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Isaiah 37:4

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 37:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “It may be Jehovah thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

It may be Jehovah thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.
Isaiah 37:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 37

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Jehovah.
2And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
3And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of contumely; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
4It may be Jehovah thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.
5So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
6And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith Jehovah, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
7Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear tidings, and shall return unto his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
← Isaiah 37:3Isaiah 37:5 →
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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
“It may be the Lord thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, &c.] He had heard them; but the sense is, that it might be that he would take notice of them, and resent them in a public manner, and punish for them; and this is said, not as doubting and questioning whether he would or not, but as hoping and encouraging himself that he would: and it may be observed, that Hezekiah does not call the Lord “my God”, or “our God”, because he and his people were under the chastening hand of God for their sins, and were undeserving of such a relation; but “thy God”, whose prophet he was, whom he served, and to whom he was dear, and with whom he had an interest; and therefore it might be hoped his prayer…”
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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
“hear--take cognizance of (Sa2 16:12). reprove--will punish him for the words, &c. (Psa 50:21). remnant--the two tribes of the kingdom of Judah, Israel being already captive. Isaiah is entreated to act as intercessor with God.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“It may be the Lord thy God - The God whom thou dost serve, and in whose name and by whose authority thou dost exercise the prophetic office. Will hear the words - Will come forth and vindicate himself in regard to the language of reproach and blasphemy which has been used. See a similar use of the word ‘hear’ in Exodus 2:24; Exodus 3:7. To reproach the living God - The revilings of Rabsbakeh were really directed against the true God. The reproach of the ‘living God’ consisted in comparing him to idols, and saying that be was no more able to deleted Jerusalem than the idol-gods had been able to defend their lands (see the note at Isaiah 36:18). The phrase ‘the living God’ is often applied to…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“37:4 perhaps . . . God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff . . . defy the living God: Hezekiah’s hope was not based on Judah’s or his own goodness, or the presence of the Temple in Jerusalem; instead, it was based on God responding to Assyria’s blasphemy.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“It may: Jos 14:12; Sa1 14:6; Sa2 16:12; Amo 5:15 to reproach: Isa 37:23, Isa 37:24, Isa 36:20, Isa 51:7, Isa 51:8; Sa1 17:26, Sa1 17:36; Kg2 19:4, Kg2 19:22, Kg2 19:23; Ch2 32:15-19 and will: Isa 37:23; Psa 50:21 lift up: Sa1 7:8, Sa1 12:19, Sa1 12:23; Ch2 32:20; Psa 106:23; Joe 2:17; Jam 5:16 for the: Isa 1:9, Isa 8:7, Isa 8:8, Isa 10:5, Isa 10:6, Isa 10:22; Kg2 17:18, Kg2 18:9-16; Ch2 28:19; Rom 9:27 left: Heb. found Isaiah 37:6”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification