Bible/Isaiah/39

Isaiah 39:3

39:2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.

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Then Isaiah the prophet came to king Hezekiah, and asked him, “What did these men say? Where did they come from to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come from a country far from me, even from Babylon.”

Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.

Then came Isaiah the prophet to king Hezekiah, and said to him, What said these men? and from where came they to you? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country to me, even from Babylon.

Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.

39:4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

What does Isaiah 39:3 mean?

Isaiah 39:3 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include בּוֹא (bôwʼ), יְשַׁעְיָה (Yᵉshaʻyâh), נָבִיא (nâbîyʼ). It connects to 23 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Then
cameבּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/H935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
IsaiahיְשַׁעְיָהYᵉshaʻyâh/yesh-ah-yaw'/H3470Jeshajah, the name of seven Israelites
the
prophetנָבִיאnâbîyʼ/naw-bee'/H5030a prophet or (generally) inspired man
unto
kingמֶלֶךְmelek/meh'-lek/H4428a king
Hezekiah,חִזְקִיָּהChizqîyâh/khiz-kee-yaw'/H2396Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites
and
saidאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
unto
him,
What
saidאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
these
men?אֱנוֹשׁʼĕnôwsh/en-oshe'/H582a man in general (singly or collectively)
and
from
whenceאַיִןʼayin/ah-yin'/H370where? (only in connection with prepositional prefix, whence)
cameבּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/H935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
they
unto
thee?
And
HezekiahחִזְקִיָּהChizqîyâh/khiz-kee-yaw'/H2396Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites
said,אָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
They
are
comeבּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/H935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
from
a
farרָחוֹקrâchôwq/raw-khoke'/H7350remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)
countryאֶרֶץʼerets/eh'-rets/H776the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
unto
me,
even
from
Babylon.בָּבֶלBâbel/baw-bel'/H894Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire

Commentary on Isaiah 39:3

CLARKE · whole chapter
among them: God brought them out of Egypt" - Num 23:21, Num 23:22. "Make a highway for him that rideth through the deserts: O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people. When thou marchedst through the wilderness, The heavens dropped" - Psa 68:4, Psa 68:7. Let us now see how Isaiah treats the subject of the return of the people from Babylon. They were to march through the wilderness with Jehovah at their head, who was to lead them, to smooth the way before them, and to supply them with water in the thirsty desert; with perpetual allusion to the exodus: - "Come ye forth from Babylon, flee ye from the land of the Chaldeans with the voice of joy: Publish ye this, and make it heard; utter it forth even to the end of the earth; Say ye, Jehovah hath redeemed his servant Jacob: They thirsted not in the deserts, through which he made them go; Waters from the rock he caused to flow for them; Yea, he clave the rock, and forth gushed the waters." Isa 48:20, Isa 48:21. "Remember not the former things; And the things of ancient times regard not:" (That is, the deliverance from Egypt): "Behold, I make a new thing; Even now shall it spring forth; will ye not regard it? Yea, I will make in the wilderness a way; In the desert streams of water." Isa 43:18, Isa 43:19. "But he that trusteth in me shall inherit the land, And shall possses my holy mountain. Then will I say: Cast up, cast up the causeway; make clear the way; Remove every obstruction from the road of my people." Isa 57:13, Isa 57:14. "How beautiful appear on the mountains The feet of the joyful messenger, of him that announceth peace; Of the joyful messenger of good tidings, of him that announceth salvation; Of him that saith to Sion, Thy God reigneth! All thy watchmen lift up their voice, they shout together; For face to face shall they see, when Jehovah returneth to Sion. Verily not in haste shall ye go forth, And not by flight shall ye march along: For Jehovah shall march in your front; And the God of Israel shall bring up your rear." Isa 52:7, Isa 52:8, Isa 52:12. Babylon was separated from Judea by an immense tract of country which was one continued desert; that large part of Arabia called very properly Deserta. It is mentioned in history as a remarkable occurrence, that Nebuchadnezzar, having received the news of the death of his father, in order to make the utmost expedition in his journe
HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 39:1–4
Hezekiah's Vanity. ( b. c. 712.) 1 At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. 2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not. 3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. 4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them. Hence we may learn these lessons:—1. That humanity and common civility teach us to rejoice with our friends and neighbours when they rejoice, and to congratulate them on their deliverances, and particularly their recoveries from sickness. The king of Babylon, having heard that Hezekiah had been sick, and had recovered, sent to compliment him upon the occasion. If Christians be unneighbourly, heathens will shame them. 2. It becomes us to give honour to those whom our God puts honour upon. The sun was the Babylonians' god; and when they understood that it was with a respect to Hezekiah that the sun, to their great surprise, went back ten degrees, on such a day, they thought themselves obliged to do Hezekiah all the honour they could. Will all people thus walk in the name of their God, and shall not we? 3. Those that do not value good men for their goodness may yet be brought to pay them great respect by other inducements, and for the sake of their secular interests. The king of Babylon made his court to Hezekiah, not because he was pious, but because he was prosperous, as the Philistines coveted an alliance with Isaac because they saw the Lord was with him, Gen. xxvi. 28 . The king of Babylon was an enemy to the king of Assyria, and therefore was fond of Hezekiah, because the Assyrians were so much weakened by the power of his God. 4. It is a hard matter to keep the spirit low in the midst of great advancements. Hezekiah is an instance of it: he was a wise and good man, but, when one miracle after another was wrought in his favour, he found it hard to keep his heart from being lifted up, nay, a little thing then drew him into the snare of pride. Blessed Paul himself needed a thorn in the flesh, to keep him from being lifted up with the abundance of revelations. 5. We have need to watch over our own spirits when we are showing our friends our possessions, what we have done and what we have got, that we be not proud of them, as if our might or our merit had purchased and procured us this wealth. When we look upon our enjoyments, and have occasion to speak of them, it must be with humble acknowledgments of our own unworthiness and thankful acknowledgments of God's goodness, with a just value for the achievements of others and with an expectation of losses and changes, not dreaming that our mountain stands so strong but that it may soon be moved. 6. It is a great weakness for good men to value themselves much upon the civil respects that are paid them (yea, though there be something particular and uncommon in them) by the children of this world, and to be fond of their acquaintance. What a poor thing was it for Hezekiah, whom God has so dignified, to be thus over proud of the respect paid him by a heathen prince as if that added any thing to him! We ought to return the courtesies of such with interest, but not to be proud of them. 7. We must expect to be called to an account for the workings of our pride, though they are secret, and in such instances as we thought there was no harm in; and therefore we ought to call ourselves to an account for them; and when we have had company with us that have paid us respect, and been pleased with their entertainment, and commended every thing, we ought to be jealous over ourselves with a godly jealousy lest our hearts have been lifted up. As far as we see cause to suspect that this sly and subtle sin of pride has insinuated itself into our breasts, and mingled itself with our conversation, let us be ashamed of it, and, as Hezekiah here, ingenuously confess it and take shame to ourselves for it.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Deuteronomy 28:49

The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

Joshua 9:6

And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

Joshua 9:9

And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

2 Samuel 12:1

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2 Kings 20:14

Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.

2 Chronicles 16:7

And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.

2 Chronicles 19:2

And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.

2 Chronicles 25:15

Wherefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?

Isaiah 1:23

Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

Isaiah 9:8

The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

Isaiah 9:9

And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,

Isaiah 13:20

It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

Isaiah 19:20

And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

Isaiah 25:12

And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.

Isaiah 38:1

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.

Isaiah 38:5

Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

Isaiah 39:5

Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord of hosts:

Isaiah 55:3

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Jeremiah 5:15

Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

Jeremiah 22:1

Thus saith the Lord; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,

John 15:3

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

John 15:4

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

1 John 2:19

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

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Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 39:3.

2 Kings 20:14

Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.

2 Kings 19:20

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.

2 Kings 19:5

So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

2 Kings 20:1

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

2 Kings 20:16

And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord.

2 Kings 20:19

Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

2 Kings 20:8

And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the Lord the third day?

Genesis 14:5

And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 39:3 say?

Isaiah 39:3 (King James Version) reads: "Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon."

Is Isaiah 39:3 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 39:3 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 39:3, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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