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Isaiah 37:38

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And 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.

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping {H7812} in the house {H1004} of Nisroch {H5268} his god {H430}, that Adrammelech {H152} and Sharezer {H8272} his sons {H1121} smote {H5221} him with the sword {H2719}; and they escaped {H4422} into the land {H776} of Armenia {H780}: and Esarhaddon {H634} his son {H1121} reigned {H4427} in his stead.

One day, as he was worshipping in the temple of Nisrokh his god, his sons Adramelekh and Shar'etzer struck him with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat. So his son Esar-Hadon took his place as king.

One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

And 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 Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 37:38 (KJV)

Isaiah 37:38 concludes the dramatic narrative of King Sennacherib of Assyria, bringing to fulfillment the prophecy delivered by the prophet Isaiah concerning his ultimate fate. This verse details the death of the mighty Assyrian king, not on the battlefield, but at the hands of his own sons, while he was engaged in an act of worship to his pagan deity.

Context

This verse follows directly from the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian siege. Earlier in Isaiah 37, King Sennacherib had sent threatening messages to King Hezekiah and blasphemed the God of Israel. In response, God, through Isaiah, prophesied Sennacherib's defeat and his ignominious return to his own land, specifically stating, "Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land" (Isaiah 37:7). The preceding verse, Isaiah 37:36, vividly describes the angel of the Lord striking down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, forcing Sennacherib's hasty retreat to Nineveh. Verse 38 provides the final, personal fulfillment of God's judgment against him, years after his return.

Key Themes

  • Divine Retribution and Fulfillment of Prophecy: The death of Sennacherib, though occurring some time after his return to Nineveh, is presented as the direct consequence of his arrogance and blasphemy against the Lord. It serves as a powerful testament to God's faithfulness in executing His word and judgment against those who defy Him.
  • The Futility of Idolatry: Sennacherib was "worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god" when he was struck down. This highlights the impotence of pagan deities. Nisroch, an Assyrian god often associated with agriculture or war, was utterly unable to protect his worshipper from a violent end. This contrasts sharply with the power of the God of Israel, who had just delivered Jerusalem.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Human Affairs: Even the internal political strife and family betrayal within the Assyrian royal house—Adrammelech and Sharezer assassinating their father, and Esarhaddon succeeding him—are shown to be part of God's overarching plan to bring about justice and fulfill His prophetic word. This is a powerful demonstration of God's control even over the hearts of kings.

Linguistic Insights

The name Nisroch is a specific Assyrian deity, though its exact identity and attributes are debated among scholars. Its mention here emphasizes the pagan context of Sennacherib's worship. The "land of Armenia" refers to the ancient kingdom of Urartu, a region north of Assyria, where Sennacherib's sons sought refuge after the assassination.

Related Scriptures

This account is paralleled in 2 Kings 19:37, which provides the identical historical record, reinforcing the accuracy and consistency of the biblical narrative regarding this significant historical event.

Practical Application

Isaiah 37:38 offers several enduring lessons:

  • It reinforces the truth that God's word is reliable and will always come to pass. His prophecies are not mere predictions but declarations of His sovereign will.
  • It serves as a stark warning against pride and blasphemy, demonstrating that even the most powerful human rulers are subject to God's ultimate authority.
  • It highlights the emptiness and powerlessness of false gods and idol worship. True security and salvation are found only in the living God, not in human constructs or pagan rituals.
  • For believers, this verse is a reminder of God's unwavering faithfulness to His people, as He defends them against their enemies and fulfills His promises of protection and justice.
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 (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 8:4 (6 votes)

    ¶ And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

  • Jeremiah 51:27 (5 votes)

    Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers.

  • Ezra 4:2 (4 votes)

    Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye [do]; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

  • 2 Kings 19:36 (3 votes)

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

  • 2 Kings 19:37 (3 votes)

    And 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.

  • Isaiah 36:15 (3 votes)

    Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:19 (3 votes)

    And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, [which were] the work of the hands of man.