King James Version

What Does Isaiah 37:1 Mean?

Isaiah 37:1 in the King James Version says “And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 37 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.”

Isaiah 37:1 · KJV

Context

1

And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

2

And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

3

And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. blasphemy: or, provocation

Read Isaiah 37 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. This verse records Hezekiah's response to Assyria's blasphemous threats delivered by the Rabshakeh (36:4-20). The king's actions demonstrate exemplary godly leadership in crisis. "Rent his clothes" (vayiqra beyadav, וַיִּקְרַע בְּגָדָיו) was a traditional sign of grief, distress, or horror at blasphemy—appropriate given Rabshakeh's mockery of God.

"Covered himself with sackcloth" (vayekhas saq, וַיְכַס שָׂק) indicates deep mourning and humiliation before God. Sackcloth, coarse goat or camel hair cloth, was worn during times of repentance, mourning, or desperate prayer (Genesis 37:34; Joel 1:13; Jonah 3:5-8). Hezekiah's donning sackcloth showed he recognized the crisis transcended military strategy—this was fundamentally a spiritual battle requiring divine intervention.

Most significantly, he "went into the house of the LORD" (vayabo beit YHWH, וַיָּבֹא בֵּית־יְהוָה)—the Temple in Jerusalem. Rather than immediately convening war councils or sending ambassadors, Hezekiah's first response was worship and prayer. This models appropriate crisis management: acknowledge the severity (torn clothes), humble yourself (sackcloth), and seek God first (Temple). The narrative continues with Hezekiah spreading Rabshakeh's threatening letter before the LORD in prayer (37:14-20), demonstrating faith that God defends His own glory. God's dramatic deliverance follows (37:36), vindicating Hezekiah's faith. Christ similarly teaches prioritizing God's kingdom in every crisis (Matthew 6:33).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This event occurred in 701 BC during Assyria's invasion of Judah under Sennacherib. The Assyrian Prism (discovered in Nineveh, now in the British Museum) confirms Sennacherib's campaign: "As for Hezekiah the Judahite, who did not submit to my yoke, I besieged 46 of his fortified cities... I took out 200,150 people, young and old, male and female... Himself I shut up like a caged bird in Jerusalem." Assyrian reliefs depict the siege of Lachish, Judah's second-largest city.

Hezekiah had rebelled against Assyria (2 Kings 18:7) after paying tribute for years. When Sennacherib invaded, Hezekiah initially tried appeasement, stripping Temple and palace treasures to pay tribute (2 Kings 18:14-16). But Assyria demanded unconditional surrender and blasphemously mocked Yahweh, comparing Him to defeated gods of other nations. This pushed the crisis beyond political into spiritual realms—God's honor was at stake.

Hezekiah's resort to prayer contrasts with his father Ahaz, who faced a similar crisis but trusted Assyria rather than God (2 Kings 16:7-9; Isaiah 7:1-13). Hezekiah's faith bore fruit: God sent one angel who destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night (37:36). Sennacherib retreated and was later assassinated by his sons (37:38). This miraculous deliverance became a defining moment in Judah's history, demonstrating that God fights for those who trust Him (2 Chronicles 32:7-8).

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Hezekiah's immediate response to crisis teach about proper priorities when facing overwhelming challenges?
  2. How can believers today practice the principle of taking problems directly to God before pursuing human solutions?
  3. What role does humility (symbolized by sackcloth) play in effective prayer, especially in national or community crises?
  4. How does Hezekiah's faith contrast with his father Ahaz's reliance on political alliances, and what lessons apply today?
  5. In what ways does this historical deliverance foreshadow God's ultimate deliverance through Christ from sin and death?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
וַיְהִ֗י1 of 12
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

כִּשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙2 of 12

“heard”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ3 of 12

“And it came to pass when king”

H4428

a king

חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ4 of 12

“Hezekiah”

H2396

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

וַיִּקְרַ֖ע5 of 12

“it that he rent”

H7167

to rend, literally or figuratively (revile, paint the eyes, as if enlarging them)

אֶת6 of 12
H853

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

בְּגָדָ֑יו7 of 12

“his clothes”

H899

a covering, i.e., clothing

וַיִּתְכַּ֣ס8 of 12

“and covered”

H3680

properly, to plump, i.e., fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)

בַּשָּׂ֔ק9 of 12

“himself with sackcloth”

H8242

properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e., coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for grai

וַיָּבֹ֖א10 of 12

“and went”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

בֵּ֥ית11 of 12

“into the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יְהוָֽה׃12 of 12

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

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 37:1 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 37:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Kings 19:1-37Job 1:20-21Isaiah 36:22-37:382 Kings 22:11Ezra 9:5Jonah 3:5-6

Test Your Knowledge

Isaiah 37 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterIsaiah Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Isaiah 37 with CommentaryAll Isaiah ChaptersComplete Isaiah QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes