Isaiah 36:20
Isaiah 36:20 in Multiple Translations
Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”
Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
Who are they among all the gods of these countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Jehovah should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
Who among all the gods of these countries have kept their country from falling into my hand, to give cause for the thought that the Lord will keep Jerusalem from falling into my hand?
Which one of all the gods of these countries has saved their land from me? How then could the Lord save Jerusalem from me?”
Who is hee among all the gods of these lands, that hath deliuered their countrey out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliuer Ierusalem out of mine hand?
Who among all the gods of these lands [are] they who have delivered their land out of my hand, that Jehovah doth deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?'
Who are they among all the gods of these countries that have delivered their country out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”
Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
Who is there among all the gods of these lands, that hath delivered his country out of my hand, that the Lord may deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
No, no god [RHQ] of any nation has been able to rescue their people from me. So why do you think that Yahweh will rescue you people of Jerusalem from my power [MTY]?’”
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 36:20
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Isaiah 36:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 36:20
Study Notes — Isaiah 36:20
Context — Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
20Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”
21But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.” 22Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 50:21 | You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face. |
| 2 | 2 Chronicles 32:19 | They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as they had spoken against the gods of the peoples of the earth—the work of human hands. |
| 3 | Isaiah 37:23–29 | Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest heights, the densest of its forests. I have dug wells and drunk foreign waters. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.” Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble. Therefore their inhabitants, devoid of power, are dismayed and ashamed. They are like plants in the field, tender green shoots, grass on the rooftops, scorched before it is grown. But I know your sitting down, your going out and coming in, and your raging against Me. Because your rage and arrogance against Me have reached My ears, I will put My hook in your nose and My bit in your mouth; I will send you back the way you came.’ |
| 4 | 2 Chronicles 32:15 | So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and do not let him mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand!” |
| 5 | Psalms 73:9 | They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth. |
| 6 | 1 Kings 20:23 | Meanwhile, the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they prevailed over us. Instead, we should fight them on the plains; surely then we will prevail. |
| 7 | Isaiah 45:16–17 | They will all be put to shame and humiliated; the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace. But Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will not be put to shame or humiliated, to ages everlasting. |
| 8 | Exodus 5:2 | But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.” |
| 9 | Isaiah 37:18–19 | Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all these countries and their lands. They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands. |
| 10 | Daniel 3:15 | Now, if you are ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?” |
Isaiah 36:20 Summary
In Isaiah 36:20, the king of Assyria is boasting about his conquests and questioning the ability of the LORD to deliver Jerusalem. However, his boasts are rooted in ignorance of the power and sovereignty of God, as stated in Psalm 115:3. This verse reminds us to trust in the power and sovereignty of God, rather than in our own strength or the 'gods' of this world, and to have faith that He will deliver us, just as He delivered the Israelites in the book of Exodus 14:13-14. By trusting in God, we can have confidence in His power and provision, even in the face of overwhelming circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the context of Isaiah 36:20 and why is the king of Assyria boasting?
The king of Assyria is boasting about his conquests and questioning the ability of the LORD to deliver Jerusalem, as seen in Isaiah 36:18-19, where he asks if any god has delivered their land from his hand, referencing the gods of Hamath, Arpad, and Sepharvaim.
Is the king of Assyria's claim that no god has delivered their land from him true?
While the king of Assyria may have had many victories, his claim is not entirely true, as the God of Israel had delivered His people in the past, such as in the Exodus from Egypt, as recorded in the book of Exodus 14:13-14, and would do so again.
What is the significance of the king of Assyria's question, 'How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?'?
The king's question reveals his ignorance of the power and sovereignty of the LORD, as stated in Psalm 115:3, which says 'Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases', and sets the stage for the LORD's response to his boasts, as seen in Isaiah 37:21-38.
How does this verse relate to the overall theme of trust in God?
This verse highlights the importance of trusting in the power and sovereignty of God, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6, which encourages us to trust in the LORD with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding, and contrasts the arrogance of the king of Assyria with the faith of Hezekiah and the people of Judah.
Reflection Questions
- What are the areas in my life where I am trusting in my own strength, rather than in the power and sovereignty of God?
- How can I apply the lesson of Isaiah 36:20 to my own life, trusting in God's deliverance and provision?
- In what ways can I demonstrate my trust in God, like Hezekiah, in the face of overwhelming circumstances?
- What are the 'gods' in my life that I may be trusting in, rather than the one true God, and how can I turn my trust back to Him?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 36:20
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 36:20
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 36:20
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 36:20
Sermons on Isaiah 36:20
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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False Conclusions by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the patience of God and how it relates to the presence of evil in the world. He references Ecclesiastes 8:11, where Solomon declares that bec |
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Anarchy in Worship or Recent Innovation Contrasted W/ Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (1875) by James Begg | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the objection to symbolism in worship. He refers to Deuteronomy 4, where it is stated that God spoke to the people without any similitude or |
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The Sinners Mistakes Exposed and Reproved. by Edward Payson | Edward Payson preaches about the ancient doctrine of a judgment to come, emphasizing that God, though silent in the present life, carefully records the sins of impenitent sinners f |
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Misrepresenting God by Samuel Logan Brengle | Samuel Logan Brengle emphasizes the importance of accurately representing God's character, warning against the extremes of portraying God solely as merciful or as cruel. He argues |
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Men Naturally Are God’s Enemies by Jonathan Edwards | Jonathan Edwards preaches about the natural enmity of men towards God, emphasizing that all natural men are God's enemies due to their low esteem, aversion, and opposition to God i |
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God Regains His Fear Through Judgments by John Franklin | John Franklin delves into the importance of regaining the fear of God as the antidote to the moral decline plaguing our nation and Christians, emphasizing that the loss of fear of |
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The Christian in Complete Armour - Part 10 by William Gurnall | William Gurnall preaches about the deep reconciliation and peace with God that is offered through the gospel of Christ. He explains that the gospel reveals God's perfect hatred for |







