King James Version

What Does Isaiah 37:10 Mean?

Isaiah 37:10 in the King James Version says “Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jer... — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 37 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Isaiah 37:10 · KJV


Context

8

So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

9

And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

10

Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

11

Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?

12

Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Sennacherib's message "Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee" directly attacks the object of Hezekiah's faith. The claim that God is a deceiver inverts truth—the father of lies accuses God of his own character. The continued assertion that Jerusalem will be delivered to Assyria maintains psychological pressure. This intensified attack shows that often trials increase in severity right before deliverance. Satan understands his time is short and rages harder (Revelation 12:12).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This second message came as Sennacherib faced military pressure from Egypt, creating urgency to secure Jerusalem quickly before fighting on two fronts.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the enemy often intensify attacks right before God's deliverance arrives?
  2. What does it mean that Satan projects his own deceptive character onto God?
  3. How do we maintain faith when trials escalate rather than immediately improving?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
כֹּ֣ה1 of 21
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

לֵאמֹ֑ר2 of 21

Thus shall ye speak

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל3 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

חִזְקִיָּ֤הוּ4 of 21

to Hezekiah

H2396

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

מֶ֥לֶךְ5 of 21

king

H4428

a king

יְהוּדָה֙6 of 21

of Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

לֵאמֹ֑ר7 of 21

Thus shall ye speak

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אַל8 of 21
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

יַשִּׁאֲךָ֣9 of 21

deceive

H5377

to lead astray, i.e., (mentally) to delude, or (morally) to seduce

אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ10 of 21

Let not thy God

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

אֲשֶׁ֥ר11 of 21
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אַתָּ֛ה12 of 21
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

בּוֹטֵ֥חַ13 of 21

in whom thou trustest

H982

properly, to hie for refuge (but not so precipitately as h2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure

בּ֖וֹ14 of 21
H0
לֵאמֹ֑ר15 of 21

Thus shall ye speak

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לֹ֤א16 of 21
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תִנָּתֵן֙17 of 21

shall not be given

H5414

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

יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם18 of 21

Jerusalem

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

בְּיַ֖ד19 of 21

into 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

מֶ֥לֶךְ20 of 21

king

H4428

a king

אַשּֽׁוּר׃21 of 21

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 37:10 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 37:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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