Isaiah 37:33

Therefore 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.

Therefore thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} concerning the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}, He shall not come {H935} into this city {H5892}, nor shoot {H3384} an arrow {H2671} there, nor come before {H6923} it with shields {H4043}, nor cast {H8210} a bank {H5550} against it.

"Therefore this is what ADONAI says concerning the king of Ashur: "'He will not come to this city or even shoot an arrow there; he will not confront it with a shield or erect earthworks against it.

So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it.

Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come unto this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it.

Isaiah 37:33 delivers a powerful divine declaration from the LORD concerning the seemingly unstoppable Assyrian king, Sennacherib, and his siege against Jerusalem. This verse is a direct prophecy, assuring King Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem that their city would not fall to the overwhelming enemy.

Context

This verse is situated in a critical period of Judah's history, around 701 BC, when the mighty Assyrian Empire, under King Sennacherib, had already conquered many nations and cities, including fortified cities in Judah. The Assyrian army was at the gates of Jerusalem, and their field commander, Rabshakeh, had issued terrifying threats and blasphemous taunts against God and His people, as recorded in Isaiah chapter 36. King Hezekiah, faced with an impossible military situation, turned to the prophet Isaiah and, most importantly, to God in fervent prayer, laying out the Assyrian threats before the LORD (see Isaiah 37:15-20). In response to Hezekiah's faith and humility, God, through Isaiah, delivers this specific and detailed prophecy of Jerusalem's deliverance.

Key Themes

  • Divine Protection and Sovereignty: The primary message is God's absolute control over all earthly powers. Despite Sennacherib's vast military might and advanced siege technology, God declares that Jerusalem is off-limits. This highlights God's role as the ultimate defender of His people.
  • God's Faithfulness to His Promises: This prophecy is a testament to God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with His people and His city. He had chosen Jerusalem and promised to dwell there, and He would not allow it to be utterly destroyed by an idolatrous power.
  • The Limits of Human Power: Sennacherib's army was renowned for its efficiency and brutality, employing various siege tactics like shooting arrows, using shields for protection, and "casting a bank" (building a siege ramp or mound) to breach city walls. Yet, the LORD declares that none of these methods will succeed against Jerusalem, demonstrating that human strength and strategy are futile when they oppose God's will.
  • Prophetic Fulfillment: This prophecy was dramatically and literally fulfilled. The very next verses in Isaiah 37:36-38 describe how the angel of the LORD struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night, forcing Sennacherib to retreat in shame and eventually be assassinated in his own land.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "cast a bank against it" (Hebrew: shaphak solelah) refers to the common Assyrian siege tactic of building an earthen ramp or mound up to the city walls. This allowed their troops to ascend and breach the fortifications, or for siege engines to be brought into position. The LORD's declaration here means that even this formidable and effective strategy would be rendered useless against Jerusalem, signifying a complete divine frustration of their military efforts.

Practical Application

Isaiah 37:33 offers profound encouragement for believers today. When facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, overwhelming opposition, or situations that feel beyond human control, this verse reminds us that:

  • God is Sovereign: No power on earth, no matter how great, can thwart God's plans or overcome His protection for His people.
  • Trust in His Promises: Just as God protected Jerusalem, He is faithful to defend and deliver those who put their trust in Him. We can take refuge in His unfailing word (compare with Psalm 46:1).
  • Prayer is Powerful: Hezekiah's desperate prayer was pivotal in bringing about this divine intervention. This underscores the importance of turning to God in our moments of crisis.
The deliverance of Jerusalem stands as a powerful historical testament to God's willingness and ability to intervene miraculously on behalf of His chosen ones, providing hope and strengthening faith for all generations.

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.

  • Isaiah 33:20

    Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle [that] shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.

  • Ezekiel 21:22

    At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint [battering] rams against the gates, to cast a mount, [and] to build a fort.

  • Isaiah 10:32

    As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand [against] the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

  • Isaiah 10:34

    And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.

  • Isaiah 17:14

    And behold at eveningtide trouble; [and] before the morning he [is] not. This [is] the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

  • Isaiah 8:7

    Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, [even] the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:

  • Isaiah 8:10

    Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God [is] with us.
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