King James Version

What Does Isaiah 37:12 Mean?

Isaiah 37:12 in the King James Version says “Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the ch... — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 37 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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?

Isaiah 37:12 · KJV


Context

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?

13

Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?

14

And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The recitation of conquered peoples—"Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, Eden, Telassar"—aims to overwhelm hope through accumulated evidence. The question "Have the gods of the nations delivered them?" again equates YHWH with powerless idols. Sennacherib fundamentally misunderstands that false gods have no existence (1 Corinthians 8:4), while YHWH is the living God who acts in history. The litany of failures proves nothing about what the true God will do.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

These were real historical conquests. Gozan was in Upper Mesopotamia, Haran in northwest Mesopotamia, Rezeph in Syria. Eden (Beth-eden) and Telassar were Aramean territories.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does multiplying examples of difficulty sometimes overwhelm faith rather than building it?
  2. What is the fundamental difference between asking false gods for help versus the living God?
  3. How do we maintain hope when facing accumulated evidence of human defeat?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
הַהִצִּ֨ילוּ1 of 16

delivered

H5337

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

אוֹתָ֜ם2 of 16
H853

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

אֱלֹהֵ֤י3 of 16

Have 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

הַגּוֹיִם֙4 of 16

of the nations

H1471

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

אֲשֶׁ֣ר5 of 16
H834

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

הִשְׁחִ֣יתוּ6 of 16

have destroyed

H7843

to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)

אֲבוֹתַ֔י7 of 16

them which my fathers

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

אֶת8 of 16
H853

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

גּוֹזָ֖ן9 of 16

as Gozan

H1470

gozan, a province of assyria

וְאֶת10 of 16
H853

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

חָרָ֑ן11 of 16

and Haran

H2771

charan, the name of a man

וְרֶ֥צֶף12 of 16

and Rezeph

H7530

retseph, a place in assyrian

וּבְנֵי13 of 16

and the children

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

עֶ֖דֶן14 of 16

of Eden

H5729

eden, a place in mesopotamia

אֲשֶׁ֥ר15 of 16
H834

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

בִּתְלַשָּֽׂר׃16 of 16

which were in Telassar

H8515

telassar, a region of assyria


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 37:12 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 37:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Places in This Verse

Test Your Knowledge

Continue Your Study