Isaiah 36:5

I say, [sayest thou], (but [they are but] vain words) [I have] counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

I say {H559}, sayest thou,(but they are but vain {H8193} words {H1697}) I have counsel {H6098} and strength {H1369} for war {H4421}: now on whom dost thou trust {H982}, that thou rebellest {H4775} against me?

I say: do mere words constitute strategy and strength for battle? In whom, then, are you trusting when you rebel against me like this?

You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?

I say, thy counsel and strength for the war are but vain words: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

Commentary on Isaiah 36:5 (KJV)

Isaiah 36:5 captures a pivotal moment during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, where the Assyrian field commander, Rabshakeh, attempts to demoralize King Hezekiah and the people of Judah. This verse, presented in the King James Version, highlights Rabshakeh's arrogant dismissal of Judah's potential allies and their own perceived strength, challenging their ultimate source of trust.

Context

This verse is part of a larger narrative found in Isaiah chapters 36 and 37 (and paralleled in 2 Kings 18-19), detailing King Sennacherib of Assyria's campaign against Judah around 701 BC. Having conquered many fortified cities of Judah, Sennacherib sends Rabshakeh to Jerusalem to demand its surrender. Rabshakeh's speech is a masterclass in psychological warfare, designed to sow doubt and fear among the besieged. He speaks directly to Hezekiah's officials and the people on the wall, mocking their reliance on Egypt and questioning their trust in the Lord.

Key Themes

  • Assyrian Arrogance and Boasting: Rabshakeh's words are filled with contempt for Judah's military capability and their supposed allies. He presents Assyria as invincible, possessing superior "counsel and strength for war."
  • The Futility of Human Reliance: Rabshakeh dismisses any hope Judah might have placed in Egypt as "vain words" or empty promises. This sets the stage for the crucial question of whom Judah truly trusts.
  • The Challenge of Trust: The core of the verse lies in Rabshakeh's direct challenge: "now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?" He forces Judah to confront their faith, whether it's in human alliances, their own military, or the Lord God. This echoes a recurring biblical theme of choosing between divine trust and earthly power, as seen in Psalm 20:7.
  • Psychological Warfare: The entire speech of Rabshakeh is a calculated attempt to break the morale of the defenders without a full military engagement. He aims to convince them that resistance is futile.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "vain words" translates the Hebrew `dabar riq`, meaning "empty words" or "words of emptiness." It conveys the idea of something utterly devoid of substance, effectiveness, or truth. Rabshakeh uses this to discredit any hope Judah might have had in Egypt as an ally.
  • "Counsel and strength for war" (Hebrew: `'etsah u'gevurah lamilchamah`) highlights Rabshakeh's assertion of Assyria's superior strategic wisdom (`'etsah`, counsel, advice) and military might (`gevurah`, strength, power). He claims these attributes for Assyria, implicitly denying them to Judah or its potential allies.
  • The word "trust" (Hebrew: `batah`) means to lean on, rely on, or feel secure in. Rabshakeh's question, "on whom dost thou trust," directly probes the foundation of Judah's confidence and their reason for resisting the mighty Assyrian Empire.

Practical Application

Isaiah 36:5 offers timeless lessons for believers facing overwhelming challenges:

  1. Discern Empty Promises: Just as Rabshakeh exposed the "vain words" of relying on Egypt, we must discern between genuine hope and empty promises, whether from worldly sources or even our own misguided perceptions.
  2. Examine the Object of Our Trust: When faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, this verse prompts us to ask: "On whom do I truly trust?" Is our confidence in human resources, personal abilities, or external circumstances, or is it firmly rooted in God's faithfulness and power?
  3. Resist Demoralization: Adversaries, whether spiritual or physical, often employ tactics to undermine our faith and courage. Like Rabshakeh, they may mock our beliefs or resources. This passage encourages us to stand firm against such intimidation, knowing that God is our ultimate defense, as demonstrated by the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem in Isaiah 37:36.
  4. God's Sovereignty in Adversity: Ultimately, this historical account reminds us that even in the face of overwhelming human power and taunts, God's plan prevails. Hezekiah's response of prayer and reliance on God (see Isaiah 37:15) led to divine intervention, proving that true "counsel and strength for war" belong to the Lord.
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 Kings 18:7

    And the LORD was with him; [and] he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.

  • 2 Kings 24:1

    ¶ In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.

  • Jeremiah 52:3

    For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

  • Proverbs 24:5

    A wise man [is] strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

  • Proverbs 24:6

    For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.

  • Nehemiah 2:19

    But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard [it], they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What [is] this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

  • Nehemiah 2:20

    Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

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