Isaiah 39:7

7 Some of your own direct descendants will be taken away and made eunuchs to serve in the palace of the king of Babylonia." 1

Isaiah 39:7 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 39:7

And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt
beget, shall they take away
Manasseh his immediate son was taken and carried to Babylon, though afterwards released; nor does it appear that he was made a eunuch or an officer there; this had its fulfilment in Jeconiah and his children, and in others that were of the seed royal, as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, to whom the Jewish commentators apply this; this is expressed in different words, signifying much the same, to affect the mind of Hezekiah the more: and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon;
or "chamberlains"; and who very often were castrated for that purpose, though it does not necessarily signify such, being used of officers in general. The Targum renders it "princes" F6; and such an one was Daniel in the court of the king of Babylon; and his three companions were also promoted, ( Daniel 2:48 Daniel 2:49 ) ( 3:30 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F6 So Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it princes and governors.

Isaiah 39:7 In-Context

5 Isaiah then told the king, "The Lord Almighty says that
6 a time is coming when everything in your palace, everything that your ancestors have stored up to this day, will be carried off to Babylonia. Nothing will be left.
7 Some of your own direct descendants will be taken away and made eunuchs to serve in the palace of the king of Babylonia."
8 King Hezekiah understood this to mean that there would be peace and security during his lifetime, so he replied, "The message you have given me from the Lord is good."

Cross References 1

  • 1. 39.7Daniel 1.1-7; 2 K 24.10-16;2 Chronicles 36.10.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.