2 Kings 19:6

And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

And Isaiah {H3470} said {H559} unto them, Thus shall ye say {H559} to your master {H113}, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, Be not afraid {H3372} of {H6440} the words {H1697} which thou hast heard {H8085}, with which the servants {H5288} of the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804} have blasphemed {H1442} me.

he said to them, "Tell your master that this is what ADONAI says: 'Don't be afraid of the words you heard the servants of the king of Ashur use to insult me.

who replied, โ€œTell your master that this is what the LORD says: โ€˜Do not be afraid of the words you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith Jehovah, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Kings 19:6

In 2 Kings 19:6, the prophet Isaiah delivers a powerful message of divine assurance to King Hezekiah of Judah during a time of extreme crisis. This verse is a pivotal moment, shifting from human despair and military threat to God's direct intervention and comfort.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is set during the reign of King Hezekiah in Judah, approximately 701 BC. The kingdom faced an existential threat from the mighty Assyrian Empire, led by King Sennacherib. Assyria had already conquered many nations and cities, including most of Judah. Sennacherib's field commander, Rabshakeh, had delivered a message to Jerusalem, filled with taunts, psychological warfare, and blatant blasphemy against the God of Israel, claiming He was no different from the gods of other defeated nations (2 Kings 18:33-35). Overwhelmed and in distress, King Hezekiah sent his officials to the prophet Isaiah to seek the LORD's word. This verse is Isaiah's immediate, divinely inspired response, directly addressing the fear and the Assyrian's insolence.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Assurance and Comfort: The LORD's opening command, "Be not afraid," directly counters the fear and intimidation tactics of the Assyrians. It underscores God's ability to provide peace and stability even in the most terrifying circumstances. This resonates with similar divine injunctions found throughout scripture, such as Isaiah 41:10.
  • God's Sovereignty and Honor: The core of the message is that the Assyrians' words were not just an insult to Judah but a direct challenge and "blasphemy" against the LORD Himself. God takes personal offense when His name and power are reviled. This highlights God's ultimate authority over all earthly powers and His commitment to defend His own honor (Ezekiel 36:22).
  • Prophetic Authority: Isaiah acts as the direct mouthpiece of the LORD, delivering a message that is not his own opinion but a "Thus saith the LORD." This emphasizes the importance of seeking and heeding God's word through His chosen messengers.
  • The Power of God's Word: The words of the LORD delivered by Isaiah are potent and transformative. They dispel fear and lay the groundwork for God's miraculous intervention, as seen in the subsequent destruction of the Assyrian army.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "blasphemed" is gรขdaph (ื’ึธึผื“ึทืฃ), which means to revile, reproach, or speak contemptuously. It is a strong term indicating not merely insult but a deliberate act of treating something sacred with utter disdain and disrespect. In this context, it signifies the Assyrians' extreme insolence in equating the Most High God with the powerless idols of other nations, directly challenging His unique power and divine nature.

Practical Application

For believers today, 2 Kings 19:6 offers profound encouragement:

  • Trust God Amidst Threats: When facing overwhelming challenges, whether personal, financial, or societal, remember that God is greater than any opposing force. His word can dispel fear and bring peace.
  • God Defends His Own: If we are His people, attacks against us or the principles of His kingdom are ultimately attacks against Him. He will defend His name and His children.
  • Listen for God's Voice: In times of crisis, seek God's guidance through prayer, scripture, and trusted spiritual counsel. His "thus saith the LORD" can turn despair into hope.
  • Do Not Be Intimidated by Boasts: The world may boast of its power and mock faith, but their words are ultimately empty against the sovereignty of God.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 18:17

    ยถ And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which [is] in the highway of the fuller's field.

  • 2 Kings 18:35

    Who [are] they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

  • Isaiah 37:6

    And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

  • Isaiah 37:38

    And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:15

    And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's.

  • 2 Kings 18:30

    Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

  • Deuteronomy 20:1

    ยถ When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
โ† Back