Isaiah 37:14-20

Hezekiah's Prayer for Deliverance

14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.

15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD:

16 "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, ¹enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; ²you have made heaven and earth.

17 ³Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear ⁴all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.

18 Truly, O LORD, ⁵the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands,

19 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 were destroyed.

20 So now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD."

Isaiah 37:14-20 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. Exodus 25:22; Ezekiel 10:1
• 2. Acts 4:24; [Jeremiah 10:11]
• 3. [2 Chronicles 6:40]
• 4. 2 Chronicles 32:19
• 5. [Isaiah 10:13, 14]