Isaiah 36:15

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

Neither let Hezekiah {H2396} make you trust {H982} in the LORD {H3068}, saying {H559}, The LORD {H3068} will surely {H5337} deliver {H5337} us: this city {H5892} shall not be delivered {H5414} into the hand {H3027} of the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}.

And don't let Hizkiyahu make you trust in ADONAI by saying, "ADONAI will surely save us; this city will not be given over to the king of Ashur."

Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, ‘The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’

neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Jehovah, saying, Jehovah will surely deliver us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Context

Isaiah 36:15 is part of a crucial historical narrative detailing the Assyrian invasion of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah. The Assyrian king, Sennacherib, had already conquered many fortified cities of Judah and was now threatening Jerusalem. This particular verse records the words of Rabshakeh, an Assyrian military commander, who stood before the walls of Jerusalem and addressed the people in Hebrew. His aim was to demoralize the inhabitants and undermine their trust in King Hezekiah and, more significantly, in the Lord God of Israel. Hezekiah had encouraged the people to trust in God for deliverance (2 Chronicles 32:7-8), and Rabshakeh directly challenges this.

Key Themes

  • Psychological Warfare: Rabshakeh's speech is a masterclass in ancient psychological warfare. He seeks to sow doubt and fear, convincing the people that their God is no different from the gods of the nations Assyria had already conquered, and therefore, incapable of delivering Jerusalem.
  • Challenge to Faith: The core of Rabshakeh's message is a direct assault on the people's faith in the Lord. By stating, "Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD," he attempts to sever the spiritual lifeline that Hezekiah had fostered, implying that such trust is futile.
  • Assyrian Arrogance: This verse, like much of Rabshakeh's speech, highlights the immense pride and arrogance of the Assyrian Empire, which believed itself invincible and its gods superior to all others. They underestimated the unique power and faithfulness of the God of Israel.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "trust" here is batach (בטח), which conveys a sense of confident reliance, leaning upon, or feeling secure in something or someone. Rabshakeh's command is to prevent the people from having this deep-seated confidence in the Lord. The word "deliver" is natsal (נצל), meaning to snatch away, rescue, or pull out from danger. Rabshakeh asserts that God cannot perform this act of rescue for Jerusalem, directly contradicting the very nature of God as a deliverer of His people.

Related Scriptures

This verse sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation between human arrogance and divine power. Rabshakeh's blasphemous words are a direct challenge to the Lord, similar to the taunts seen in Isaiah 37:4. The subsequent events, where God miraculously delivers Jerusalem without a single Assyrian arrow being shot into the city (Isaiah 37:36), powerfully refute Rabshakeh's claim. This narrative emphasizes that the Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nought, proving His ultimate sovereignty.

Practical Application

In our own lives, we often encounter "Rabshakehs"—voices of doubt, fear, or secularism—that try to undermine our trust in God. These voices may suggest that our faith is naive, or that God cannot deliver us from our present difficulties, whether they be financial, health-related, or spiritual. Isaiah 36:15 reminds us to be discerning and to stand firm in our conviction that the Lord is faithful to His promises. Despite intimidating circumstances or discouraging words, our ultimate reliance should always be on God, who has proven His power and willingness to deliver His people throughout history. This narrative encourages spiritual resilience and unwavering trust in God's ability to act on our behalf.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, 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. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 22:7

    All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying],

  • Psalms 22:8

    He trusted on the LORD [that] he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

  • Matthew 27:43

    He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

  • Psalms 71:9

    Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

  • Psalms 71:11

    Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for [there is] none to deliver [him].

  • Isaiah 37:23

    Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted [thy] voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? [even] against the Holy One of Israel.

  • Isaiah 37:24

    By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, [and] the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, [and] the forest of his Carmel.

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