Isaiah 37:1-6

Jerusalem’s Deliverance Foretold

1 When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the LORD.

2 He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.

3 They told him, “This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment of birth and there is no strength to deliver them.

4 It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, and that he will rebuke him for the words the LORD your God has heard. Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives.”

5 When King Hezekiah’s officials came to Isaiah,

6 Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

Isaiah 37:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 37

In this chapter are contained Hezekiah's message to Isaiah, desiring his prayer for him and his people, in this time of sore distress, Isa 37:1-5, the comforting and encouraging answer returned by the prophet to him, Isa 37:6,7, the king of Assyria's letter to Hezekiah, to terrify him into a surrender of the city of Jerusalem to him, Isa 37:8-13 which Hezekiah spread before the Lord, and prayed unto him for deliverance, Isa 37:14-20, upon which he received a gracious answer by the hand of the prophet, promising safety and deliverance to him, and destruction to the king of Assyria, of which a sign was given, Isa 37:21-35 and the chapter is closed with the slaughter of the Assyrian army by an angel, the flight of the king, and his death by the hands of his sons, Isa 37:36-38.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 37:29; S 2 Chronicles 34:19
• 2. S Genesis 37:34
• 3. S ver 14; S 1 Kings 8:33; Matthew 21:13
• 4. S 2 Kings 18:18; S Isaiah 36:3
• 5. S 2 Kings 18:18
• 6. ver 21; Isaiah 1:1; S Isaiah 13:1; Isaiah 38:1
• 7. S Judges 6:2; S Isaiah 5:30
• 8. Isaiah 26:18; Isaiah 66:9; Hosea 13:13
• 9. ver 23-24; S 2 Chronicles 32:17
• 10. S Joshua 3:10
• 11. Isa 36:13,18-20
• 12. S 1 Samuel 7:8
• 13. S Isaiah 1:9; Amos 7:2
• 14. S Joshua 1:9; S Isaiah 7:4
• 15. S Numbers 15:30