent theme in biblical history: a moment of testing immediately following a season of great spiritual blessing or deliverance. Hezekiah, at the peak of divine favor, fails to maintain a humble spirit.
• This verse represents an ironic transition. Judah had just been miraculously delivered from Assyria by God's hand (Is 37). Now, the very nation that Isaiah reveals will deliver future judgment—Babylon—makes its first appearance on the scene through a seemingly innocent diplomatic gesture. This shows God's control over even geopolitical shifts.
• The absence of specific details regarding the gifts or the letters in Isaiah (unlike the more descriptive 2 Kings) allows the reader to focus on the political motive and Hezekiah's response as the main points. Isaiah's prophetic agenda dictates what details are included.
• Scholarly analyses often link this event to the strategic power plays of the Neo-Assyrian period, with Merodach-Baladan constantly forming coalitions to rebel against Sennacherib, illustrating that the events of Scripture are deeply embedded in real historical context.

Isaiah 39 1 Commentary

Isaiah 39:1 opens a critical, transitional chapter in Isaiah's prophecy, shifting the focus from the Assyrian threat to the emerging power of Babylon. The timing of Merodach-Baladan's embassy "at that time"—immediately after Hezekiah's miraculous healing and an extended life—is crucial. Hezekiah had just witnessed God's direct intervention in a dramatic way, including the sign of the sundial moving backward, a truly cosmic event. One would expect Hezekiah to be in a state of deep gratitude, humility, and absolute reliance on the Lord.

Instead, the arrival of Merodach-Baladan presents a spiritual test. While the stated purpose of the visit (congratulating Hezekiah on his recovery) appears benevolent, the true motive of the Babylonian king, a known foe of Assyria, was likely to gauge Judah's strength and to forge a strategic alliance against their common enemy. Hezekiah's subsequent actions, showing the Babylonian envoys his entire treasury and arsenal (detailed in 2 Kings 20 and implicitly here), reveals a failure in faith. Instead of giving glory to God for his recovery and Jerusalem's recent deliverance from Assyria, Hezekiah seems to rely on his earthly wealth and potentially a human alliance. This act of pride and misplaced trust in worldly power becomes the catalyst for Isaiah's solemn prophecy: Judah's treasures and descendants would one day be carried off to Babylon. The verse, therefore, sets the stage for demonstrating how human folly, even after divine grace, can invite divine judgment, yet within God's larger sovereign plan for His people.