Isaiah 37:26

Hast thou not heard long ago, [how] I have done it; [and] of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities [into] ruinous heaps.

Hast thou not heard {H8085} long ago {H7350}, how I have done {H6213} it; and of ancient {H6924} times {H3117}, that I have formed {H3335} it? now have I brought {H935} it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste {H7582} defenced {H1219} cities {H5892} into ruinous {H5327} heaps {H1530}.

"'Haven't you heard? Long ago I made it; in antiquity I produced it; and now I am making it happen: you are turning fortified cities into heaps of ruins,

Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble.

Hast thou not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that it should be thine to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.

Commentary

Context

Isaiah 37:26 is part of a prophetic message delivered by the prophet Isaiah to Sennacherib, the arrogant king of Assyria, who had invaded Judah and was threatening Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah. After Sennacherib sent a blasphemous letter to Hezekiah, boasting of his conquests and mocking the God of Israel, Hezekiah took the letter to the temple and prayed fervently for deliverance (Isaiah 37:15-20). In response, God sends Isaiah to assure Hezekiah that He has heard his prayer and will defend Jerusalem. This particular verse is a direct address from God to Sennacherib, revealing that the Assyrian king's military successes were not due to his own power or wisdom, but were part of God's ancient, sovereign plan.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Foreknowledge: The central message is God's absolute control over history and nations. God declares, "Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it?" This emphasizes that Sennacherib's conquests were not random acts of human aggression but were orchestrated by God from eternity past. God had planned for the Assyrians to be an instrument of judgment against sinful nations and "defenced cities." This theme is powerfully echoed in other scriptures that speak to God's dominion over kings and kingdoms, such as Proverbs 21:1 and Daniel 4:32.
  • God as the Orchestrator of History: The phrase "now have I brought it to pass" signifies God's active execution of His pre-ordained plan. What Sennacherib perceived as his own military genius was merely the unfolding of God's will. Assyria, though wicked, was a tool in God's hands, much like a "rod of mine anger" as described in Isaiah 10:5.
  • Judgment and Consequence: The purpose of Sennacherib's destructive campaigns was "that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps." This highlights God's justice in bringing judgment upon nations that had turned away from Him or engaged in wickedness. The destruction of fortified cities was a direct consequence of their sin, executed through God's appointed instrument.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrases "long ago" and "of ancient times" translate Hebrew words that convey the deep antiquity and established nature of God's plan. The verb "formed" (Hebrew: Χ™ΦΈΧ¦Φ·Χ¨, yatsar) is often used for a potter shaping clay, emphasizing God's deliberate and purposeful creation of events. It implies that God meticulously designed the course of history, including the rise and fall of empires. "Brought it to pass" similarly indicates God's active role in bringing His plans to fruition, not merely observing but directing.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound comfort and challenge. For believers facing overwhelming threats or seemingly chaotic global events, it serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering sovereignty. Even when evil seems to triumph, God remains on the throne, orchestrating all things according to His eternal purpose. It calls us to humility, recognizing that our successes and failures are ultimately within God's grand design. We are called to trust in His plan, knowing that He is working all things for His glory and the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28), even when His methods involve using unexpected or even hostile instruments.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 4:27

    For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

  • Acts 4:28

    For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

  • Acts 2:23

    Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

  • 1 Peter 2:8

    And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

  • Isaiah 10:5

    ΒΆ O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

  • Isaiah 10:6

    I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

  • Isaiah 10:15

    Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? [or] shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake [itself] against them that lift it up, [or] as if the staff should lift up [itself, as if it were] no wood.
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