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

Isaiah 39:3 captures a pivotal moment of confrontation between the prophet Isaiah and King Hezekiah. It records Isaiah's direct questions, challenging Hezekiah about the nature and origin of his foreign visitors, implying divine disapproval of Hezekiah's interaction. Hezekiah's partial and then complete disclosure of their origin—Babylon—sets the stage for the revelation of significant future judgment upon Judah. This verse underscores God's scrutiny of human alliances and the consequences of relying on earthly powers over divine trust.

Isaiah 39 3 Context

Chapter 39 immediately follows Isaiah 38, where King Hezekiah miraculously recovers from a terminal illness, with God extending his life by 15 years in response to his prayer. This divine intervention was a profound display of God's power and faithfulness. Directly after this, Merodach-Baladan, the king of Babylon, sends envoys to Hezekiah (Isa 39:1). Ostensibly, they come to congratulate Hezekiah on his recovery, but historically, Babylon was an emerging power actively seeking alliances against the dominant Assyrian empire. Hezekiah, flattered and perhaps with a mind to form a political alliance, unwisely showed these envoys all his royal treasures, weapons, and entire kingdom's resources (Isa 39:2). This display was an act of pride and a lapse in faith, as it showcased reliance on worldly might and wealth rather than acknowledging God as the sole provider and protector. Isaiah's appearance in verse 3 marks God's direct challenge to Hezekiah's actions, demonstrating that God had taken notice and that Hezekiah's conduct had serious implications.

Isaiah 39 3 Word analysis

• Then (וַיָּבֹא - way·yā·ḇō’): A common Hebrew connective particle indicating sequence, meaning "And he came" or "Then he came." It emphasizes the immediate succession of Isaiah's arrival after Hezekiah's ill-advised show-and-tell. This highlights the swiftness of divine response to human actions.
• Isaiah (יְשַׁעְיָהוּ - yə·ša‘·yā·hū): The prophet's name, meaning "The Lord is salvation" or "Yahweh saves." This name holds ironic weight as he comes to confront Hezekiah's move away from divine salvation towards human alliances, setting the stage for future judgment, not salvation. He embodies God's voice and authority.
• the prophet (הַנָּבִיא - han·nā·ḇî’): Explicitly designates his divinely appointed role. As God's mouthpiece, his questions carry ultimate authority and weight, signaling that this is not a casual inquiry but a divinely ordained one.
• came to King Hezekiah: This phrase underscores Isaiah's direct and official approach to the highest authority in Judah. The prophet stands before the king, not as an advisor of state policy, but as God's messenger.
• What did these men say: Isaiah's opening question is piercing and direct. It implies God's full awareness of the meeting but tests Hezekiah's integrity and transparency. The focus is on the message carried by the envoys, which goes beyond mere felicitations.
• and where did they come from to you?: This second question specifically probes the origin, revealing God's concern over foreign entanglements. It directly challenges Hezekiah to name the source of these potentially compromising political overtures, pushing him beyond a general, dismissive answer.
• And Hezekiah said: Marks the king's response, which begins evasively before finally naming the source.
• They came from a far country to me: Hezekiah's initial response. Emphasizing "far country" serves to downplay the significance or potential threat, making the visitors seem exotic and harmless, rather than revealing their specific political intent. It's a delaying tactic or an attempt to obscure the full truth.
• from Babylon: This final, reluctant admission by Hezekiah is the crucial point of the verse. Naming Babylon (מִבָּבֶל - mib·bā·ḇel) reveals the magnitude of Hezekiah's mistake. Babylon, a rising power, was destined to become the instrument of God's judgment and Judah's future exile, making Hezekiah's friendly reception and display of assets deeply ironic and tragic.

Isaiah 39 3 Bonus section

The account in Isaiah 39 finds a near-identical parallel in 2 Kings 20:12-19. This duplication underscores the gravity of Hezekiah's actions and the significance of Isaiah's prophecy regarding the Babylonian captivity. It serves as an additional testament to the authenticity and importance of the prophetic warning. Furthermore, the king of Babylon, Merodach-Baladan (or Berodach-Baladan in 2 Kgs), was historically a tenacious enemy of Assyria. His diplomatic mission was not purely for well-wishes but a strategic effort to find allies for a grand anti-Assyrian coalition. Hezekiah's eagerness to join such an alliance, by showing his military and economic strength, reflected a lack of trust in God, who had just delivered him from the Assyrians and healed him. This incident serves as a crucial turning point, foreshadowing the inevitable fall of Jerusalem, centuries before it occurred. The chapter serves as a stark lesson: even those who have experienced profound divine intervention are still prone to spiritual and political missteps that can lead to long-term negative consequences, particularly when they exchange divine trust for human-centric strategies and worldly alliances.

Isaiah 39 3 Commentary

Isaiah 39:3 encapsulates the profound tension between divine expectation and human failing. Immediately following God's miraculous extension of Hezekiah's life, the king quickly falls into pride and imprudence by revealing his kingdom's wealth to Babylonian envoys. Isaiah, acting as God's direct interrogator, uses two simple yet deeply incisive questions—"What did these men say, and where did they come from to you?"—to expose Hezekiah's poor judgment. The initial vagueness of Hezekiah's reply, mentioning only "a far country," suggests an attempt to obscure the true political implications of the visit. However, God, through His prophet, presses for the truth. Hezekiah's eventual, albeit perhaps reluctant, revelation of "Babylon" carries immense prophetic weight. It links Hezekiah's seemingly benign diplomatic interaction to the nation that would later execute God's judgment by exiling Judah. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God sees all interactions, judges human pride and reliance on worldly powers, and orchestrates the fulfillment of His sovereign plan even through human folly. It demonstrates that moments of spiritual high (Hezekiah's healing) do not insulate from temptations, and that faithful leadership requires consistent discernment and trust in God alone.