Isaiah 39 3

Isaiah 39:3 kjv

Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.

Isaiah 39:3 nkjv

Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, "What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?" So Hezekiah said, "They came to me from a far country, from Babylon."

Isaiah 39:3 niv

Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, "What did those men say, and where did they come from?" "From a distant land," Hezekiah replied. "They came to me from Babylon."

Isaiah 39:3 esv

Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, "What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?" Hezekiah said, "They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon."

Isaiah 39:3 nlt

Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him, "What did those men want? Where were they from?" Hezekiah replied, "They came from the distant land of Babylon."

Isaiah 39 verses

Isaiah 39 3 Meaning

The verse signifies Isaiah's direct questioning of King Hezekiah concerning the messengers from Babylon and the information they revealed to him. It probes into the substance of the exchange, highlighting Hezekiah's pride in displaying his treasures to them, a revealing act.

Isaiah 39 3 Context

This verse is found within Isaiah chapter 39, which records an account of a diplomatic mission from Merodach-Baladan, the king of Babylon, to King Hezekiah of Judah. The Babylonians sought information about Hezekiah's recovery from a life-threatening illness, likely as much to assess Judah's political and military strength. Hezekiah, in his pride and perhaps forgetting God's recent deliverance, displayed all his royal treasures, armories, and riches to the Babylonian envoys. Isaiah the prophet, informed by the Spirit, confronts Hezekiah immediately after the envoys depart, rebuking him for this act of exposing Judah's wealth and potential strategic vulnerabilities to a future enemy. This incident sets the stage for the prophecies in the following chapters concerning the Babylonian exile. Historically, this event likely occurred around 701 BCE, preceding the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem led by Sennacherib.

Isaiah 39 3 Word Analysis

• וַיֹּאמַר (vayo'mar): "And Isaiah said." The conjunctive "vav" (ו) connects this statement to the preceding event, showing the immediate follow-up by the prophet. The verb "amar" (אָמַר) means "to say," indicating direct speech and pronouncement.
• אֵל ('el): "to." A simple preposition indicating the recipient of Isaiah's words.
• חִזְקִיָּהוּ (Chizkiyahu): "Hezekiah." The name itself means "Yahweh strengthens," a name of divine reassurance which contrasts with Hezekiah's worldly display.
• מַה (mah): "What." An interrogative pronoun initiating a question.
• אָמְרוּ (amru): "they said." Past tense verb, referring to what the Babylonian messengers had communicated to Hezekiah.
• הָאֲנָשִׁים (ha'anashim): "these men." The definite article "ha" (ה) specifies "the men," referring to the envoys from Babylon. The Hebrew word for "men" (אֲנָשִׁים - anashim) can also refer to people generally.
• הָאֵלֶּה (ha'elleh): "these." A demonstrative pronoun pointing to the specific group of men who were just with Hezekiah.
• מֵאַיִן (me'ayin): "from where." A combination of the preposition "me" (מֵ - from) and the interrogative pronoun "ayin" (אַיִן - where/what source). It asks about the origin of the messengers.
• וּמֵאֵיזֶה (u'me'ezeh): "and from which." The conjunction "u" (וּ - and) connects this with the previous inquiry. "Me'ezeh" (מֵאֵזֶה - from which) further questions the land or dominion they represent.
• בָּאתָ (ba'ta): "you came." The past tense verb "bo'" (בָּא - to come) in the second person masculine singular, directly addressing Hezekiah.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "What have these men said, and from where have they come to you?": This interrogative phrase from Isaiah is a probing inquiry, not seeking mere factual information but rather the content and origin of the communication, probing into Hezekiah's motives and the implications of his interaction with Babylon. It emphasizes the source and the message received.

Isaiah 39 3 Bonus Section

The historical context reveals that Babylon was rising as a significant power in Mesopotamia. Merodach-Baladan's mission was strategic; by inquiring about Hezekiah's well-being and showcasing his own diplomatic reach, he was also assessing Judah's alliance potential and vulnerabilities. Hezekiah’s premature disclosure of his kingdom's strengths was a breach of diplomatic wisdom and a display of vanity, essentially giving an enemy a roadmap of their wealth. This incident underscores the biblical principle that boasts of worldly possessions or status, especially when made known to those who might exploit them, are displeasing to God and can lead to judgment. It foreshadows Judah's future downfall and captivity in Babylon.

Isaiah 39 3 Commentary

Isaiah's question is pointed and rhetorical. It's not about the factual exchange but about what was seen and what was communicated, with the underlying concern being Hezekiah's display of Judah's assets to potential adversaries. The emphasis is on Hezekiah's failure to recognize the potential danger and his misplaced pride. The inquiry directly leads to God's judgment, highlighting the prophetic insight that sees beyond superficial pleasantries to the heart of the matter and its future consequences.