What number verse is Isaiah 37:30 in the Bible?

Isaiah 37:30 is the 18,383rd verse of the Bible. Counting straight through the King James canon — all 31,102 verses from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 — Isaiah 37:30 sits at position 18,383.

37:2937:29 37:3137:31

Isaiah 37:30

Q: How would the people "eat such as groweth of itself" if their land was under siege?

The phrase "such as groweth of itself" (Hebrew: *saphiach*) refers to volunteer crops, meaning grain that sprouts spontaneously from seeds scattered during the previous harvest or from fields that were left uncultivated due to the invasion and siege. During the siege, normal farming practices—sowing, tilling, and harvesting—would have been impossible or severely restricted. God's promise was that even without human effort in sowing, He would supernaturally provide sustenance from these naturally occurring self-grown crops for the first two years, demonstrating His direct, miraculous intervention and profound care for His people's physical needs despite the disruption caused by the Assyrian presence (Isaiah 37:30).

“Isaiah Delivers the Lord's Prophecy”· Isaiah 37:21–35Read in context

King James Version

And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.

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KJV (with Strong's)

And this shall be a sign ^H226 unto thee, Ye shall eat ^H398 this year ^H8141 such as groweth ^H5599 of itself; and the second ^H8145 year ^H8141 that which springeth ^H7823 of the same: and in the third ^H7992 year ^H8141 sow ^H2232 ye, and reap ^H7114, and plant ^H5193 vineyards ^H3754, and eat ^H398 the fruit ^H6529 thereof.

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Complete Jewish Bible

"'This will be the sign for you [people of Isra'el]: this year, you will eat the grain that grows of itself; the second year, you will eat what grows from that; but in the third year, you will sow, reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

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Berean Standard Bible

And this will be a sign to you, O Hezekiah: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what springs from the same. But in the third year you will sow and reap; you will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

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American Standard Version

And this shall be the sign unto thee: ye shall eat this year that which groweth of itself, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.

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World English Bible Messianic

This shall be the sign to you. You will eat this year that which grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs from the same; and in the third year sow and reap and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.

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Geneva Bible (1599)

And this shalbe a signe vnto thee, O Hezekiah, Thou shalt eate this yeere such as groweth of it selfe: and the second yeere, such things as growe without sowing: and in the third yeere, sowe ye and reape, and plant vineyards, and eate the fruite thereof.

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Young's Literal Translation

--And this to thee is the sign, Food of the year is self-sown grain, And in the second year the spontaneous growth, And in the third year, sow ye and reap, And plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.

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മലയാളം · SV

എന്നാൽ ഇതു നിനക്കു അടയാളമാകും: നിങ്ങൾ ഈ ആണ്ടിൽ പടുവിത്തു വിളയുന്നതും രണ്ടാം ആണ്ടിൽ താനേ കിളുൎത്തുവിളയുന്നതും തിന്നും; മൂന്നാം ആണ്ടിൽ നിങ്ങൾ വിതെച്ചു കൊയ്യുകയും മുന്തിരിത്തോട്ടങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടാക്കി അവയുടെ പഴം തിന്നുകയും ചെയ്യും.

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Translation

Cross-References

2 രാജാക്കന്മാര്‍ 19:29
എന്നാൽ ഇതു നിനക്കു അടയാളം ആകും; നിങ്ങൾ ഈ ആണ്ടിൽ പടുവിത്തു വിളയുന്നതും രണ്ടാം ആണ്ടിൽ താനേ കിളുൎത്തു വിളയുന്നതും തിന്നും; മൂന്നാം ആണ്ടിൽ നിങ്ങൾ വിതെച്ചു കൊയ്യുകയും മുന്തിരിത്തോട്ടം ഉണ്ടാക്കി അവയുടെ പഴം തിന്നുകയും ചെയ്യും.
1 രാജാക്കന്മാര്‍ 13:3
അവൻ അന്നു ഒരു അടയാളവും കൊടുത്തു; ഇതാ, ഈ യാഗപീഠം പിളൎന്നു അതിന്മേലുള്ള ചാരം തൂകിപ്പോകും; ഇതു യഹോവ കല്പിച്ച അടയാളം എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
1 രാജാക്കന്മാര്‍ 13:5
ദൈവപുരുഷൻ യഹോവയുടെ കല്പനയാൽ കൊടുത്തിരുന്ന അടയാളപ്രകാരം യാഗപീഠം പിളൎന്നു ചാരം യാഗപീഠത്തിൽനിന്നു തൂകിപ്പോയി.
യെശയ്യാവ് 7:14
അതുകൊണ്ടു കൎത്താവു തന്നേ നിങ്ങൾക്കു ഒരു അടയാളം തരും: കന്യക ഗൎഭിണിയായി ഒരു മകനെ പ്രസവിക്കും; അവന്നു ഇമ്മാനൂവേൽ എന്നു പേർ വിളിക്കും.
2 രാജാക്കന്മാര്‍ 20:9
അതിന്നു യെശയ്യാവു: യഹോവ അരുളിച്ചെയ്ത കാൎയ്യം നിവൎത്തിക്കുമെന്നുള്ളതിന്നു യഹോവയിങ്കൽനിന്നു ഇതു നിനക്കു അടയാളം ആകും: നിഴൽ പത്തു പടി മുമ്പോട്ടു പോകേണമോ? പത്തു പടി പിന്നോക്കം തിരിയേണമോ എന്നു ചോദിച്ചു.
ലേവ്യപുസ്തകം 25:4
ഏഴാം സംവത്സരത്തിലോ ദേശത്തിന്നു സ്വസ്ഥതയുള്ള ശബ്ബത്തായ യഹോവയുടെ ശബ്ബത്ത് ആയിരിക്കേണം; നിന്റെ നിലം വിതെക്കയും മുന്തിരിത്തോട്ടം വള്ളിത്തല മുറിക്കയും ചെയ്യരുതു.
ലേവ്യപുസ്തകം 25:5
നിന്റെ കൊയ്ത്തിന്റെ പടുവിളവു കൊയ്യുകയും വള്ളിത്തല മുറിക്കാത്ത മുന്തിരിത്തോട്ടത്തിലെ പഴം പറിക്കയും അരുതു; അതു ദേശത്തിന്നു ശബ്ബത്താണ്ടു ആകുന്നു.

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Summary

Isaiah 37:30 delivers a profound divine sign to King Hezekiah, assuring him of God's miraculous provision and the certain restoration of Judah in the aftermath of the formidable Assyrian invasion. This three-year sign outlines a specific agricultural progression: the first two years promise sustenance from self-grown crops, demonstrating God's supernatural care during a period of disruption and siege, while the third year signifies a complete return to normalcy, enabling the people to resume sowing, reaping, and enjoying the full fruit of their labor, thereby confirming the absolute certainty of God's deliverance, blessing, and the end of the immediate threat.

Context

Literary Context

This verse is a pivotal component of God's direct and powerful response to King Hezekiah's earnest prayer, offered in the face of Sennacherib's blasphemous threats and the overwhelming Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. Immediately prior, Hezekiah, in an act of profound faith and humility, had spread the Assyrian king's taunting letter before the Lord in the temple, appealing to God's honor, power, and covenant faithfulness (Isaiah 37:14-20). In response, God, through the prophet Isaiah, delivers a formidable oracle of judgment against Sennacherib and a steadfast promise of deliverance for Jerusalem (Isaiah 37:21-29). Verse 30, therefore, serves as the tangible, time-bound, and verifiable sign that authenticates the preceding prophecy. It provides concrete, observable assurance of God's unwavering faithfulness and the impending, definitive end of the Assyrian threat, transitioning the narrative from the immediate military crisis to the long-term restoration and flourishing of the land and its people.

Historical & Cultural Context

During this period, approximately 701 BCE, the Neo-Assyrian Empire stood as the preeminent superpower, and King Sennacherib had already laid waste to numerous fortified cities in Judah, leaving Jerusalem isolated, besieged, and seemingly indefensible. The agricultural life of Judah was the bedrock of its economy and sustenance, with annual cycles of sowing and harvesting being absolutely critical for survival. Vineyards, in particular, represented long-term investment, stability, and prosperity. A prolonged siege or widespread devastation of the countryside would inevitably lead to severe famine. The sign in this verse directly addresses this existential vulnerability, promising sustenance even when normal agricultural practices are utterly impossible. The mention of "groweth of itself" (saphiach) and "springeth of the same" (shachis) refers to volunteer crops—grain that sprouts spontaneously from seeds dropped during previous harvests or from fields left fallow. This was an extraordinary and miraculous provision, as relying solely on such natural growth was unsustainable for a large population. The promise of returning to normal sowing and planting in the third year signifies not merely survival, but a complete and divinely orchestrated restoration of national life, agricultural productivity, and prosperity, free from the threat of invasion and famine.

Key Themes

The primary themes intricately woven into Isaiah 37:30 include Divine Providence and Provision, powerfully highlighting God's boundless ability to sustain His people even in the direst circumstances, often bypassing conventional human means. It profoundly demonstrates God's Sovereignty over Nature and Nations, as He exercises absolute control not only over the formidable armies of Assyria but also over the intricate natural cycles of agriculture to precisely fulfill His divine word. The verse also underscores God's Unwavering Faithfulness to His Covenant Promises, assuring Hezekiah and Judah that He would meticulously protect them and restore their land, echoing earlier promises of blessing and fruitfulness for obedience found throughout the Pentateuch, particularly in passages like Deuteronomy 28:1-14. Furthermore, it speaks powerfully to the themes of Restoration and Hope, moving beyond immediate deliverance to paint a vivid picture of future stability, renewed life, and abundance, which is a recurring and central motif throughout the entire book of Isaiah.

Exposition and Analysis

Key Word Analysis

sign ʼôwth' H226

Derived from a root meaning "to appear," this word signifies a signal, mark, token, or miracle. In this context, it is a divinely appointed, observable event that serves as irrefutable evidence, confirming the truth and certainty of God's preceding prophetic word concerning Jerusalem's deliverance. It is not merely a prediction but a tangible, verifiable guarantee of future divine action and provision, intended to bolster Hezekiah's faith and the people's confidence in God's power and faithfulness.

groweth of itself çâphîyach' H5599

This term refers to a self-sown crop, specifically grain that sprouts spontaneously from seeds scattered during a previous harvest or from fields that have been left fallow. It denotes a crop that requires no human labor for its initial planting or cultivation. In the context of a siege and disrupted agricultural cycle, this signifies God's miraculous and unconventional provision, ensuring sustenance without the normal efforts of sowing and tending, serving as a direct and undeniable demonstration of divine care and intervention.

sow zâraʻ' H2232

A primitive root meaning "to sow," this word encompasses the literal act of planting seeds, and figuratively, to disseminate or to cause to fructify. Its inclusion in the third year's promise signifies a complete return to normal, productive agricultural activity. After two years of relying on God's spontaneous and miraculous provision, the ability to "sow, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof" marks the full and comprehensive restoration of order, stability, and prosperity, where human effort is once again blessed by divine increase.

Verse Breakdown

"And this shall be a sign unto thee,"

This opening clause emphatically establishes the purpose of the following divine declaration: it is a concrete, verifiable assurance from God directly to Hezekiah, confirming the absolute truth and certainty of the prophecy just delivered concerning Jerusalem's miraculous deliverance from the Assyrian army. The sign serves as a tangible demonstration of God's unwavering faithfulness and omnipotent power.

"Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself;"

This specifies the first part of the divinely appointed sign. In the current year, which is undoubtedly the year of the Assyrian siege and agricultural disruption, the people will be miraculously sustained by volunteer crops—grain that sprouts naturally without human sowing or cultivation. This highlights God's immediate, supernatural provision in a time of profound crisis and agricultural impossibility.

"and the second year that which springeth of the same:"

This extends the miraculous provision into the following year. "That which springeth of the same" (Hebrew: shachis) refers to a second growth from the previous year's volunteer crop or continued reliance on naturally occurring produce. It reinforces the idea that normal farming will still not be fully resumed, yet God will continue to provide supernaturally, demonstrating His sustained care beyond the immediate crisis.

"and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof."

This final clause marks the culmination of the sign and the full, comprehensive restoration. By the third year, the land will be secure, productive, and peaceful enough for the people to fully resume normal agricultural practices: sowing seeds, harvesting the abundant yield, planting new vineyards, and enjoying the rich fruit of the land. This signifies a complete return to peace, stability, and prosperity under God's blessing, definitively confirming the end of the Assyrian threat and the full recovery and flourishing of Judah.

Literary Devices

Isaiah 37:30 employs several potent literary devices that amplify its message of divine assurance and hope. The most prominent is Prophecy, as the verse meticulously foretells a specific, time-bound sequence of future events, providing a testable and observable sign of God's spoken word. This prophecy functions as a direct Divine Assurance, specifically addressing Hezekiah's anxieties and the nation's despair with a concrete, multi-stage promise of sustenance and restoration. The detailed agricultural cycle described serves as powerful Symbolism, where the progression from passive reliance on spontaneous growth in the first two years to active cultivation and abundant harvest in the third year vividly symbolizes Judah's journey from immediate crisis and miraculous divine provision to full national recovery, stability, and prosperity. The precise, three-year timeline lends an air of Verisimilitude and Credibility to the divine promise, making it profoundly tangible and reassuring to Hezekiah and the besieged people. Furthermore, the stark Contrast between the passive consumption of self-grown crops and the active, productive labor of sowing, reaping, and planting highlights a clear progression from miraculous intervention to blessed normalcy, underscoring God's comprehensive and long-term plan for His people's well-being.

Theological and Thematic Connections

This divinely appointed sign to Hezekiah profoundly illustrates God's meticulous care, unwavering faithfulness, and sovereign control over all aspects of creation and human history. It unequivocally demonstrates that God's promises are not vague assurances but are backed by His omnipotent power to orchestrate natural processes and human events with precise timing for the ultimate good of His covenant people. The progression from miraculous, unconventional provision to fully restored normalcy reveals a God who not only intervenes powerfully in moments of crisis but also orchestrates long-term healing, renewal, and fruitfulness. This agricultural sign underscores the profound theological theme of God as the ultimate provider, capable of sustaining life even when human efforts are thwarted or impossible, and then restoring the very conditions for diligent and fruitful labor. It stands as a powerful testament to His enduring faithfulness to His covenant people, assuring them of a future beyond immediate devastation, a future marked by peace, prosperity, and His sustaining hand.

Genesis 8:22 Psalm 65:9-13 Jeremiah 29:11

Reflection and Application

Isaiah 37:30 offers a profound and enduring lesson in trusting God's sovereign provision and perfect timing, especially when our circumstances appear utterly insurmountable. Like King Hezekiah and the people of Judah, we frequently encounter "sieges" in our lives—periods of intense pressure, profound uncertainty, or disruptive crises where our normal means of sustenance, progress, or security seem entirely cut off. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God is not in any way limited by our circumstances or by conventional methods. He possesses the infinite capacity to provide for us in unconventional, even miraculous, ways ("such as groweth of itself") when our usual efforts are rendered impossible. Moreover, it instills in us vital lessons of patience and unwavering hope: while immediate relief may come through extraordinary divine intervention, God's ultimate plan often involves a patient process of restoration, meticulously leading us back to a place of stability, renewed productivity, and spiritual abundance. We are therefore called to trust His sovereign process, knowing with absolute certainty that even in the "second year" of continued reliance on His supernatural provision, His care remains steadfast, culminating in a "third year" where we can actively participate in the fruitfulness and flourishing He graciously brings. This passage profoundly encourages us to look beyond the immediate crisis and fix our gaze upon God's long-term promise of peace, restoration, and flourishing, secure in the knowledge that His word is utterly reliable and His plans for us are always for good.

Questions for Reflection

What "siege" or profoundly disruptive period are you currently facing where your usual means of provision or progress feel entirely cut off?
How might God be calling you to trust in His unconventional, "self-grown" provision during this time, rather than relying solely on your own limited efforts or resources?
What does the three-year progression in this divine sign teach you about God's perfect timing and the often-gradual process of restoration in your personal life or circumstances?
How does this verse encourage you to look forward with hope and expectation to a "third year" of renewed fruitfulness, stability, and peace, even when the present feels uncertain or chaotic?

FAQ

What was the immediate context of this "sign" given by God?

The sign was given directly to King Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah as an undeniable assurance of God's imminent and decisive deliverance from the formidable Assyrian army, led by King Sennacherib, who had besieged Jerusalem and blasphemed the Lord God of Israel. It served to confirm that God's preceding promise to utterly defeat the Assyrians and save Judah was absolutely certain and would be followed by a period of miraculous recovery and comprehensive restoration. This divine message followed Hezekiah's fervent and humble prayer in the temple, where he laid out Sennacherib's threatening and blasphemous letter before the Lord (Isaiah 37:14-20).

How would the people "eat such as groweth of itself" if their land was under siege?

The phrase "such as groweth of itself" (Hebrew: saphiach) refers to volunteer crops, meaning grain that sprouts spontaneously from seeds scattered during the previous harvest or from fields that were left uncultivated due to the invasion and siege. During the siege, normal farming practices—sowing, tilling, and harvesting—would have been impossible or severely restricted. God's promise was that even without human effort in sowing, He would supernaturally provide sustenance from these naturally occurring self-grown crops for the first two years, demonstrating His direct, miraculous intervention and profound care for His people's physical needs despite the disruption caused by the Assyrian presence (Isaiah 37:30).

What is the significance of the three-year timeline in the sign?

The three-year timeline outlines a clear, divinely orchestrated progression from immediate crisis to full and comprehensive restoration. The first year signifies immediate, miraculous provision during the height of disruption and siege, demonstrating God's supernatural ability to sustain His people. The second year indicates continued reliance on God's spontaneous provision, suggesting that full normalcy had not yet returned and the land was still recovering. The third year, however, promises a complete return to stability, productivity, and prosperity, allowing the people to "sow, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof." This progression assured Hezekiah that the Assyrian threat would be definitively and permanently removed, and the land would recover to a state of peace and abundant productivity, demonstrating God's comprehensive and long-term plan for their well-being and flourishing (Isaiah 37:30).

Christ-Centered Fulfillment

While Isaiah 37:30 speaks directly to Judah's physical deliverance and agricultural restoration, it profoundly foreshadows the comprehensive provision and ultimate, eternal restoration found exclusively in Jesus Christ. The miraculous provision of "self-grown" food for two years, requiring no human toil, powerfully points to God's supernatural ability to sustain His people outside of conventional means—a theme fully realized in Christ, who declared Himself the "bread of life" (John 6:35), providing spiritual sustenance that does not come from human effort or perishable food. Just as the land was promised to return to full fruitfulness and normal cultivation in the third year, Christ's glorious resurrection on the third day inaugurated a new era of spiritual abundance, true life, and eternal fruitfulness for all who believe (1 Corinthians 15:4). He is the true vine, and those who abide intimately in Him "bear much fruit" (John 15:5), fulfilling the promise of planting vineyards and eating their fruit in a profound spiritual sense. The ultimate "sign" of God's faithfulness, power, and boundless love is not merely physical sustenance, but the incomparable gift of eternal life and spiritual flourishing through the atoning sacrifice and triumphant resurrection of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). In Christ, we experience the ultimate "third year" of restoration, where all things are made new, and we partake of the true fruit of salvation, reconciliation, and eternal fellowship with God, a reality far surpassing any earthly agricultural bounty (Revelation 21:5).

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Public-domain commentary

Matthew Henry

From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Isaiah 37:21–38.

1662–1714 · 18 verses

Passage under commentIsaiah 37:21–38

21¶ Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:

22This is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.

23Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.

24By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.

25I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.

26Hast 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.

27Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.

28But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.

29Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

30And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.

31And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:

32For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.

33Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.

34By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.

35For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

36Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

37So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

38And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

We may here observe, 1. That those who receive messages of terror from men with patience, and send messages of faith to God by prayer, may expect messages of grace and peace from God for their comfort, even when they are most cast down. Isaiah sent a long answer to Hezekiah's prayer in God's name, sent it in writing (for it was too long to be sent by word of mouth), and sent it by way of return to his prayer, relation being thereunto had: "Whereas thou hast prayed to me, know, for thy comfort, that thy prayer is heard." Isaiah might have referred him to the prophecies he had delivered (particularly that ch. 10) and bid him pick out an answer from thence; but, that he might have abundant consolation, a message is sent him on purpose. The correspondence between earth and heaven is never let fall on God's side. 2. Those who magnify themselves, especially who magnify themselves against God and his people, do really vilify themselves, and made themselves contemptible, in the eyes of all wise men: "The virgin, the daughter of Zion, has despised Sennacherib, and all his impotent malice and menaces; she knows that, while she preserves her integrity, she is sure of the divine protection, and that though the enemy may bark he cannot bite. All his threats are a jest; it is all but brutum fulmen - a mere flash," 3. Those who abuse the people of God affront God himself; and he takes what is said and done against them as said and done against himself: "Whom hast thou reproached? Even the Holy One of Israel, whom thou hast therefore reproached because he is a Holy One." And it aggravated the indignity Sennacherib did to God that he not only reproached him himself, but set his servants on to do the same: By thy servants, the abjects, thou hast reproached me. 4. Those who boast of themselves and their own achievements reflect upon God and his providence: "Thou hast said, I have digged, and drunk water; I have done mighty feats, and will do more; and wilt not own that I have done it," Isa 37:24-26. The most active men are no more than God makes them, and God makes them no more than of old he designed to make them: "What I have formed of ancient times, in an eternal counsel, now have I brought to pass" (for God does all according to the counsel of his will), "that thou shouldst be to lay waste defenced cities; it is therefore intolerable arrogance to make it thy own doing." 5. All the malice, and all the motions and projects, of the church's enemies, are under the cognizance and check of the church's God. Sennacherib was active and quick, here, and there, and every where, but God knew his going out and coming in, and had always an eye upon him, Isa 37:28. And that was not all; he had a hand upon him too, a strict hand, a strong hand, a hook in his nose and a bridle in his lips, with which, though he was very headstrong and unruly, he could and would turn him back by the way which he came, Isa 37:29. Hitherto he shall come and no further. God had signed Sennacherib's commission against Judah (Isa 10:6); here he supersedes it. He has frightened them, but he must not hurt them, and therefore is discharged from going any further; nay, his commitment is here signed, by which he is clapped up, to answer for what he had done beyond his commission. 6. God is his people's bountiful benefactor, as well as their powerful protector, both a sun and a shield to those that trust in him. Jerusalem shall be defended (Isa 37:35), the besiegers shall not come into it, no, nor come before it with any regular attack, but they shall be routed before they begin the siege, Isa 37:33. But this is not all; God will return in mercy to his people, and will do them good. Their land shall be more than ordinarily fruitful, so that their losses shall be abundantly repaired; they shall not feel any of the ill effects either of the enemies' wasting the country or of their own being taken off from husbandry. But the earth, as at first, shall bring forth of itself, and they shall live and live plentifully upon its spontaneous productions. The blessing of the Lord can, when he pleases, make rich without the hand of the diligent. And let them not think that the desolations of their country would excuse them from observing the sabbatical year, which happened (as it should seem) the year after, and when they were not to plough or sow; no, though they had not now their usual stock beforehand for that year, yet they must religiously observe it, and depend upon God to provide for them. God must be trusted in the way of duty. 7. There is no standing before the judgments of God when they come with commission. (1.) The greatest numbers cannot stand before them: one angel shall, in one night, lay a vast army of men dead upon the spot, when God commissions him so to do, Isa 37:36. Here are 185,000 brave soldiers in an instant turned into so many dead corpses. Many think the 76th Psalm was penned upon occasion of this defeat, where from the spoiling of the stout-hearted, and sending them to sleep their long sleep (Isa 37:5), it is inferred that God is more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey (Isa 37:4), and that he, even he, is to be feared, Isa 37:7. Angels are employed, more than we are aware of, as ministers of God's justice, to punish the pride and break the power of wicked men. (2.) The greatest men cannot stand before them: The great king, the king of Assyria, looks very little when he is forced to return, not only with shame, because he cannot accomplish what he had projected with so much assurance, but with terror and fear, lest the angel that had destroyed his army should destroy him; yet he is made to look less when his own sons, who should have guarded him, sacrificed him to his idol, whose protection he sought, Isa 37:37, Isa 37:38. God can quickly stop their breath who breathe out threatenings and slaughter against his people, and will do it when they have filled up the measure of their iniquity; and the Lord is known by these judgments which he executes, known to be a God that resists the proud. Many prophecies were fulfilled in this providence, which should encourage us, as far as they look further, and are designed as common and general assurances of the safety of the church and of all that trust in God, to depend upon God for the accomplishment of them. He that has delivered does and will deliver. Lord, forgive our enemies; but, so let all thy enemies perish, O Lord!

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Historical interpretation

Historical Reception

One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.

1 quote · AD 420

AD 420JeromePost-NiceneSourceCommentary on Isaiah

(Vers. 30 seqq.) But this will be a sign for you: Eat in this year what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs from that; then in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. The remaining survivors of the house of Judah shall take root downward and bear fruit upward; for out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. All these things the Prophet speaks through messengers to Hezekiah, what Sennacherib said, what the Lord answered him: now he speaks to him directly, so that he may not doubt the things that were said to come. And for this reason, especially, the words of the prophets had credibility among the people: because they not only remembered things that would happen many centuries in the future, but also things that would happen immediately, and would be fulfilled after a short period of time: and that within two years, the Assyrian king would perish and security would be restored to the city of Jerusalem. This will be, he says, a sign of what I predict will happen, that in this year you will eat what grows naturally. Or according to the Seventy, those things which you harvest first. But in the second year, according to Symmachus, eat from the fruits: or according to the same people, those things which have sprouted from the past crops and fallen to the ground as seed. But in the third year, after the Assyrians have been driven away and the siege has been lifted, sow, reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits of them. Indeed, the remaining fragments of this small city, which are now being surrounded by hostile armies, do not believe that they will escape. They will receive such an abundance and happiness of all things that they will be filled, like a tree firmly rooted in a high mountain, with the thickest of fruits. For the remnants will come forth from Jerusalem and from Mount Zion, and they will fill the land of Judaea, not by their own merit, but by the mercy of God, indeed by the zeal that He has shown towards His wicked people.

Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.

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