King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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?
Complete Jewish Bible:
How then can you repulse even one of my master's lowest-ranked army officers? Yet you are relying on Egypt for chariots and riders!
Berean Standard Bible:
For how can you repel a single officer among the least of my master’s servants when you depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?
American Standard Version:
How then canst 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?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
How then wilt thou turn away{H7725} the face{H6440} of one{H259} captain{H6346} of the least{H6996} of my master's{H113} servants{H5650}, and put thy trust{H982} on Egypt{H4714} for chariots{H7393} and for horsemen{H6571}?
Cross-References (KJV):
Isaiah 10:8
- For he saith, [Are] not my princes altogether kings?
Isaiah 31:3
- Now the Egyptians [are] men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.
Jeremiah 42:14
- Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:
Jeremiah 42:18
- For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.
Deuteronomy 17:16
- But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
Isaiah 31:1
- ¶ Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because [they are] many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
Jeremiah 37:7
- Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Kings 18:24
2 Kings 18:24 is a verse set within the broader narrative of the Assyrian siege of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah. The speaker in this verse is the Rabshakeh, a high-ranking official in the Assyrian army, who is sent by the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, to demand the surrender of Jerusalem. The historical context is the late 8th century BCE, a period marked by Assyrian expansion and dominance over much of the Near East.
In this verse, the Rabshakeh is mocking Hezekiah's reliance on Egypt for military support against the Assyrian forces. He questions how Hezekiah could possibly think that Egypt, with its chariots and horsemen, could save Judah from the might of Assyria, which has already conquered many nations. The Rabshakeh's words reflect the theme of political power and military might, highlighting the Assyrian empire's confidence in its military superiority. He implies that Hezekiah's faith in Egypt is misplaced and that Judah's only hope is to surrender to Assyria.
The verse touches on themes of trust, power, and the folly of misplaced confidence. It also reflects the ancient Near Eastern geopolitical dynamics, where smaller kingdoms like Judah were often caught between great powers like Assyria and Egypt. Theologically, this verse sets the stage for a demonstration of faith and trust in God, as Hezekiah is challenged to rely on his own strategies versus trusting in the Lord for deliverance, which is a recurring theme throughout the Hebrew Bible. The events surrounding this verse ultimately lead to a narrative of divine intervention and the salvation of Jerusalem, contrasting human might with divine power.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7725
There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוּב
Transliteration: shûwb
Pronunciation: shoob
Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H259
There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶחָד
Transliteration: ʼechâd
Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, - Strong's Number: H6346
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּחָה
Transliteration: pechâh
Pronunciation: peh-khaw'
Description: of foreign origin; a prefect (of a city or small district); captain, deputy, governor. - Strong's Number: H6996
There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָטָן
Transliteration: qâṭân
Pronunciation: kaw-tawn'
Description: or קָטֹן; from קוּט; abbreviated, i.e. diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance); least, less(-er), little (one), small(-est, one, quantity, thing), young(-er, -est). - Strong's Number: H113
There are 337 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדוֹן
Transliteration: ʼâdôwn
Pronunciation: aw-done'
Description: or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'. - Strong's Number: H5650
There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶבֶד
Transliteration: ʻebed
Pronunciation: eh'-bed
Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. - Strong's Number: H982
There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּטַח
Transliteration: bâṭach
Pronunciation: baw-takh'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to hide for refuge (but not so precipitately as חָסָה); figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure; be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one, woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust. - Strong's Number: H4714
There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
Transliteration: Mitsrayim
Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim. - Strong's Number: H7393
There are 104 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֶכֶב
Transliteration: rekeb
Pronunciation: reh'-keb
Description: from רָכַב; a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the upper millstone; chariot, (upper) millstone, multitude (from the margin), wagon. - Strong's Number: H6571
There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּרָשׁ
Transliteration: pârâsh
Pronunciation: paw-rawsh'
Description: from פָּרָשׁ; (compare סוּס); a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for mounting ); also (by implication) a driver (in a chariot), i.e. (collectively) cavalry; horseman.