2 Kings 19:26

Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were [as] the grass of the field, and [as] the green herb, [as] the grass on the housetops, and [as corn] blasted before it be grown up.

Therefore their inhabitants {H3427} were of small {H7116} power {H3027}, they were dismayed {H2865} and confounded {H954}; they were as the grass {H6212} of the field {H7704}, and as the green {H3419} herb {H1877}, as the grass {H2682} on the housetops {H1406}, and as corn blasted {H7711} before {H6440} it be grown up {H7054}.

while their inhabitants, shorn of power, are disheartened and ashamed, weak as grass, frail as plants, like grass on the rooftops or grain scorched by the east wind.

Therefore their inhabitants, devoid of power, are dismayed and ashamed. They are like plants in the field, tender green shoots, grass on the rooftops, scorched before it is grown.

Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as grain blasted before it is grown up.

Commentary

2 Kings 19:26 is part of God's powerful message delivered through the prophet Isaiah to King Hezekiah, assuring him of Jerusalem's deliverance from the mighty Assyrian army led by King Sennacherib. This verse vividly describes the future humiliation and weakness of the Assyrian forces, contrasting their perceived strength with their actual insignificance in God's eyes.

Context

This verse comes directly after King Hezekiah's desperate prayer to the Lord concerning Sennacherib's arrogant threats against Jerusalem and the God of Israel (see 2 Kings 19:14-19). In response, God sends Isaiah with a message of comfort and a prophecy against Sennacherib. The preceding verses rebuke Sennacherib's pride and declare that his invasion was orchestrated by God, even if Sennacherib did not recognize it. Verse 26 then focuses on the inevitable downfall and impotence of the Assyrian invaders, painting a picture of their coming defeat and shame. This divine promise sets the stage for the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem, as seen in the subsequent destruction of the Assyrian army.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Control: The verse underscores that despite the Assyrian Empire's immense power, God is utterly sovereign. He sees their every move, knows their intentions, and can reduce their strength to nothing. This highlights the theme of God's ultimate rule over all nations and events.
  • Human Frailty and Transience: The Assyrian inhabitants, despite their military might, are depicted as being "of small power" and likened to "grass of the field" or "corn blasted before it be grown up." This imagery powerfully conveys human weakness and the temporary nature of earthly power when confronted by divine will. It echoes the biblical truth that all flesh is grass, and its glory fades like the flower of the field.
  • Divine Judgment and Humiliation: The terms "dismayed and confounded" suggest a sudden and complete reversal of fortune, leading to shame and confusion for the proud Assyrians. The "blasted corn" metaphor signifies a swift, destructive judgment that prevents them from achieving their full destructive potential against Jerusalem.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Small power": The original Hebrew for "small power" (qelel) implies being light, trifling, or insignificant. It starkly contrasts with the formidable reputation of the Assyrian army, emphasizing their true standing before God.
  • "Dismayed and confounded": These terms (Hebrew: bosh and chapher) speak of deep shame, humiliation, and utter demoralization. The mighty warriors would be left without courage or understanding, bewildered by their defeat.
  • "Grass of the field... grass on the housetops... corn blasted": These agricultural metaphors are highly evocative.
    • "Grass of the field" and "green herb" symbolize commonness and fragility.
    • "Grass on the housetops" refers to grass that sprouts quickly in shallow soil on flat roofs but quickly withers and dies due to lack of deep roots and water. This vividly illustrates rapid decay and futility.
    • "Corn blasted before it be grown up" depicts grain that is scorched or withered before it can mature, signifying a complete failure of potential and a swift, devastating judgment.

Practical Application

For believers today, 2 Kings 19:26 offers profound encouragement. It reminds us that no earthly threat, no matter how overwhelming or intimidating, is beyond God's control. When we face seemingly insurmountable challenges, whether personal struggles or global crises, we can take comfort in God's sovereignty. Just as He rendered the mighty Assyrian army powerless, He is able to defend His people and bring down those who oppose His will. This verse calls us to place our trust in God's protective hand, knowing that His power far surpasses any human strength or scheme. It's a powerful reminder that God's perspective on our adversaries is often very different from our own, seeing them as ultimately weak and transient.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • 1 Peter 1:24

    ¶ For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

  • Numbers 14:9

    Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they [are] bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD [is] with us: fear them not.

  • James 1:10

    But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

  • James 1:11

    For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

  • Psalms 102:11

    My days [are] like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

  • Jeremiah 51:30

    The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in [their] holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.

  • Psalms 92:7

    ¶ When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; [it is] that they shall be destroyed for ever:
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