📖 Isaiah — Chapter 36 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Isaiah 36:1 Now Rit came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them.
Isaiah 36:2 And the king of Assyria Rsent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field.
Isaiah 36:3 Then came forth unto him REliakim, Hilkiah’s son, which was over the house, and Shebna the Tscribe, and Joah, Asaph’s son, the recorder.
Isaiah 36:4 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, RThus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
Isaiah 36:5 I say, sayest thou, (but they are but RTvain words) TI have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
Isaiah 36:6 Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.
Isaiah 36:7 But if thou say to me, RWe trust in the LORD our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?
Isaiah 36:8 Now therefore give RTpledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
Isaiah 36:9 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of Rthe least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
Isaiah 36:10 And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
Isaiah 36:11 Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants Rin the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews’ language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
Isaiah 36:12 But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall, Rthat they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
Isaiah 36:13 Then Rabshakeh stood, and Rcried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.
Isaiah 36:14 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you.
Isaiah 36:15 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Isaiah 36:16 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, RTMake an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;
Isaiah 36:17 Until RI come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
Isaiah 36:18 Beware Rlest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, the LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
Isaiah 36:19 Where are the gods of RHamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
Isaiah 36:20 Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, Rthat the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
Isaiah 36:21 But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
Isaiah 36:22 Then came REliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Isaiah 36:1–8 — Assyria challenges Judah’s confidence
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Sennacherib takes Judah’s fortified cities, and Rabshakeh confronts the royal representatives. His taunts attack the grounds of their confidence.
Key Truth: Recognize pressure that aims to reshape trust.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Then ____ forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah’s son, which was over the …” (Isaiah 36:3)
Find it in Isaiah 36:3 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain ____ ) I have counsel and strength for war: now on …” (Isaiah 36:5)
Find it in Isaiah 36:5 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Now therefore ____ pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of …” (Isaiah 36:8)
Find it in Isaiah 36:8 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Isaiah 36:9–15 — Fear used to undermine trust
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The envoy speaks publicly despite requests for a private diplomatic language. Graphic siege threats and warnings against trusting the Lord aim to frighten listeners into surrender.
Key Truth: Do not confuse intimidation with truth.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the …” (Isaiah 36:13)
Find it in Isaiah 36:13 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… me to thy master and to thee to speak these ____ ? hath he not sent me to the men that …” (Isaiah 36:12)
Find it in Isaiah 36:12 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Thus saith the king, Let not ____ deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver …” (Isaiah 36:14)
Find it in Isaiah 36:14 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Isaiah 36:16–22 — False assurances and disciplined silence
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Promises of food and another land accompany comparisons with defeated nations’ gods. The people follow the command not to answer, and officials bring the report to Hezekiah.
Key Truth: Respond to intimidation with disciplined judgment.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, …” (Isaiah 36:16)
Find it in Isaiah 36:16 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Where are the ____ of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? …” (Isaiah 36:19)
Find it in Isaiah 36:19 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Then came Eliakim, the ____ of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the …” (Isaiah 36:22)
Find it in Isaiah 36:22 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
2 Kings 18:30 — The parallel account preserves the challenge to trust.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How can you distinguish a threatening voice from trustworthy counsel?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does the broken-reed comparison depict reliance on Egypt?
2. How does Rabshakeh challenge trust in the LORD?
3. What analogy is used to undermine hope of deliverance?
4. What error is implicit in comparing the LORD with conquered gods?
5. Why do the hearers remain silent?
Notes
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