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Isaiah 37:19

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And have cast their gods into the fire: for they [were] no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.

And have cast {H5414} their gods {H430} into the fire {H784}: for they were no gods {H430}, but the work {H4639} of men's {H120} hands {H3027}, wood {H6086} and stone {H68}: therefore they have destroyed {H6} them.

and have thrown their gods into the fire. For those were non-gods, merely the products of people's hands, wood and stone; this is why they could destroy them.

They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.

and have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them.

Commentary

Isaiah 37:19 is part of King Hezekiah's prayer to God during the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrian army under Sennacherib. Hezekiah is pleading for deliverance, contrasting the fate of other nations conquered by the Assyrians with the unique position of Israel and their God.

Context

Hezekiah's prayer in Isaiah chapter 37 follows the terrifying demands and blasphemous taunts of the Assyrian messengers (the Rabshakeh). The Assyrians boasted of their power and how they had easily conquered other nations, destroying their gods. Hezekiah brings this reality before God, acknowledging the Assyrians' conquests (as mentioned in Isaiah 37:18). Verse 19 highlights the Assyrians' practice of burning or otherwise destroying the idols of the conquered peoples, stating the reason why this was possible: these 'gods' were mere human creations, not divine beings.

Key Themes

  • The Vanity of Idols: The verse starkly contrasts the Assyrians' false gods with the true God of Israel. Idols are described as "the work of men's hands, wood and stone," emphasizing their powerlessness and inability to save themselves or their worshippers. This is a recurring theme throughout Isaiah and the Old Testament.
  • Human Craftsmanship vs. Divine Power: The core distinction made is that idols are made by humans, whereas the true God is the Creator and the only one with genuine power and authority.
  • Assyrian Perspective vs. Hezekiah's Faith: From the Assyrian viewpoint, destroying idols proved their gods (or their own might) were superior. Hezekiah uses this observation to underscore that the Assyrians could only destroy things that were inherently weak and not truly divine, setting the stage for his plea that the true God would demonstrate His unique power.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "they [were] no gods" is a direct and powerful statement contrasting the title given to these objects ("gods") with their actual nature ("no gods"). The description "the work of men's hands, wood and stone" is a common biblical idiom used to expose the emptiness and powerlessness of idols, highlighting their material composition and human origin rather than any divine essence. This simple description serves as a profound theological statement.

Reflection

Hezekiah's observation about the weakness of idols remains relevant today. The verse challenges us to consider what "gods" we might rely on that are merely "the work of men's hands"—whether they are material possessions, human achievements, political power, or anything else we trust in more than the living God. Like the idols of wood and stone, these things are ultimately powerless to save us in times of true crisis and can be easily "destroyed." The passage calls us to place our faith and trust solely in the true God, who is not made by hands but is the Maker of all things, capable of delivering us when all human strength and earthly supports fail, as Hezekiah prayed (see Isaiah 37:20).

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

  • Psalms 115:4 (2 votes)

    Their idols [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

  • Psalms 115:8 (2 votes)

    They that make them are like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them.

  • Hosea 8:6 (2 votes)

    For from Israel [was] it also: the workman made it; therefore it [is] not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

  • Isaiah 36:18 (2 votes)

    [Beware] lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

  • Isaiah 36:20 (2 votes)

    Who [are they] among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

  • Jeremiah 10:11 (2 votes)

    Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, [even] they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.

  • Isaiah 44:17 (2 votes)

    And the residue thereof he maketh a god, [even] his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth [it], and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou [art] my god.