Isaiah 39 2

Isaiah 39:2 kjv

And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

Isaiah 39:2 nkjv

And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures?the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory?all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.

Isaiah 39:2 niv

Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses?the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil?his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

Isaiah 39:2 esv

And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.

Isaiah 39:2 nlt

Hezekiah was delighted with the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses ? the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries! There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

Isaiah 39 verses

Isaiah 39 2 Meaning

Isaiah 39:2 depicts King Hezekiah of Judah's encounter with envoys from Merodach-Baladan, king of Babylon. Following his miraculous recovery from a terminal illness, Hezekiah received these messengers, who ostensibly came to congratulate him. However, driven by pride or a desire to form a political alliance, Hezekiah enthusiastically displayed all his royal and national treasures to them—every silver and gold possession, precious spices and oils, and his entire armory. The verse emphasizes his complete openness, stating that nothing in his vast domain was hidden from them, revealing a profound lack of spiritual discernment and an implicit trust in earthly riches and alliances rather than in the God who had just saved him.

Isaiah 39 2 Context

Isaiah 39:2 follows immediately after Hezekiah's miraculous healing from a terminal illness, where God added fifteen years to his life (Isa 38). As a sign of this covenant, the sun's shadow was supernaturally moved back ten steps. Merodach-Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent envoys to Hezekiah ostensibly to congratulate him on his recovery. Historically, this occurred around 701-700 BC. However, Merodach-Baladan was also known for his efforts to form alliances against Assyria, the dominant superpower of the era. Thus, his "gifts" and "congratulations" were likely a diplomatic reconnaissance mission, gauging Judah's wealth and military potential as a prospective ally. Hezekiah, instead of seizing this moment to glorify God for his healing and demonstrating reliance on Him, displayed his entire national treasure and arsenal. This act reveals a lapse in judgment and spiritual sensitivity, directly contravening God's established principle that Judah should not rely on foreign alliances but on Yahweh alone for protection. This incident sets the stage for Isaiah's prophetic judgment delivered in the following verses (Isa 39:3-7), foretelling the very Babylonian captivity that Hezekiah's descendants would suffer and the plunder of the treasures he proudly displayed.

Isaiah 39 2 Word analysis

• And Hezekiah (וַיִּשְׂמַח יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ - Vayyishmaḥ Yeḥizqiyahu): The name Hezekiah means "Yahweh strengthens." The conjunction "and" links this action directly to the previous events of healing and the divine sign. His actions here contrast with the meaning of his name, as he shows reliance on human strength/wealth.
• was pleased with them (וַיִּשְׂמַח בָּהֶם - Vayyishmaḥ bahem): Yishmaḥ (pleased/rejoiced) here can suggest an excessive, perhaps self-congratulatory joy, more than a simple welcome. It implies a sense of satisfaction or approval from human praise rather than divine favor. This pleasure leads to his showing off.
• and showed them (וַיַּרְאֵם - Vayar'em): From the root ra'ah (to see), in the Hiphil causative form, meaning "he caused them to see" or "he showed them." This was an active, intentional disclosure, not accidental. It speaks of a deliberate act of revelation.
• the house of his treasures (בֵּית נְכֹתֹה - beit nekhotōh): Literally "house of his deposits/stores." This refers to his treasury or storage facilities, where valuable goods were kept. It signifies accumulated wealth and resources, highlighting Judah's perceived strength.
• the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil (וְהַכֶּסֶף וְהַזָּהָב וְהַבְּשָׂמִים וְשֶׁמֶן הַטּוֹב): A comprehensive list of valuable goods: monetary wealth (silver, gold), luxury items (spices), and essential, often valuable, commodities (precious oil). This specific enumeration underscores the vastness and diversity of Hezekiah's displayed riches, showcasing every category of valuable assets.
• and all the house of his armor (וְכָל בֵּית כֵּלָיו - vechol beit keilav): More literally, "and all the house of his vessels/equipment," often referring to military apparatus or weapons (armor, spears, bows). This indicates a display of military readiness and strength, suggesting an attempt to impress Babylon with Judah's defensive capabilities.
• and all that was found in his treasuries (וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר נִמְצָא בְּאוֹצְרֹתָיו - vechol asher nimtza b'otz'rotav): "Treasuries" (אוֹצְרוֹתָיו otz'rotav) can refer more broadly to any storehouses. This phrase serves as a summation, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the display.
• there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not. (לֹא הָיָה דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר לֹא הֶרְאָם יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ בְּבֵיתוֹ וּבְכָל מֶמְשַׁלְתּוֹ): This is a double negative structure, strongly affirming that Hezekiah concealed absolutely nothing. It highlights his complete and unfiltered revelation of all his wealth and strength, demonstrating an astounding lack of prudence and trust in man over God.

• "Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them...": This phrase connects his internal gratification directly to his external action of disclosure. His "pleasure" may have been rooted in human admiration, which then led him to self-aggrandizement.
• "the house of his treasures, the silver, and the gold... and all the house of his armor...": The explicit cataloging of his wealth and military provisions signifies an attempt to present himself and Judah as a formidable power. This comprehensive inventory becomes a vulnerability.
• "nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not": This conclusive statement underscores the thoroughness of Hezekiah's prideful display. It signals a complete lack of discernment and an utter failure to understand the motives of his guests or the potential repercussions of revealing so much to a rising power. This oversharing demonstrates a complete lack of reliance on divine protection, preferring to impress with worldly assets.

Isaiah 39 2 Bonus section

The seemingly innocuous act of showing off one's wealth has profound implications throughout biblical narrative, consistently highlighting the danger of trusting in riches or human strength rather than God. This incident with Hezekiah provides a stark prophetic foreshadowing: what he displayed so proudly would ultimately be plundered by the very nation whose envoys he sought to impress. The detailed list of silver, gold, spices, and oil emphasizes the very things coveted by powerful empires, making Hezekiah's transparency a significant strategic blunder. It contrasts sharply with Abraham's refusal to take spoils from the King of Sodom (Gen 14:22-23) so that no one could say they made him rich, prioritizing God's glory above worldly gain. Hezekiah's act demonstrates a misprioritization: celebrating material prosperity and potential political leverage over the spiritual power and faithfulness of Yahweh, which had just been dramatically affirmed in his life. This vulnerability created by pride not only sealed the fate of Judah's wealth but also pointed to the eventual captivity of its people.

Isaiah 39 2 Commentary

Isaiah 39:2 vividly illustrates a critical moment of spiritual failure for King Hezekiah. Having just been miraculously healed and granted an extension of life by God, one would expect a demonstration of profound gratitude and unreserved trust in the Almighty. Instead, when emissaries from the rising power of Babylon arrived, Hezekiah's response was driven by pride and a reliance on earthly strength. He became "pleased with them," indulging in their flattery, and in doing so, he chose to impress man rather than glorify God.

His detailed disclosure of all his royal treasures and military assets was a calculated act to showcase Judah's power and potential as an ally against Assyria. However, it was a colossal strategic error, serving to tempt and inform a future adversary rather than deterring them. This complete unveiling of his "house of treasures" and "house of armor" demonstrated that his trust lay in material wealth and military might, not in the God who had recently performed miracles on his behalf. God had previously cautioned Judah against such foreign alliances and reliance on human strength. Hezekiah’s actions here directly contradicted this divine wisdom. This scene is a tragic testament to how easily a moment of blessing can be overshadowed by human pride and a drift from simple faith, leading to prophetic judgment. The entire event was, as 2 Chr 32:31 reveals, a divine test to expose the true contents of Hezekiah's heart.