Isaiah 36:20

Who [are they] among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

Who are they among all the gods {H430} of these lands {H776}, that have delivered {H5337} their land {H776} out of my hand {H3027}, that the LORD {H3068} should deliver {H5337} Jerusalem {H3389} out of my hand {H3027}?

Where is the god of any of these countries that has saved its country from my power, so that ADONAI might be able to save Yerushalayim from my power?'"

Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

Who are they among all the gods of these countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Jehovah should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

Context of Isaiah 36:20

The setting for Isaiah 36:20 is a pivotal moment in the history of Judah, around 701 BC. King Sennacherib of Assyria had launched a massive invasion, conquering many fortified cities of Judah. This specific verse is part of a defiant speech delivered by the Rabshakeh, a high-ranking Assyrian official, to the people of Jerusalem and King Hezekiah's representatives. The Rabshakeh's goal was to demoralize Jerusalem, convince them to surrender, and undermine their trust in God. He had already attempted to discourage them by highlighting their lack of military strength and the failure of their alliances (see Isaiah 36:4-10). Here, he launches into a direct theological attack, comparing the God of Israel to the defeated deities of other nations.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Blasphemy and Arrogance: The Rabshakeh's speech is a profound act of blasphemy against the Lord. His question, "Who [are they] among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?", drips with Assyrian arrogance and a deep misunderstanding of God's unique nature. He places the God of Israel on the same level as the powerless pagan idols his empire had already conquered.
  • False Equivalency: A central theme is the Rabshakeh's attempt to draw a false equivalency between the one true God, YHWH (the LORD), and the various local deities of conquered lands. He fails to grasp that these "gods" were mere constructs of human hands, unlike the sovereign Creator of the universe. This comparison is meant to instill fear and doubt in the people of Jerusalem.
  • Divine Sovereignty vs. Human Pride: The verse highlights the stark contrast between the Rabshakeh's boastful human power, represented by the Assyrian "hand," and the ultimate divine sovereignty of the Lord. The Assyrians attributed their military success to their own might, rather than acknowledging any divine hand in their conquests or understanding the Lord's purposes.
  • Testing Faith: This taunt serves as a severe test of faith for King Hezekiah and the people of Judah. Would they succumb to fear and human logic, or would they cling to their covenant God, trusting in His ability to deliver, even when all human hope seemed lost?

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "my hand" (Hebrew: yad) is repeated multiple times, emphasizing the Rabshakeh's belief in Assyria's overwhelming power and control. He boasts that no god has been able to deliver their land from his *hand*, implying that the Lord would be no different. This use of "hand" signifies authority, power, and the ability to act decisively. The contrast is between the limited, albeit powerful, hand of a human empire and the omnipotent hand of God. The term "the LORD" (Hebrew: YHWH, often rendered as Yahweh) specifically refers to the covenant God of Israel, distinguishing Him from the generic "gods of these lands" (Hebrew: elohim).

Related Scriptures

The Rabshakeh's challenge is ultimately met by God's powerful intervention. King Hezekiah's response to this blasphemy is to turn to the Lord in prayer and humility (see Isaiah 37:1-4 and Isaiah 37:14-20). The Lord's subsequent deliverance of Jerusalem (detailed in Isaiah 37:36) stands as a powerful refutation of the Rabshakeh's arrogant claims. This event also echoes themes found elsewhere in Scripture about the impotence of idols compared to the living God (e.g., Psalm 115:4-7; Isaiah 44:9-20).

Practical Application

Isaiah 36:20 serves as a timeless reminder that challenges to our faith often come in the form of comparing God to worldly powers or seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Just as the Rabshakeh dismissed the Lord as just another local deity, we can be tempted to view God through a limited lens, questioning His ability to deliver us from modern "Assyrian" threats—whether they are financial crises, health battles, or societal pressures. This verse encourages us to:

  • Stand Firm in Faith: Recognize that God is incomparable. No earthly power, ideology, or problem can stand against His ultimate sovereignty.
  • Discern False Narratives: Be vigilant against voices that attempt to undermine our trust in God by presenting Him as weak or irrelevant.
  • Pray in Adversity: Follow Hezekiah's example by turning to God in prayer when faced with daunting challenges, knowing that He hears and responds.

The deliverance of Jerusalem ultimately testified that the Lord is indeed unique and powerful, capable of delivering His people when all other options fail.

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.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:19

    And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, [which were] the work of the hands of man.

  • Job 15:25

    For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.

  • Job 15:26

    He runneth upon him, [even] on [his] neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:

  • Daniel 3:15

    Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

  • 2 Kings 19:22

    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.

  • 2 Kings 19:37

    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.

  • Psalms 50:21

    These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes.

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