Isaiah 39:7

7 ‘Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.’”

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 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Isaiah 39:7 In-Context

5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the LORD of Heaven’s Armies:

6 ‘The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the LORD .

7 ‘Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.’”

8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the LORD is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”