2 Kings 19:18

And have cast their gods into the fire: for they [were] no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.

And have cast {H5414} their gods {H430} into the fire {H784}: for they were no gods {H430}, but the work {H4639} of men's {H120} hands {H3027}, wood {H6086} and stone {H68}: therefore they have destroyed {H6} them.

and have thrown their gods into the fire. For those were non-gods, merely the product of people's hands, wood and stone; this is why they could destroy them.

They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.

and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them.

Commentary

2 Kings 19:18 is part of King Hezekiah’s fervent prayer for deliverance from the mighty Assyrian army, led by King Sennacherib. This verse highlights the stark contrast between the powerless idols of other nations and the omnipotent God of Israel.

Context of 2 Kings 19:18

Following Sennacherib's arrogant taunts and threats against Jerusalem, and his claim that no god could deliver any nation from his hand (as detailed in 2 Kings 19:10-13), King Hezekiah lays the matter before the Lord. Hezekiah's prayer, beginning in 2 Kings 19:15, acknowledges God's sovereignty and then points out the Assyrians' destructive pattern: they have indeed destroyed other nations and their "gods." This verse explains why those gods were so easily destroyed.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Vanity of Idols: The core message is that the so-called "gods" of other nations were nothing more than "the work of men's hands, wood and stone." They possessed no inherent power, life, or divinity, making them utterly vulnerable and useless. This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, emphasizing the futility of idol worship.
  • Distinction of the True God: By contrasting these destroyed idols with the God of Israel, Hezekiah implicitly—and powerfully—asserts that the Lord is not like these man-made objects. He is the living, all-powerful Creator who cannot be cast into the fire or destroyed.
  • Human Folly in Creating Divinity: The verse underscores the absurdity of humans attempting to create or worship objects that are products of their own making. Such "gods" are dependent on their creators and are subject to destruction, unlike the eternal and uncreated God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "work of men's hands" (Hebrew: מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָדָם, ma'aseh yedei adam) is a recurring biblical idiom used to describe idols, emphasizing their manufactured, non-divine origin. This simple yet profound description immediately strips them of any perceived power or sacredness, reducing them to mere material objects. The specificity of "wood and stone" highlights their inert, lifeless nature, directly contrasting with the living God.

Practical Application

While we may not literally bow down to idols of "wood and stone" today, the principle of 2 Kings 19:18 remains highly relevant. Modern "gods" can be anything we place above the true God: wealth, career, social status, possessions, technology, or even our own abilities and achievements. This verse is a timeless reminder that:

  • True Security is in God Alone: Anything that is "the work of men's hands" or human endeavor is ultimately fragile and subject to decay or destruction. Our ultimate trust and hope should be placed in the uncreated, eternal God who alone can deliver.
  • Examine Your Own "Gods": It prompts us to reflect on what truly holds our allegiance and devotion. Are there things in our lives that we treat as indispensable, giving them the ultimate place that only God should occupy?
  • God's Uniqueness: The power and character of the Lord stand in stark contrast to anything finite or man-made. He is the only one worthy of our worship and trust, capable of delivering us from any "Sennacherib" in our lives. For more on God's unique power, see Isaiah 44:6.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 17:29

    Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

  • Jeremiah 10:3

    For the customs of the people [are] vain: for [one] cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

  • Jeremiah 10:9

    Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple [is] their clothing: they [are] all the work of cunning [men].

  • Isaiah 44:9

    ¶ They that make a graven image [are] all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they [are] their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

  • Isaiah 44:20

    He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, [Is there] not a lie in my right hand?

  • Isaiah 46:1

    ¶ Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages [were] heavy loaden; [they are] a burden to the weary [beast].

  • Isaiah 46:2

    They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
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