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Isaiah 37:22

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 37:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “this is the word which Jehovah hath spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

this is the word which Jehovah hath spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
Isaiah 37:22 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 37

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19and have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men`s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them.
20Now therefore, O Jehovah our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art Jehovah, even thou only.
21Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria,
22this is the word which Jehovah hath spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
23Whom hast thou defied and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice and lifted up thine eyes on high? [even] against the Holy One of Israel.
24By thy servants hast thou defied the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir-trees thereof; and I will enter into its farthest height, the forest of its fruitful field;
25I have digged and drunk water, and with the sole of my feet will I dry up all the rivers of Egypt.
← Isaiah 37:21Isaiah 37:23 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“This is the word which the Lord hath spoken concerning him, &c.] The sentence he has pronounced upon him, the punishment he has determined to inflict on him, in answer to Hezekiah’s prayer against him: the virgin, the daughter of Zion; hath despised thee; and laughed thee to scorn; that, is the inhabitants of Zion, particularly of the fort of Zion, called a “virgin”, because it had never been forced, or taken and to show that it was a vain thing in Sennacherib to attempt it, as well as it would have been an injurious one, could he have accomplished it; since God, the Father of this virgin, would carefully keep her from such a rape; and he who was her husband to whom she was espoused as a…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Transition to poetry: in parallelism. virgin . . . daughter--honorable terms. "Virgin" implies that the city is, as yet, inviolate. "Daughter" is an abstract collective feminine personification of the population, the child of the place denoted (see on Isa 23:10; Isa 1:8). Zion and her inhabitants. shaken . . . head--in scorn (Psa 22:7; Psa 109:25; Mat 27:39). With us to shake the head is a sign of denial or displeasure; but gestures have different meanings in different countries (Isa 58:9; Eze 25:6; Zep 2:15).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The virgin, the daughter of Zion - Jerusalem (see the note at Isaiah 1:8; compare the note at Isaiah 23:12). The parallelism in this and the following verses shows that the poetic form of speech is here introduced. Hast despised thee - That is, it is secure from thy contemplated attack. The idea is, that Jerusalem would exult over the ineffectual attempts of Sennacherib to take it, and over his complete overthrow. Hath laughed thee to scorn - Will make thee an object of derision. Hath shaken her head at thee - This is an indication of contempt and scorn (compare Psalms 22:7; Psalms 109:25; Jeremiah 18:16; Zephaniah 2:15; Matthew 27:39). return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“37:22 The virgin daughter of Zion: Jerusalem is personified as a young woman who mocks the Assyrian king (see also 3:26).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“The virgin: Isa 23:12; Jer 14:17; Lam 1:15, Lam 2:13; Amo 5:2 the daughter: Isa 1:8, Isa 10:32, Isa 62:11; Psa 9:14; Zep 3:14; Zac 2:10, Zac 9:9; Mat 21:5 hath despised: Isa 8:9, Isa 8:10; Sa1 17:36, Sa1 17:44-47; Psa 2:2-4, Psa 27:1-3, Psa 31:18, Psa 46:1-7; Joe 3:9-12 shaken: Job 16:4; Psa 22:7, Psa 22:8; Mat 27:39 Isaiah 37:23”
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Related study paths

Read Isaiah 37 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification