King James Version

What Does Isaiah 36:8 Mean?

Isaiah 36:8 in the King James Version says “Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if ... — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 36 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. pledges: or, hostages

Isaiah 36:8 · KJV


Context

6

Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.

7

But if thou say to me, We trust in the LORD our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?

8

Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. pledges: or, hostages

9

How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

10

And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Rabshakeh's mocking offer—"I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able to set riders upon them"—ridicules Judah's military weakness. This insult implies Judah lacks even basic cavalry forces. The offer is disingenuous psychological warfare meant to humiliate and demoralize. However, it inadvertently highlights a spiritual truth: God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). When His people are obviously inadequate, His power becomes undeniable.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Horses and chariots represented military superiority in ancient warfare. Judah's mountainous terrain limited cavalry use, but the taunt still stung.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God often allow us to be in positions where our weakness is obvious?
  2. What comfort comes from knowing God's power is displayed through our inadequacy?
  3. How should we respond to mockery of our apparent weakness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וְעַתָּה֙1 of 17
H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

הִתְעָ֣רֶב2 of 17

Now therefore give pledges

H6148

to braid, i.e., intermix; technically, to traffic (as if by barter); also or give to be security (as a kind of exchange)

נָ֔א3 of 17
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

אֶת4 of 17
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

אֲדֹנִ֖י5 of 17

I pray thee to my master

H113

sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)

הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ6 of 17

the king

H4428

a king

אַשּׁ֑וּר7 of 17

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

לָ֥תֶת8 of 17

and I will give

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לְךָ֙9 of 17
H0
אַלְפַּ֣יִם10 of 17

thee two thousand

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

סוּסִ֔ים11 of 17

horses

H5483

a horse (as leaping)

אִם12 of 17
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

תּוּכַ֕ל13 of 17

if thou be able

H3201

to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)

לָ֥תֶת14 of 17

and I will give

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לְךָ֖15 of 17
H0
רֹכְבִ֥ים16 of 17

riders

H7392

to ride (on an animal or in a vehicle); causatively, to place upon (for riding or generally), to despatch

עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃17 of 17
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications


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 36:8 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 36:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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