Isaiah 37:18

KJV

Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,

KJV (with Strong's)

Of a truth {H551}, LORD {H3068}, the kings {H4428} of Assyria {H804} have laid waste {H2717} all the nations {H776}, and their countries {H776},

Complete Jewish Bible

It is true that the kings of Ashur have laid waste all the countries and their lands

Berean Standard Bible

Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all these countries and their lands.

American Standard Version

Of a truth, Jehovah, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the countries, and their land,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hezekiah's prayer in Isaiah 37:18 opens with a stark and honest acknowledgment of the overwhelming reality facing Judah: the Assyrian kings, under Sennacherib, had indeed systematically devastated and conquered numerous nations and their lands. This declaration is not a statement of despair but a foundational truth presented to the sovereign LORD, setting the stage for a desperate plea for divine intervention against an enemy whose destructive power was historically undeniable.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal part of King Hezekiah's fervent prayer in response to the existential threat posed by Sennacherib, king of Assyria. Following the Assyrian general's (the Rabshakeh's) blasphemous taunts and a threatening letter from Sennacherib himself (detailed in [Isaiah 37:9-13](/isaiah/37-9 "Isaiah 37:9-13 - Sennacherib's Threatening Letter")), Hezekiah goes to the Temple, spreads the letter before the LORD ([Isaiah 37:14](/isaiah/37-14 "Isaiah 37:14 - Hezekiah Spreads the Letter Before the LORD")), and begins his earnest supplication. Verse 18 immediately precedes his direct appeal for God to hear and deliver Jerusalem, establishing the undeniable scale of the Assyrian threat as a prelude to highlighting the incomparable greatness of God. The prayer continues with a plea for God to act for His own name's sake, leading directly into God's reassuring response through the prophet Isaiah.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The late 8th century BC was a period of intense Assyrian expansion and dominance in the Near East. Under kings like Tiglath-Pileser III, Sargon II, and Sennacherib, the Assyrian Empire was a formidable military and political force, renowned for its brutal efficiency in warfare, siege tactics, and the systematic deportation of conquered peoples. By 701 BC, Sennacherib had launched a major campaign against Judah, capturing many fortified cities, as recorded in his own annals and corroborated by biblical accounts ([2 Kings 18:13](/2_kings/18-13 "2 Kings 18:13 - Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah")). Hezekiah's statement reflects the common knowledge and terrifying reality of Assyrian power, which had indeed "laid waste" numerous nations, including the northern kingdom of Israel decades earlier ([2 Kings 17:5-6](/2_kings/17-5 "2 Kings 17:5-6 - Fall of Samaria and Exile of Israel")). The cultural context involves the expectation that a nation's gods would protect it; thus, Sennacherib's taunts challenged Yahweh's power, making Hezekiah's prayer a theological as well as a military crisis.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. It underscores the theme of **God's Sovereignty over Nations**, even in the face of seemingly unstoppable earthly empires. Hezekiah's honest acknowledgment of Assyria's destructive power serves to magnify the LORD's ultimate ability to intervene, contrasting human might with divine omnipotence. It also highlights the theme of **Dependence on God in Crisis**, demonstrating that true faith does not deny grim realities but brings them transparently before the Almighty. This prayer exemplifies **Humility in Prayer**, where a king, facing utter destruction, casts himself and his nation entirely upon God's mercy and power, rather than relying on human strength or political alliances, a lesson often emphasized throughout [Isaiah's prophecies](/isaiah/2 "Isaiah 2 - Prophecy Against Human Pride").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **truth (Hebrew, _ʼomnâm'_):** This adverb emphasizes the absolute certainty and factual nature of Hezekiah's declaration. It translates to "verily," "indeed," or "surely," underscoring that the devastation wrought by Assyria was an undeniable, historical reality, not an exaggeration or a mere perception. Hezekiah begins his prayer by grounding it in an objective truth, which then serves as the backdrop for his appeal to divine intervention.
* **laid waste (Hebrew, _chârab'_):** This verb signifies a comprehensive and destructive desolation. It carries connotations of parching, drying up, destroying, and rendering desolate. The use of this word vividly portrays the thoroughness of Assyrian conquest, not merely defeating armies but utterly devastating lands, cities, and populations, leaving them barren and uninhabitable. It speaks to the complete ruin and destruction inflicted upon the conquered "nations and their countries."
* **nations/countries (Hebrew, _ʼerets'_):** While often translated as "earth" or "land," in this context, _ʼerets_ refers to specific territories, lands, and the peoples inhabiting them. The repetition ("all the nations, and their countries") emphasizes the vast geographical scope and the multitude of distinct political entities that had fallen victim to Assyrian aggression. It highlights the widespread nature of the destruction, making Judah's survival against such a force seem humanly impossible.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Of a truth, LORD":** Hezekiah begins his prayer with an emphatic affirmation of truth, directly addressing Yahweh. This opening establishes the sincerity and factual basis of his plea, acknowledging the grim reality before the divine presence. It is a direct, honest confession of the situation to the sovereign God.
* **"the kings of Assyria have laid waste":** This clause identifies the perpetrators and their actions. "The kings of Assyria" refers specifically to Sennacherib and his predecessors, known for their military might and ruthless campaigns. "Laid waste" powerfully describes the complete destruction and desolation they brought upon conquered territories, underscoring their overwhelming power and track record of success.
* **"all the nations, and their countries":** This final phrase specifies the victims and the extent of the devastation. "All the nations" signifies a comprehensive conquest of various peoples and kingdoms, while "and their countries" further emphasizes the physical destruction of their lands and territories. This highlights the global (from Judah's perspective) scale of Assyrian dominance and the seemingly insurmountable odds facing Jerusalem.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices. **Acknowledgement** is central, as Hezekiah begins his prayer by stating an undeniable, grim reality, which lends sincerity and gravitas to his subsequent plea. The use of **Hyperbole** ("all the nations") effectively conveys the overwhelming and widespread nature of Assyrian conquest, even if not every single nation on earth had literally been destroyed. This rhetorical exaggeration emphasizes the perceived totality of their dominance. The direct address to "LORD" (Yahweh) is an example of **Apostrophe**, where the speaker addresses an absent or abstract entity (in this case, God) as if present and able to respond. This direct address underscores the personal and desperate nature of Hezekiah's prayer, bringing the overwhelming human reality before the divine authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 37:18 serves as a profound theological statement, illustrating that genuine faith does not operate in denial of harsh realities but rather confronts them head-on, bringing them before the ultimate authority of God. Hezekiah's candid admission of Assyria's destructive power is not a sign of weakness but a demonstration of radical trust in Yahweh's sovereignty. By laying out the undeniable truth of human might and devastation, he implicitly magnifies God's power as the only force capable of overcoming such an enemy. This verse sets the stage for God to demonstrate His unparalleled ability to humble the proud and deliver His people, affirming that while earthly kingdoms rise and fall, the LORD alone reigns supreme over all creation and history.

* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalms/33-10 "Psalm 33:10-11 - The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations")
* [Daniel 4:34-35](/daniel/4-34 "Daniel 4:34-35 - God's Dominion is Everlasting")
* [Romans 8:31](/romans/8-31 "Romans 8:31 - If God is for us, who can be against us?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hezekiah's prayer in Isaiah 37:18 offers a timeless model for how believers should approach overwhelming challenges. It teaches us that true faith is not naive optimism that ignores difficulties, but rather a courageous honesty that brings the full weight of our struggles before God. When faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, whether personal, communal, or global, we are called to acknowledge the truth of our circumstances without flinching, yet never losing sight of God's ultimate sovereignty. This verse encourages us to pour out our hearts to the LORD, articulating the very real threats and fears we face, knowing that He is the only one who can truly intervene and bring deliverance beyond human capacity. It reminds us that our greatest strength lies not in our own abilities or denial, but in our complete and humble dependence on the Almighty.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What overwhelming "Assyrian" threats are you facing in your life that you need to honestly lay before the LORD?**
* **How does acknowledging the truth of a difficult situation, rather than ignoring it, strengthen your prayer and trust in God?**
* **In what ways does Hezekiah's example encourage you to depend more fully on God's sovereignty when human solutions seem exhausted?**

### FAQ
**Why did Hezekiah begin his prayer by stating an obvious truth about Assyria's power?**

Answer: Hezekiah began his prayer with "Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries," not because God was unaware, but to ground his plea in undeniable reality. This honest acknowledgment served several purposes: it demonstrated his complete sincerity and desperation, it established the overwhelming nature of the threat, and it implicitly magnified God's power. By presenting the full scope of human might and destruction, Hezekiah set the stage for God to demonstrate His even greater, incomparable power to deliver Judah. It's a pattern of bringing the unvarnished truth of a crisis before the sovereign God, trusting that His power is revealed most clearly in impossible situations, as seen in God's later intervention in [Isaiah 37:36](/isaiah/37-36 "Isaiah 37:36 - The Angel of the LORD Destroys the Assyrian Army").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 37:18, with Hezekiah's honest confession of overwhelming human power and devastation, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the cross. Just as Hezekiah acknowledged the undeniable reality of Assyria's destructive force, the New Testament reveals the undeniable reality of humanity's spiritual devastation under the power of sin and death ([Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God")). The "kings of Assyria" represent the seemingly insurmountable forces that hold humanity captive. Yet, in Christ, God confronts this ultimate "waste" and desolation. Jesus, the true King, did not deny the power of sin or death but entered into their domain, laying down His life as the ultimate sacrifice ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Jesus Humbled Himself")). His resurrection is God's triumphant answer to humanity's desperate cry, demonstrating His supreme power over sin, death, and all spiritual enemies ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). Just as God delivered Judah from the Assyrian threat, so too does Christ deliver all who believe from the ultimate spiritual bondage, establishing a kingdom that will never be laid waste ([Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken")). Hezekiah's prayer for deliverance from a physical enemy foreshadows the greater spiritual deliverance accomplished by the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Nahum 2:11

¶ Where [is] the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, [even] the old lion, walked, [and] the lion's whelp, and none made [them] afraid?

Nahum 2:12

The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.

2 Kings 15:29

In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

2 Kings 17:24

¶ And the king of Assyria brought [men] from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed [them] in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

1 Chronicles 5:26

And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day.

2 Kings 17:6

In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor [by] the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

2 Kings 16:9

And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried [the people of] it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.