Isaiah 36:5

36:4 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? vain: Heb. a word of lips I have: or, but counsel and strength are for the war

KJV

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I say that your counsel and strength for the war are only vain words. Now in whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?

I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

I say, say you, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?

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.

What does Isaiah 36:5 mean?

Isaiah 36:5 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אָמַר (ʼâmar), שָׂפָה (sâphâh), דָּבָר (dâbâr).

Hebrew interlinear

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

sayest

thou,

(but

they

are

but

vainשָׂפָהsâphâh/saw-faw'/H8193the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)

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

have

counselעֵצָהʻêtsâh/ay-tsaw'/H6098advice; by implication, plan; also prudence

and

strengthגְּבוּרָהgᵉbûwrâh/gheb-oo-raw'/H1369force (literally or figuratively); by implication, valor, victory

for

war:מִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh/mil-khaw-maw'/H4421a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare)

now

whom

dost

thou

trust,בָּטַחbâṭach/baw-takh'/H982figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure

that

thou

rebellestמָרַדmârad/maw-rad'/H4775to rebel

against

me?

vain:

Heb.

word

lips

have:

or,

but

counsel

and

strength

are

for

the

war

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 36:5.

2 Kings 18:20

Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? sayest: or, talkest vain: Heb. word of the lips I have: or, but counsel and strength are for the war

2 Chronicles 22:5

He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.

Job 12:13

With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. With: that is, With God

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 36:5 say?

Isaiah 36:5 (King James Version) reads: "I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? vain: Heb. a word of lips I have: or, but counsel and strength are for the war"

Is Isaiah 36:5 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 36:5 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 36:5, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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