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Isaiah 37:23

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 37:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Whom 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Whom 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.
Isaiah 37:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 37

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
26Hast thou not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that it should be thine to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
← Isaiah 37:22Isaiah 37:24 →
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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
“Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? &c.] A creature like thyself? no, but a God, and not one like the gods of the nations, the idols of wood and stone, but the living God: and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice? alluding to Rabshakeh’s crying with a loud voice, (<233613>Isaiah 36:13): and lifted up thine eyes on high? as proud and haughty persons do, disdaining to look upon those they treat with contempt: even against the Holy One of Israel; that is, Israel’s God, and will protect him; “a Holy One”, and of purer eyes than to behold with pleasure such a proud blaspheming creature, and cannot look upon him but with indignation; for against such he sets himself; these he resists,…”
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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
“Whom--not an idol.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“When hast thou reproached? - Not an idol. Not one who has no power to take vengeance, or to defend the city under his protection, but the living God. Exalted thy voice - That is, by thy messenger. Thou hast spoken in a loud, confident tone; in the language of reproach and threatening. And lifted up thine eyes on high - To lift up the eyes is an indication of haughtiness and pride. He had evinced arrogance in his manner, and he was yet to learn that it was against the living and true God. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“37:23 Whom . . . Against whom: Sennacherib’s speech was not so much an insult against Judah as it was against the Lord.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Whom hast: Isa 37:10-13; Exo 5:2; Kg2 19:4, Kg2 19:22; Ch2 32:17; Psa 44:16, Psa 73:9, Psa 74:18, Psa 74:23; Rev 13:1-6 against whom: Isa 10:13-15, Isa 14:13, Isa 14:14; Exo 9:17; Pro 30:13; Eze 28:2, Eze 28:9; Dan 5:20-23; Dan 7:25; Th2 2:4 the Holy One: Isa 10:20, Isa 12:6, Isa 17:7, Isa 30:11, Isa 30:12, Isa 41:14, Isa 41:16, Isa 43:3, Isa 43:14; Exo 15:11; Eze 39:7; Hab 1:12, Hab 1:13 Isaiah 37:24”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification