Isaiah 36:5

“I say, (sayest thou,) but they are but vain words, &c.] Or, “word of lips”f685; meaning the following, which he suggests were only the fruit of his lips, not of his heart; or were vain and foolish, and without effect, and stood for nothing; so the first part of the words are Hezekiah’s, “I say (sayest thou)”; and the latter, Rabshakeh’s note upon them; though they may be understood as Hezekiah’s, or what he is made to speak by Rabshakeh, as the ground of his confidence, namely, “word of lips”; that is, prayer to God, as Kimchi explains it; or eloquence in addressing his soldiers, and encouraging them to fight, either of which Rabshakeh derides, as well as what follows: I have counsel and…”

“counsel--Egypt was famed for its wisdom.”

“I say, sayest thou - In 2 Kings 18:20, this is ‘thou sayest;’ and thus many manuscripts read it here, and Lowth and Noyes have adopted that reading. So the Syriac reads it. But the sense is not affected whichever reading is adopted. It is designed to show to Hezekiah that his reliance, either on his own resources or on Egypt, was vain. But they are but vain words - Margin, as Hebrew, ‘A word of lips;’ that is, mere words; vain and empty boasting. On whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? - Hezekiah had revolted from the Assyrian power, and had refused to pay the tribute which had been imposed on the Jews in the time of Ahaz 2 Kings 18:7. return to 'Top of Page'”

“36:5 Who are you counting on: Judah had asked Egypt to help them (see 30:1-5).”

“vain words: Heb. a word of lips. I have counsel and strength for war. or, but counsel and strength are for the war. Pro 21:30, Pro 21:31, Pro 24:5, Pro 24:6 that: Kg2 18:7, Kg2 24:1; Neh 2:19, Neh 2:20; Jer 52:3; Eze 17:15 Isaiah 36:6”