2 Kings 19:19

KJV

Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou [art] the LORD God, [even] thou only.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now therefore, O LORD {H3068} our God {H430}, I beseech thee, save {H3467} thou us out of his hand {H3027}, that all the kingdoms {H4467} of the earth {H776} may know {H3045} that thou art the LORD {H3068} God {H430}, even thou only.

Complete Jewish Bible

Now therefore, ADONAI our God, please save us from his power - so that all the kingdoms on earth will know that you are ADONAI, God - you only."

Berean Standard Bible

And now, O LORD our God, please save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”

American Standard Version

Now therefore, O Jehovah our God, save thou us, I beseech thee, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou Jehovah art God alone.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Kings 19:19 records King Hezekiah's fervent and theocentric prayer during the existential crisis of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. Faced with Sennacherib's overwhelming military might and, more critically, his blasphemous taunts against Yahweh, Hezekiah appeals to God not merely for Judah's physical deliverance, but for a divine intervention so profound and undeniable that it would compel all the kingdoms of the earth to recognize Yahweh as the one true, sovereign God, thereby vindicating His unique name and unparalleled power.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climactic petition within Hezekiah's impassioned prayer, a pivotal moment recounted in both [2 Kings 19](/2_kings/19 "2 Kings 19 - Hezekiah's Prayer and God's Deliverance") and [Isaiah 37](/isaiah/37 "Isaiah 37 - Hezekiah's Prayer and Assyria's Fall"). It directly follows the Assyrian King Sennacherib's audacious challenge to Jerusalem and, more significantly, his direct blasphemy against the God of Israel. Sennacherib's field commander, the Rabshakeh, had vociferously taunted the people of Judah, asserting that Yahweh was no more capable of saving them than the gods of the nations Assyria had already conquered (see [2 Kings 18:33-35](/2_kings/18-33-35 "2 Kings 18:33-35 - Rabshakeh's Taunts Against Jerusalem")). In response to this grave insult and imminent threat, Hezekiah demonstrated profound humility and faith: he tore his clothes, entered the temple, and sent messengers to the prophet Isaiah for divine counsel. Most critically, he spread Sennacherib's threatening letter before the Lord (as depicted in [2 Kings 19:14](/2_kings/19-14 "2 Kings 19:14 - Hezekiah Spreads the Letter Before the Lord")), symbolically laying the entire crisis—and the affront to God's honor—at the feet of the Almighty, setting the stage for this profound and purpose-driven petition.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The late 8th century BCE marked the zenith of the Neo-Assyrian Empire's brutal dominance. Under Sennacherib, Assyria had systematically conquered and devastated numerous nations across the Near East, employing ruthless military tactics and psychological warfare. By the time of this narrative, Assyria had already swept through Judah, capturing many fortified cities (as recorded in [2 Kings 18:13](/2_kings/18-13 "2 Kings 18:13 - Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah")), leaving Jerusalem as the last remaining stronghold. In this polytheistic ancient world, the military success or failure of a nation was often interpreted as a direct reflection of the power and efficacy of its national deity. Sennacherib's taunts were not merely a psychological tactic against Judah; they constituted a direct theological challenge and an assault on the reputation and power of Yahweh, implying He was just one more impotent deity among the many gods Assyria had already vanquished. Hezekiah's prayer, therefore, is a desperate plea for God to act in a way that would decisively refute this pagan worldview and uphold His unique supremacy.
* **Key Themes:** Hezekiah's prayer powerfully encapsulates several foundational themes central to the book of [2 Kings](/2_kings/1 "2 Kings - The History of the Divided Monarchy") and the broader Old Testament narrative. First, it highlights a **desperate plea for divine deliverance** in the face of overwhelming human impossibility. Hezekiah recognized that Judah's survival depended entirely on God's intervention, not on military might, political alliances, or strategic maneuvering. Second, the prayer profoundly underscores the theme of **God's glory as the ultimate motivation** for divine action. Hezekiah's primary concern was not merely Judah's preservation, but the vindication of God's name and reputation among all the kingdoms of the earth. He understood that Israel's fate was inextricably linked to God's honor, a principle consistently affirmed in God's subsequent response (e.g., [2 Kings 19:34](/2_kings/19-34 "2 Kings 19:34 - God's Promise to Defend Jerusalem")). Third, the prayer is a bold **assertion of monotheism** in a world saturated with polytheism. The phrase "thou only" is a direct challenge to the pagan deities of Assyria and other nations, declaring Yahweh's absolute uniqueness and sole claim to divinity. This echoes the foundational truth of Israel's covenant faith, as articulated in the [Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4](/deuteronomy/6-4 "Deuteronomy 6:4 - The Shema: The Lord is One"), and anticipates the powerful prophetic declarations of God's singularity found in passages like [Isaiah 45:5-6](/isaiah/45-5-6 "Isaiah 45:5-6 - God Declares His Uniqueness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the sacred, personal, covenant name of God, often rendered as "Yahweh." Derived from the Hebrew verb "to be" (H1961, _hayah_), it signifies the self-existent, eternal, and unchanging God who is always present and faithful to His promises. By invoking "LORD," Hezekiah appeals to God based on His covenant relationship with Israel and His inherent, eternal nature as the sovereign over all creation.
* **save (Hebrew, _yâshaʻ'_):** This primitive root means "to be open, wide or free," and by implication, "to be safe." Causatively, it means "to free or succor," encompassing concepts like deliverance, help, preservation, and bringing salvation. Hezekiah's plea for God to "save" them is a cry for comprehensive liberation from the Assyrian threat, acknowledging God as the ultimate source of safety and rescue, capable of achieving victory where human effort is futile.
* **know (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** This verb signifies a deep, experiential, and relational knowledge, far beyond mere intellectual apprehension. It implies a recognition born of observation of God's mighty acts, leading to acknowledgment, understanding, and even worship. Hezekiah prays that all the kingdoms of the earth would "know" Yahweh in a way that demonstrates His active power and unique identity, not just hear about Him, but truly perceive His unparalleled deity through His decisive intervention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand":** Hezekiah initiates his prayer with an urgent and logical appeal. "Now therefore" underscores the immediate and dire circumstances, directly linking the petition to Sennacherib's blasphemous challenge. "O LORD our God" is a profound, personal invocation, appealing to the covenant-keeping, self-existent Yahweh, who is also the supreme and all-powerful Elohim. "I beseech thee" conveys the king's humility, earnestness, and desperate reliance on divine mercy. The core request, "save thou us out of his hand," is a desperate cry for rescue from the overwhelming power and dominion of the Assyrian king, acknowledging Judah's utter helplessness and God's sole capacity for deliverance.
* **"that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou [art] the LORD God, [even] thou only":** This clause reveals the profound, God-centered motivation and ultimate purpose behind Hezekiah's prayer. The conjunction "that" introduces the desired outcome. The ultimate goal is not merely Judah's survival, but the universal recognition of Yahweh's unique and supreme deity by all nations. Hezekiah desires that God's intervention would serve as an undeniable, global testimony, demonstrating that Yahweh is the sole, true, and living God, in stark contrast to the impotent idols of other peoples. The emphatic repetition and positioning of "thou only" powerfully reinforces this declaration of absolute monotheism, asserting God's exclusive claim to divinity and unrivaled power.

#### Literary Devices
Hezekiah's prayer in [2 Kings 19:19](/2_kings/19-19 "2 Kings 19:19 - Hezekiah's Prayer for God's Glory") is rich with profound literary and theological elements. It is primarily a **Petition**, a direct and earnest appeal to God for intervention and salvation. The structure of the prayer moves from a desperate plea for personal and national deliverance to a profound **Theocentricity**, where the ultimate purpose of the requested deliverance is God's glory and universal recognition. The phrase "thou only" functions as a powerful **Emphasis** through its repetition and strategic placement, underscoring the absolute singularity and uniqueness of God. Furthermore, the prayer implicitly employs **Contrast** by juxtaposing the true, living God of Israel with the false, impotent gods of the Assyrians, whose inability to save their worshippers was glaringly evident. The prayer also uses **Hyperbole** in "all the kingdoms of the earth," expressing a desire for a global, undeniable demonstration of God's power, reflecting the universal scope of God's sovereignty. This prayer stands as a masterful example of a leader's intercession rooted deeply in theological conviction and a passionate concern for God's honor.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hezekiah's prayer stands as a profound theological statement, demonstrating that true faith seeks God's glory above all else, even in moments of existential crisis. It reminds us that God's reputation is intrinsically linked to His people's experience and that He often acts not merely for our sake, but for the vindication of His own name among the nations. This prayer elevates the concept of divine intervention from a simple act of rescue to a cosmic declaration of God's unrivaled sovereignty. It teaches us that our petitions should align with God's ultimate purposes, transforming personal needs into opportunities for His universal renown. God's ultimate desire is to be known as the one true God, and Hezekiah's prayer taps into this divine agenda, making his plea not just about Judah's survival, but about God's eternal glory.

* [Psalm 115:1](/psalms/115-1 "Psalm 115:1 - Not to us, but to your Name")
* [Ezekiel 36:22-23](/ezekiel/36-22-23 "Ezekiel 36:22-23 - God's Holy Name Vindicated")
* [Daniel 4:34-35](/daniel/4-34-35 "Daniel 4:34-35 - Nebuchadnezzar's Praise to the Most High")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hezekiah's prayer offers a timeless and profoundly relevant model for believers facing overwhelming challenges in any era. In moments of personal despair, national crisis, or global uncertainty, when human solutions seem utterly futile, our first and most profound response should be to turn to God in humble yet confident prayer. Like Hezekiah, we are called to lay our burdens—our fears, our threats, our impossible situations—before the Lord, acknowledging our complete dependence on His power and sovereign will. Crucially, our prayers should transcend mere self-preservation, aspiring to the greater purpose of God's glory. When we pray that God would act in a way that makes His name known and exalted, we align our desires with His divine will, transforming our trials into platforms for His testimony. This perspective shifts our focus from our immediate predicament to the eternal truth of God's unrivaled power and unique deity, fostering a faith that trusts Him to demonstrate His supremacy to a watching world, ultimately deepening our worship and strengthening our resolve.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what current personal or communal crisis do you need to lay your burdens before the Lord, as Hezekiah did with Sennacherib's letter?**
* **How can you shift your prayer focus from merely seeking personal deliverance to desiring God's glory and reputation to be magnified through your circumstances?**
* **What does "that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou [art] the LORD God, [even] thou only" mean for your witness and evangelism today?**
* **How does Hezekiah's assertion of God's uniqueness ("thou only") challenge any idols, false securities, or competing allegiances in your own life?**

### FAQ
**What was the significance of Sennacherib's letter that Hezekiah spread before the Lord?**

Answer: Sennacherib's letter, as described in [2 Kings 19:14](/2_kings/19-14 "2 Kings 19:14 - Hezekiah Spreads the Letter Before the Lord"), was a direct and blasphemous challenge not only to Judah but, more significantly, to Yahweh Himself. It contained taunts comparing Yahweh to the defeated gods of other nations, asserting that He was powerless to save Jerusalem. By spreading the letter before the Lord in the temple, Hezekiah was performing a symbolic act of profound faith and utter reliance. It was an acknowledgment that the insult was primarily against God's honor and name, and therefore, God Himself must respond. This act demonstrated Hezekiah's complete trust in divine intervention, rather than human strategy or military might, to address the crisis and vindicate God's reputation.

**How did God respond to Hezekiah's prayer in 2 Kings 19:19?**

Answer: God responded swiftly and decisively to Hezekiah's prayer, primarily through the prophet Isaiah. In [2 Kings 19:20-34](/2_kings/19-20-34 "2 Kings 19:20-34 - Isaiah's Prophecy to Hezekiah"), Isaiah delivered a powerful message from the Lord, assuring Hezekiah that his prayer had been heard and that God would indeed defend Jerusalem. The prophecy specifically addressed Sennacherib's arrogance and promised his certain defeat and ignominious return. The divine intervention was dramatic and miraculous: in [2 Kings 19:35](/2_kings/19-35 "2 Kings 19:35 - The Angel of the LORD Strikes the Assyrian Army"), an angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night, decimating Sennacherib's army. Sennacherib was forced to retreat in shame to Nineveh and was later assassinated by his own sons in the temple of his god Nisroch, as foretold in [2 Kings 19:36-37](/2_kings/19-36-37 "2 Kings 19:36-37 - Sennacherib's Retreat and Death"). This miraculous deliverance unequivocally demonstrated God's unparalleled power and vindicated His name before all the kingdoms of the earth, precisely as Hezekiah had prayed.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hezekiah's prayer in [2 Kings 19:19](/2_kings/19-19 "2 Kings 19:19 - Hezekiah's Prayer for God's Glory"), with its passionate plea for God to save Judah so that His name might be known as "the LORD God, even thou only," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While God's miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrians was a powerful, historical demonstration of His sovereignty and unique deity, it was a temporary, localized salvation. The full, universal revelation of God's unique identity and saving power, to be known by "all the kingdoms of the earth," is realized through the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), accomplished the ultimate deliverance from the far greater enemies of sin, death, and the power of Satan, a salvation far exceeding any earthly siege. His atoning sacrifice and triumphant resurrection are the supreme acts through which God's glory and unique deity are unveiled, proving Him to be the [one true God and eternal life](/1_john/5-20 "1 John 5:20 - Jesus is the True God"). Through Christ, God's saving power is extended not just to a single nation, but to all who believe, fulfilling the prophetic vision that [every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father](/philippians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow to Jesus"). Thus, Hezekiah's prayer for God's name to be glorified through salvation is eternally and universally answered in the person of God the Son, Jesus Christ, who is the [radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of his nature](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ, the Radiance of God's Glory").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 83:18

That [men] may know that thou, whose name alone [is] JEHOVAH, [art] the most high over all the earth.

1 Kings 8:43

Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as [do] thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.

Psalms 67:1

¶ To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; [and] cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.

Psalms 67:2

That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

1 Kings 20:28

And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD [is] God of the hills, but he [is] not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

Exodus 9:15

For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.

Exodus 9:16

And in very deed for this [cause] have I raised thee up, for to shew [in] thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.