Isaiah 37:38

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Isaiah 37:38 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

King James Version KJV

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.

American Standard Version ASV

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.

Bible in Basic English BBE

And it came about, when he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to death with the sword, and they went in flight into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon, his son, became king in his place.

Free Bible Version FBV

While he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword and then ran away to the land of Ararat. His son Esar-haddon succeeded him as king.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

And as he was in the temple worshipping of Nisroch his god, Adramelech and Sharezer his sonnes slewe him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Ararat: and Esarhaddon his sonne reigned in his steade.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

And it cometh to pass, he is bowing himself in the house of Nisroch his god, and Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons have smitten him with the sword, and they have escaped to the land of Ararat, and Esar-Haddon his son reigneth in his stead.

World English Bible WEB

As he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons struck him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Esar Haddon his son reigned in his place.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

And it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the temple of Nesroch his god, that Adramelech and Sarasar his sons slew him with the sword: and they fled into the land of Ararat, and Asarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

Translation for Translators T4T

One day, when he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his two sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer, killed him with their swords. Then they escaped and went to the Ararat region northwest of Nineveh. And another of Sennacherib’s sons, Esarhaddon, became the King of Assyria.

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 37:38

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Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Isaiah 37:38 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB וַ/יְהִי֩ ה֨וּא מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֜ה בֵּ֣ית נִסְרֹ֣ךְ אֱלֹהָ֗י/ו וְֽ/אַדְרַמֶּ֨לֶךְ וְ/שַׂרְאֶ֤צֶר בָּנָי/ו֙ הִכֻּ֣/הוּ בַ/חֶ֔רֶב וְ/הֵ֥מָּה נִמְלְט֖וּ אֶ֣רֶץ אֲרָרָ֑ט וַ/יִּמְלֹ֛ךְ אֵֽסַר חַדֹּ֥ן בְּנ֖/וֹ תַּחְתָּֽי/ו

וַ/יְהִי֩ hâyâh H1961 to be Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms

ה֨וּא hûwʼ H1931 he/she/it Pron

מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֜ה shâchâh H7812 to bow V-v

בֵּ֣ית bayith H1004 place N-ms

נִסְרֹ֣ךְ Niçrôk H5268 Nisroch N-proper

אֱלֹהָ֗י/ו ʼĕlôhîym H430 God N-mp | Suff

וְֽ/אַדְרַמֶּ֨לֶךְ ʼĂdrammelek H152 Adrammelech Conj | N-proper

וְ/שַׂרְאֶ֤צֶר Sharʼetser H8272 Sharezer Conj | N-proper

בָּנָי/ו֙ bên H1121 son N-mp | Suff

הִכֻּ֣/הוּ nâkâh H5221 to smite V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp | Suff

בַ/חֶ֔רֶב chereb H2719 sword Prep | N-fs

וְ/הֵ֥מָּה hêm H1992 they(masc.) Conj | Pron

נִמְלְט֖וּ mâlaṭ H4422 to escape V-Niphal-Perf-3cp

אֶ֣רֶץ ʼerets H776 land N-cs

אֲרָרָ֑ט ʼĂrâraṭ H780 Ararat N-proper

וַ/יִּמְלֹ֛ךְ mâlak H4427 to reign Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms

אֵֽסַר ʼÊçar-Chaddôwn H634 Esarhaddon N-proper

חַדֹּ֥ן ʼÊçar-Chaddôwn H634 Esarhaddon N-proper

בְּנ֖/וֹ bên H1121 son N-ms | Suff

תַּחְתָּֽי/ו tachath H8478 underneath Prep | Suff

Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 37:38

וַ/יְהִי֩ hâyâh H1961 "to be" Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms

The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.

Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.

ה֨וּא hûwʼ H1931 "he/she/it" Pron

This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.

Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)

Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.

מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֜ה shâchâh H7812 "to bow" V-v

This Hebrew word means to bow down, often as a sign of respect or worship. It is used in Genesis 24:52 to describe Abraham's servant bowing down to God. The word is about showing humility and respect to someone or something.

Definition: 1) to bow down 1a) (Qal) to bow down 1b)(Hiphil) to depress (fig) 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to bow down, prostrate oneself 1c1a) before superior in homage 1c1b) before God in worship 1c1c) before false gods 1c1d) before angel

Usage: Occurs in 166 OT verses. KJV: bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. See also: Genesis 18:2; 1 Kings 9:9; Psalms 5:8.

בֵּ֣ית bayith H1004 "place" N-ms

The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.

Definition: nm place, origin, between

Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.

נִסְרֹ֣ךְ Niçrôk H5268 "Nisroch" N-proper

Nisroch refers to a Babylonian idol worshipped by Sennacherib, symbolized by an eagle-headed human figure. It is mentioned in the Bible as a false god in 2 Kings 19:37. The name means the great eagle.

Definition: § Nisroch = "the great eagle" an idol of Nineveh worshipped by Sennacherib; symbolised by the eagle-headed human figure

Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Nisroch. See also: 2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38.

אֱלֹהָ֗י/ו ʼĕlôhîym H430 "God" N-mp | Suff

The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.

Definition: This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

Usage: Occurs in 2246 OT verses. KJV: angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 22:12; Exodus 3:11.

וְֽ/אַדְרַמֶּ֨לֶךְ ʼĂdrammelek H152 "Adrammelech" Conj | N-proper

Adrammelech was the name of an Assyrian idol and also the name of a son of King Sennacherib, who murdered his father in 2 Kings 19:37. The name means 'honour of the king' or 'Adar is prince', and is associated with the Sepharvites, a group that introduced this idol to Israel. It is mentioned in the time of the Divided Monarchy.

Definition: A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.19.37; son of: Sennacherib (H5576); brother of: Sharezer (H8272) and Esarhaddon (H0634) § Adrammelech = "honour of the king" or "Adar is prince" or "Adar is Counsellor, Decider" 1) an idol or god of the Sepharvites, introduced to Israel by Shalmaneser the fifth 2) the son and murderer of Sennacherib

Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: Adrammelech. See also: 2 Kings 17:31; 2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38.

וְ/שַׂרְאֶ֤צֶר Sharʼetser H8272 "Sharezer" Conj | N-proper

The name of an important person, Sharezer, who lived during the time of the prophet Zechariah and the exile of the Israelites.

Definition: A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Zec.7.2 § Sharezer or Sherezer = "prince of fire" 1) son of king Sennacherib of Assyria and murderer of his father 2) an Israelite whom the people sent to the house of God to pray in the time of the prophet Zechariah and king Darius

Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: Sharezer. See also: 2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38; Zechariah 7:2.

בָּנָי/ו֙ bên H1121 "son" N-mp | Suff

In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.

Definition: : child/son

Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.

הִכֻּ֣/הוּ nâkâh H5221 "to smite" V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp | Suff

In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to strike or hit something, and it's used in many different ways, like in Exodus when God strikes down the Egyptians. It can also mean to punish or destroy, as seen in Isaiah. The word is used to describe God's judgment.

Definition: 1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill 1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten 1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust 1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast) 1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage 1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy 1d) (Hophal) to be smitten 1d1) to receive a blow 1d2) to be wounded 1d3) to be beaten 1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain 1d5) to be attacked and captured 1d6) to be smitten (with disease) 1d7) to be blighted (of plants)

Usage: Occurs in 461 OT verses. KJV: beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. See also: Genesis 4:15; Joshua 10:20; 1 Samuel 29:5.

בַ/חֶ֔רֶב chereb H2719 "sword" Prep | N-fs

A sword or cutting instrument is what this Hebrew word refers to, including knives and tools for cutting stone. It is used in the Bible to describe weapons and sharp objects.

Definition: 1) sword, knife 1a) sword 1b) knife 1c) tools for cutting stone

Usage: Occurs in 372 OT verses. KJV: axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool. See also: Genesis 3:24; 2 Samuel 2:16; Psalms 7:13.

וְ/הֵ֥מָּה hêm H1992 "they(masc.)" Conj | Pron

This Hebrew word is used to refer to a group of men, emphasizing that it is specifically them. It is often translated as 'they' or 'them' in the Bible, and appears in books like Exodus and Isaiah.

Definition: they, these, the same, who

Usage: Occurs in 524 OT verses. KJV: it, like, [idiom] (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, [idiom] so, [idiom] such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye. See also: Genesis 3:7; Deuteronomy 19:17; 2 Kings 1:18.

נִמְלְט֖וּ mâlaṭ H4422 "to escape" V-Niphal-Perf-3cp

This verb means to escape or be delivered, like slipping away to safety. It is used in the Bible to describe people being saved from danger, like in the book of Psalms. The KJV translates it as deliver or escape.

Definition: 1) to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered 1a)(Niphal) 1a1) to slip away 1a2) to escape 1a3) to be delivered 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to lay, let slip out (of eggs) 1b2) to let escape 1b3) to deliver, save (life) 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to give birth to 1c2) to deliver 1d) (Hithpael) 1d1) to slip forth, slip out, escape 1d2) to escape

Usage: Occurs in 85 OT verses. KJV: deliver (self), escape, lay, leap out, let alone, let go, preserve, save, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 19:17; Psalms 41:2; Psalms 22:6.

אֶ֣רֶץ ʼerets H776 "land" N-cs

The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.

Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.

אֲרָרָ֑ט ʼĂrâraṭ H780 "Ararat" N-proper

Ararat is a mountainous region where Noah's ark came to rest after the flood. It is located in eastern Armenia. The name 'Ararat' means 'the curse reversed' or 'precipitation of curse'.

Definition: § Ararat = "the curse reversed: precipitation of curse" a mountainous region of eastern Armenia, between the river Araxes and the lakes Van and Oroomiah, the site where Noah's ark came to rest

Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: Ararat, Armenia. See also: Genesis 8:4; Isaiah 37:38; Jeremiah 51:27.

וַ/יִּמְלֹ֛ךְ mâlak H4427 "to reign" Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms

To advise or counsel is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also mean to reign or rule as a king. It is used in the Bible to describe the actions of leaders, like King Solomon, who sought wisdom to rule God's people. This word is found in the book of 1 Kings.

Definition: 1) to be or become king or queen, reign 1a) (Qal) to be or become king or queen, reign 1b) (Hiphil) to make one king or queen, cause to reign 1c) (Hophal) to be made king or queen

Usage: Occurs in 284 OT verses. KJV: consult, [idiom] indeed, be (make, set a, set up) king, be (make) queen, (begin to, make to) reign(-ing), rule, [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 36:31; 2 Kings 8:15; 2 Chronicles 10:17.

אֵֽסַר ʼÊçar-Chaddôwn H634 "Esarhaddon" N-proper

Esarhaddon was a king of Assyria, mentioned in 2 Kings 19:37. His name means 'Ashur has given a brother' and he lived in the 7th century BC.

Definition: A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.19.37; son of: Sennacherib (H5576); brother of: Adrammelech (H0152H) and Sharezer (H8272) § Esarhaddon = "Ashur has given a brother" king of Assyria in the seventh-century BC

Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: Esar-haddon. See also: 2 Kings 19:37; Ezra 4:2; Isaiah 37:38.

חַדֹּ֥ן ʼÊçar-Chaddôwn H634 "Esarhaddon" N-proper

Esarhaddon was a king of Assyria, mentioned in 2 Kings 19:37. His name means 'Ashur has given a brother' and he lived in the 7th century BC.

Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: Esar-haddon. See also: 2 Kings 19:37; Ezra 4:2; Isaiah 37:38.

בְּנ֖/וֹ bên H1121 "son" N-ms | Suff

Definition: : child/son

תַּחְתָּֽי/ו tachath H8478 "underneath" Prep | Suff

This Hebrew word means underneath or below, often used to describe physical locations or positions. It appears in various books, including Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to indicate something is under or beneath something else. The word has several related meanings.

Definition: : under/below 1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m 1a) the under part adv accus 1b) beneath prep 1c) under, beneath 1c1) at the foot of (idiom) 1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig) 1c3) of subjection or conquest 1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands 1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun) 1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense) 1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged) conj 1e) instead of, instead of that 1f) in return for that, because that in compounds 1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion) 1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath

Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: as, beneath, [idiom] flat, in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead of, under, [idiom] unto, [idiom] when...was mine, whereas, (where-) fore, with. See also: Genesis 1:7; Deuteronomy 7:24; 1 Kings 20:42.

Study Notes — Isaiah 37:38

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Context
Cross References
Isaiah 37:38 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 37:38
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 37:38
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 37:38
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 37:38
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 37:38
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 37:38
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 37:38
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 37:38
Sermons on Isaiah 37:38

Context — Jerusalem Delivered from the Assyrians

36Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! 37So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.

38One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Genesis 8:4	On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.
2	Jeremiah 51:27	“Raise a banner in the land! Blow the ram’s horn among the nations! Prepare the nations against her. Summon the kingdoms against her— Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a captain against her; bring up horses like swarming locusts.
3	Ezra 4:2	they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”
4	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.
5	Isaiah 37:10	“Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
6	2 Chronicles 32:14	Who among all the gods of these nations that my fathers devoted to destruction has been able to deliver his people from my hand? How then can your God deliver you from my hand?
7	Isaiah 36:15	Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, ‘The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’
8	Isaiah 36:18	Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?
9	2 Chronicles 32:21	and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty man of valor and every leader and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword.
10	Isaiah 14:9	Sheol beneath is eager to meet you upon your arrival. It stirs the spirits of the dead to greet you— all the rulers of the earth. It makes all the kings of the nations rise from their thrones.

Isaiah 37:38 Summary

Isaiah 37:38 tells us that Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, was killed by his own sons while worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch. This event shows that even the most powerful people can fall, and it reminds us that God is the One who decides the fate of kings and nations (as seen in Psalm 75:7). It also teaches us about the dangers of rebellion and disobedience, as warned in Proverbs 30:17. Ultimately, this verse points us to the sovereignty and judgment of God, who is in control of all things, as stated in Daniel 4:17 and Psalm 103:19.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of Sennacherib's death in the temple of Nisroch?

Sennacherib's death in the temple of his god Nisroch shows that even the most powerful kings are not immune to God's judgment, as seen in Isaiah 37:38 and supported by Psalm 75:7, which says God is the One who judges.

Who were Adrammelech and Sharezer, and why did they kill their father?

Adrammelech and Sharezer were Sennacherib's sons, and they killed him in an act of rebellion, as stated in Isaiah 37:38, possibly due to his harsh rule or their own ambitions, reminiscent of the warnings in Proverbs 30:17 about the consequences of disobedience to authority.

What happened to Sennacherib's sons after they killed him?

After killing their father, Adrammelech and Sharezer escaped to the land of Ararat, as mentioned in Isaiah 37:38, indicating they fled to avoid punishment or to seek refuge, much like the examples of those fleeing from God's judgment in Jeremiah 25:10-11.

Who became the new king of Assyria after Sennacherib's death?

According to Isaiah 37:38, Esar-haddon, one of Sennacherib's sons, reigned in his place, continuing the line of Assyrian kings, as also recorded in historical accounts and supported by the prophecies of God's sovereignty over nations in Daniel 2:21 and 4:17.

Reflection Questions

What does Sennacherib's death in the temple of Nisroch reveal about the nature of God's judgment and the futility of idol worship?
How does this event reflect the biblical principle that 'those who live by the sword will die by the sword' (Matthew 26:52), and what lessons can we apply to our own lives?
In what ways does the story of Sennacherib's sons and their rebellion against him serve as a warning about the dangers of pride, ambition, and disobedience to authority?
What comfort or hope can believers derive from knowing that God is in control of the rise and fall of nations and leaders, as demonstrated in Isaiah 37:38 and other passages like Psalm 103:19 and Daniel 2:20-23?

Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 37:38

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god,.... Josephus says (z), in his temple, called Arasce; but Nisroch was the name of his deity he worshipped; though who he was is not certain.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 37:38

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 37:38

For the understanding of this, and the foregoing chapter, the reader is desired to consult my notes upon :21.

Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 37:38

(38) And it came to pass.—The Assyrian inscriptions fill up the gap of twenty years between the events which appear here, as if in immediate sequence, with five campaigns in the north and east of the Assyrian Empire, chiefly against the Babylonians, who revolted again under the son of Merôdach-baladan. Nisroch.—Some experts (Oppert and Schrader) have found the name in the Khorsabad inscriptions, in a prayer of Sargon to Nisroch as the patron of marriage, but the identification is disputed by others, as G. Smith, Sayce, and Cheyne. The etymology of the name, as meaning the “eagle” deity, is also one of the open questions of Assyrian research. Adrammelech and Sharezer.—The former name appears in that of a deity of Sepharvaim in 2 Kings 17:31—its probable meaning being “the king of glory,” that of Sharezer, “the ruler preserves,” or, in a variant form, Sanatzu, “Sin (the moon-god) preserves.” The Assyrian records, so far as they are yet interpreted, make no mention of the murder, but an inscription of Esar-haddon’s, mutilated at the beginning, begins with an account of his victory over rebel princes, and the narrative of his campaign speaks of snowy mountains, which at least suggest Armenia (Heb. Ararat), (Records of the Past, iii. 101). Armenian traditions make the two parricides the founders of royal houses, the Sasserunians and Aizerunians. From the latter, in which the name of Sennacherib was common, sprang the Byzantine Emperor, Leo the Armenian. Esar-haddon is further memorable as having peopled Samaria with the mixed population of Babylonians, Cutheans, and others (2 Kings 17:24; Ezra 4:10), from whom the later Samaritans were descended—as having taken Zidon and deported its inhabitants (Records of the Past, iv., p. 111)—as having left in scriptions at Nahr-el-kelb, near Beyrout, in which he describes himself as “King of Egypt, Thebes, and Ethiopia,” as having probably been the “king of Assyria” who carried Manasseh bound in fetters to Babylon. The will of Sennacherib (Records of the Past, i. 136), giving him his chief treasures, and renaming him with a new title of sovereignty (Assur-Ebil-Muni-pal, i.e., “Assur is lord, the establisher of the son “), seems to imply that he was a younger son, whom the fondness of Sennacherib had exalted above his elder brothers, who accordingly revenged themselves by the murder of their father.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 37:38

Verse 38. His sons smote him] What an awful punishment of his blasphemy! Who can harden his neck against God, and be successful? God does not lightly pass by blasphemy against himself, his government, his word, his Son, or his people. Let the profligate take care!

Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 37:38

38. The official account of Sennacherib’s death as given in the Babylonian Chronicle (Col. 3:34–38) is as follows: “On 20 Tebet Sennacherib, king of Assyria, was killed by his son in a revolt. [23] years reigned Sennacherib in Assyria. From 20 Tebet to 2 Adar the revolt was maintained in Assyria. On 18 Sivan Esarhaddon, his son, ascended the throne in Assyria.” (Schrader, Keilinschriftliche Bibliothek, II. pp. 281 ff.) The event took place in 681, twenty years after Sennacherib’s disappearance from Palestine. During these years he claims to have conducted five successful campaigns; but he never found another opportunity to interfere in the affairs of Palestine, and the very fact that he lived so long may have been forgotten in Judah before this history was written. Nisroch his god] No Assyrian deity of this name has as yet been found on the monuments. Adrammelech and Sharezer] Both Assyrian names. The former is named as the parricide by profane historians (although not in the inscriptions); the latter only here. The motive for the crime is explained by the statement of Polyhistor, that Sennacherib had placed Esarhaddon on the throne of Babylon during his own lifetime, an act which would naturally excite the jealousy of his other sons (Budge, History of Esarhaddon, p. 2). the land of Armenia] R.V. Ararat. Ararat is the Hebrew equivalent of the Assyr. Urartu, Armenia.

Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 37:38

As he was worshipping - Perhaps this time was selected because he might be then attended with fewer guards, or because they were able to surprise him without the possibility of his summoning his attendants to his rescue.

Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 37:38

37, 38. The same lack of facts leaves it uncertain how long Sennacherib survived his mortifying return to Nineveh. The book of Tobit, (i, 21,) Josephus, (Antiquities, Isaiah 10:2; Isaiah 10:2,) and Rawlinson, all clash.

Sermons on Isaiah 37:38

	Sermon	Description
	The Ark by D.L. Moody	D.L. Moody's sermon 'The Ark' draws parallels between Noah's Ark and the Ark of the Covenant, emphasizing their symbolic representation of Christ's humanity and atoning work. He hi
	Let Us Build With You. by F.B. Meyer	F.B. Meyer emphasizes the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Church by rejecting the world's attempts to join in its work without true submission to Christ. He warns ag
	Spending Our Days as Is Represented in the Former Chapter by Philip Doddridge	Philip Doddridge preaches about the importance of Christians aiming high in their spiritual life, not settling for mediocrity, but striving for a deep and intimate relationship wit
	Your Enemies Will Leave Suddenly and Ashamed by Carter Conlon	In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that even righteous individuals can lose their discernment and be challenged by God. He highlights the importance of being able to hear the
	Great Danger to a Christian by A Van Eeden	This sermon delves into the danger of sliding into a lukewarm state as a Christian, using the example of the Israelites worshipping the golden calf in Exodus 32. It emphasizes the