King James Version

What Does Isaiah 36:18 Mean?

Isaiah 36:18 in the King James Version says “Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his l... — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 36 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

Isaiah 36:18 · KJV


Context

16

Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern; Make: or, Seek my favour by a present: Heb. Make with me a blessing

17

Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

18

Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

19

Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?

20

Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The warning "Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you" repeats the deception charge, while adding "The LORD will deliver us" as the supposedly false promise. Rabshakeh now explicitly attacks trust in YHWH, escalating from political to theological assault. The rhetorical question "Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land?" equates YHWH with impotent pagan deities. This blasphemy reveals the fundamental error—Rabshakeh cannot distinguish between the true God and false gods, judging YHWH by pagan standards.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Assyria had conquered numerous nations whose gods proved powerless. From pagan perspective, all deities were equally ineffective against Assyrian might.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the world judge God by worldly standards rather than recognizing His unique sovereignty?
  2. What is the fundamental error in comparing YHWH to created false gods?
  3. How do we maintain confidence in God's uniqueness when the world sees all religions as equivalent?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
פֶּן1 of 16
H6435

properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest

יַסִּ֨ית2 of 16

persuade

H5496

properly, to prick, i.e., (figuratively) stimulate; by implication, to seduce

אֶתְכֶ֤ם3 of 16
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙4 of 16

Beware lest Hezekiah

H2396

chizkijah, a king of judah, also the name of two other israelites

לֵאמֹ֔ר5 of 16

you saying

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֖ה6 of 16

The LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

הַהִצִּ֜ילוּ7 of 16

delivered

H5337

to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

הַהִצִּ֜ילוּ8 of 16

delivered

H5337

to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

אֱלֹהֵ֤י9 of 16

of the gods

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

הַגּוֹיִם֙10 of 16

of the nations

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

אִ֣ישׁ11 of 16

us Hath any

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

אֶת12 of 16
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אַרְצ֔וֹ13 of 16

his land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִיַּ֖ד14 of 16

out of the hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

מֶ֥לֶךְ15 of 16

of the king

H4428

a king

אַשּֽׁוּר׃16 of 16

of Assyria

H804

ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 36:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 36:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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