Isaiah 37:18

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

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

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

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

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

Context

Isaiah 37:18 is part of King Hezekiah's fervent prayer when the kingdom of Judah faced an existential threat from the mighty Assyrian Empire. In the late 8th century BC, Sennacherib, the aggressive king of Assyria, had already conquered many nations and was now besieging fortified cities of Judah, sending a blasphemous letter to Hezekiah demanding Jerusalem's surrender. This verse, therefore, captures Hezekiah's stark acknowledgement of the historical reality: the Assyrian military machine had indeed devastated many lands, a fact that added immense pressure to Judah's precarious situation.

Key Themes

  • Acknowledgement of Reality: Hezekiah does not deny the overwhelming power and past successes of the Assyrian kings. He begins his prayer by stating an undeniable truth, "Of a truth, LORD," recognizing the genuine threat and the widespread destruction Assyria had already caused. This honest assessment sets the stage for his plea for divine intervention.
  • Plea to God's Sovereignty: By bringing this undeniable human power and devastation before the LORD, Hezekiah implicitly appeals to God's ultimate sovereignty. He is essentially saying, "You see the truth of their power, but You are greater." This moment of prayer, where Hezekiah spreads Sennacherib's threatening letter before the LORD, demonstrates a profound trust that even the most formidable earthly power is subject to divine will.
  • Humility and Dependence: Hezekiah's prayer is an act of deep humility, recognizing that human strength and strategy alone were insufficient against such an enemy. It underscores a complete dependence on God for deliverance when all other options seemed exhausted.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Of a truth" (Hebrew: ʾāmnāh) emphasizes the undeniable, factual nature of Hezekiah's statement. It's not a speculative comment but a firm declaration of what has genuinely occurred, highlighting the severity of the situation and the formidable reputation of the Assyrians. This linguistic nuance underscores the sincerity and desperation behind Hezekiah's prayer.

Related Scriptures

This prayer is a direct response to the threats detailed in Isaiah 37:9-13. The Lord's powerful answer to Hezekiah's prayer is found in Isaiah 37:36, where the angel of the LORD miraculously defeats the Assyrian army, demonstrating God's supreme power over all nations, a theme also echoed in Daniel 2:21.

Practical Application

Hezekiah's prayer in Isaiah 37:18 offers a powerful model for believers today. When faced with overwhelming challenges or seemingly insurmountable obstacles, it is crucial to:

  • Acknowledge Reality Honestly: Don't ignore or sugarcoat difficulties. Bring your genuine fears and the hard facts of your situation before God.
  • Pray with Sincerity: Lay out your concerns before the Lord, trusting that He sees and understands.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Even when human power or circumstances seem overwhelming, remember that God remains sovereign over all things. Our greatest hope lies in His ability to intervene beyond human capacity.

This verse reminds us that true faith doesn't deny the problem but brings the problem to the only one who can truly solve it.

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.

  • 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.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back