Isaiah 36:21

36:20 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?

But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

KJV

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But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king’s commandment was, “Don’t answer him.”

But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not. ¶

36:22 Then came Eliakim, 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.

What does Isaiah 36:21 mean?

Isaiah 36:21 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include חָרַשׁ (chârash), עָנָה (ʻânâh), דָּבָר (dâbâr).

Hebrew interlinear

But

they

held

their

peace,חָרַשׁchârash/khaw-rash'/H2790to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness)

and

answeredעָנָהʻânâh/aw-naw'/H6030properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce

him

not

word:דָּבָרdâbâr/daw-baw'/H1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

for

the

king'sמֶלֶךְmelek/meh'-lek/H4428a king

commandmentמִצְוָהmitsvâh/mits-vaw'/H4687a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)

was,

saying,אָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)

Answerעָנָהʻânâh/aw-naw'/H6030properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce

him

not.

Topics

Blasphemy

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 36:21.

1 Samuel 8:18

And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

2 Kings 18:36

But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

Joshua 22:24

And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel? In time: Heb. To morrow

Judges 11:28

Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 36:21 say?

Isaiah 36:21 (King James Version) reads: "But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not."

Is Isaiah 36:21 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 36:21 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 36:21, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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