Isaiah 37:17

Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.

Incline {H5186} thine ear {H241}, O LORD {H3068}, and hear {H8085}; open {H6491} thine eyes {H5869}, O LORD {H3068}, and see {H7200}: and hear {H8085} all the words {H1697} of Sennacherib {H5576}, which hath sent {H7971} to reproach {H2778} the living {H2416} God {H430}.

Turn your ear, ADONAI, and hear! Open your eyes, ADONAI, and see! Hear all the words that Sancheriv sent to taunt the living God.

Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to all the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.

Incline thine ear, O Jehovah, and hear; open thine eyes, O Jehovah, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who hath sent to defy the living God.

Isaiah 37:17 KJV records a pivotal moment in King Hezekiah's prayer during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. Faced with the overwhelming military might and blasphemous taunts of Sennacherib, the king turns directly to the Lord, appealing for divine intervention based on God's character and the enemy's defiance.

Context of Isaiah 37:17

This verse is part of Hezekiah's desperate prayer found in Isaiah 37:14-20, which parallels the account in 2 Kings 19:14-19. The Assyrian King Sennacherib had sent a letter filled with threats and boasts, challenging Hezekiah's faith in the Lord and claiming that no god could deliver Judah from his hand. This was not merely a military threat but a direct affront to the God of Israel. Hezekiah, in humility and deep distress, takes this letter before the Lord, acknowledging God's supreme authority and pleading for Him to act for His own name's sake.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Awareness and Intervention: Hezekiah's plea, "Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see," is an appeal for God to fully perceive the gravity of the situation and the blasphemy being uttered. It acknowledges God's omniscient nature and His ability to respond to human pleas.
  • Reproach Against the Living God: The core offense highlighted is that Sennacherib "hath sent to reproach the living God." This was not just an insult to Hezekiah or Judah, but a direct challenge to the very existence and power of the God of Israel. The term "reproach" (Hebrew: ḥārap) signifies a severe taunt, insult, or blasphemy that directly dishonors God's name.
  • God's Uniqueness as "The Living God": Hezekiah contrasts the true God with the lifeless idols of the nations that Assyria had conquered. This emphasis on "the living God" underscores His active presence, power, and ability to intervene, unlike the impotent deities of the pagan world. This concept is vital throughout scripture, as seen in Jeremiah 10:10.
  • Prayer in Crisis: Hezekiah's prayer serves as a profound example of how to respond to overwhelming threats and spiritual attacks. Instead of panicking or negotiating, he brings the problem directly to God, trusting in His character and power.

Linguistic Insights

The anthropomorphic language ("incline thine ear," "open thine eyes") is a common biblical idiom used to express God's attentive observation and readiness to respond, not a literal limitation. It emphasizes His personal engagement with human affairs. The phrase "the living God" (Hebrew: El Ḥay) is a powerful theological statement, distinguishing the God of Israel from all other gods who are mere idols, lifeless and powerless.

Practical Application

Isaiah 37:17 offers timeless lessons for believers today. When faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, or when God's name is slandered or His truth attacked, our first response should be to turn to Him in earnest prayer. Like Hezekiah, we can appeal to God's character – His omniscience, His power, and His commitment to His own name. This verse reminds us that God is indeed the "living God" who sees, hears, and acts on behalf of those who trust in Him and honor His name. His ultimate response to Hezekiah's prayer, a miraculous deliverance, is recorded later in Isaiah 37:36, demonstrating His faithfulness to His people.

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 6:40

    Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and [let] thine ears [be] attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place.
  • Psalms 17:6

    I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, [and] hear my speech.
  • Isaiah 37:4

    It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up [thy] prayer for the remnant that is left.
  • 1 Peter 3:12

    For the eyes of the Lord [are] over the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord [is] against them that do evil.
  • Psalms 74:22

    Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
  • Psalms 10:14

    Thou hast seen [it]; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite [it] with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
  • Psalms 10:15

    Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil [man]: seek out his wickedness [till] thou find none.

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