Isaiah 37 - Printer Friendly

What does Isaiah 37 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

King Hezekiah of Judah (2 Kings 18:1–8) has just received a report from his group of diplomats (Isaiah 36:22). These men were sent to meet representatives of the approaching Assyrian army (Isaiah 36:1–3). The primary messenger from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, had mocked Hezekiah and the Lord in full hearing of the people inside the walls (Isaiah 36:20). The Assyrians were coming to besiege and destroy Jerusalem. The incidents recorded in this chapter are also found in 2 Kings chapter 19. A parallel account is found in 2 Chronicles 32:1–23.

Hezekiah responds to the blasphemous threats by tearing his clothes in mourning and outrage. He sends his officials, wearing sackcloth to represent grief, to Isaiah the prophet. Assyria's spokesman—called a "Rabshakeh" (Isaiah 36:4) or a "field commander"—taunted Israel and God. Hezekiah's messengers ask Isaiah to pray to the Lord to save the remnant of Judah that remains alive inside of Jerusalem. Isaiah immediately sends the officials back with a message from the Lord: Don't be afraid. Don't worry about the taunts from Assyria. God will distract the Assyrian king with rumors. He and his army will return home, and Sennacherib will be killed in his own territory (Isaiah 37:1–7).

King Sennacherib's spokesman had left him at Lachish (Isaiah 36:2). This official, the "Rabshakeh," returns to find the king has taken the army to Libnah (2 Kings 19:8). As promised, Assyria's ruler heard whispers that another nation was about to attack. So, Sennacherib delays his assault on Jerusalem. But he sends a message to Hezekiah, letting him know that Assyria has not forgotten about Judah. No other nations' gods have stopped Assyria's advance, and all their kings have fallen. This is only a temporary reprieve (Isaiah 37:8–13).

Hezekiah takes the letter from Sennacherib to the temple and lays it open as he prays to God. Hezekiah glorifies the Lord and begs Him to spare Jerusalem from these invaders. Assyria's king has insulted the Lord God. But the so-called "gods" defeated by Assyria are fictions. They are manmade idols, while the God of Israel is the One True Creator. Hezekiah asks the Lord to save Israel to prove to every nation that only the Lord is God (Isaiah 37:14–20).

In response to Hezekiah's prayer, God gives him a message through Isaiah. The first part of this message is a poetic response to Sennacherib. In it, the Lord condemns the Assyrian king for mocking the Holy One of Israel. God will humble Sennacherib as if He were breaking a horse and bending it to His will. Assyria will be turned back the way they came. Isaiah's message also reassures the people of Jerusalem. It will take three years for the land to recover from the invasion, but after this it would be productive. Isaiah's prophecy states clearly that Sennacherib will not conquer Jerusalem. In fact, the Assyrians will not even mount an attack: not so much as a single arrow, shield, or fortification. The army will be turned back while Jerusalem remains untouched (Isaiah 37:21–35).

What follows is the brutal slaughter of Assyrian troops. No details are given about how this happened, other than it being the work of "the angel of the Lord." Overnight, the army is nearly wiped out. This result is usually translated as 185,000 dead enemy soldiers, though the term for "thousands" can also mean "divisions." The massive carnage causes Sennacherib to retreat without attacking Jerusalem, just as Isaiah predicted. The king returns to Nineveh, where another recent prophecy is fulfilled. Sennacherib is murdered by his sons while worshipping in a pagan temple (Isaiah 37:36–38).

Isaiah 37:1–13 continues the story of Assyria's threats against Jerusalem (Isaiah 36:1–3, 20). Hezekiah sends officials to ask Isaiah to pray for them. The Lord tells Hezekiah not to be afraid; He will repel Sennacherib to return home and be killed there. Distracted by rumors, Sennacherib sends a letter to Hezekiah indicating he will soon make good on his threats. After all, none of the gods of other nations saved them from the Assyrian war machine.

Isaiah 37:14–20 records Hezekiah's perfect response to recent Assyrian threats (Isaiah 37:10). With no other options, Judah's King Hezekiah falls entirely on God's mercy in prayer and humility. He asks the Lord to respond to King Sennacherib's blasphemy. Hezekiah begs the Lord to save Judah from the Assyrians so that the entire world will see that Israel's God is the only true Lord.

Isaiah 37:21–38 contains the Lord's response to Hezekiah's humble prayer (Isaiah 37:14–20). Through Isaiah, the Lord first addresses Sennacherib in a poem. He tells the most powerful man on earth at the time that God will turn him around and send him home. Next the Lord promises Hezekiah that Sennacherib will never even approach Jerusalem, let alone attack it. The remnant of Judah will survive and thrive. As the Assyrians plan to engage in a different battle, the Lord destroys nearly the entire army in a single night. Sennacherib goes home. He is later killed by his sons.

Chapter Summary:

Hezekiah is overcome with grief at news that Sennacherib has mocked the Lord and is coming to destroy Jerusalem. God reassures Hezekiah that the Asyrian king will return home to be killed there. Hezekiah prays in the temple, asking the Lord to defend His name and save Judah. Through Isaiah, the Lord reveals to Hezekiah that Jerusalem will not be touched. Assyria's army won't even have the chance to attack. Responding to their aggression and blasphemy, the "angel of the Lord" virtually wipes out the gigantic Assyrian army overnight. Sennacherib returns home and is later killed by his sons.

Chapter Context:

Isaiah 37 continues the narrative started in Isaiah 36. Assyrian messengers threaten to bring their enormous, nearby army to take Jerusalem. Hezekiah seeks God in response and is reassured that Jerusalem will not see so much as a single Assyrian arrow. The Lord promises to save the city and make the survivors prosper. The angel of the Lord kills an overwhelming number of Assyrian soldiers overnight. Sennacherib returns home and is eventually killed by his own sons. Hezekiah will then face a serious illness and be granted a brief reprieve by God (Isaiah 38).

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 4/18/2026 4:47:17 AM