Isaiah 36:21

Isaiah 36:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
• New International Version (NIV)But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, "Do not answer him."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”

Context of Isaiah 36:21

19Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 20Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.” 22Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.

Isaiah 36:21 word by word

וַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּ וְלֹֽא־עָנ֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ דָּבָ֑ר כִּֽי־מִצְוַ֨ת הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הִ֛יא לֵאמֹ֖ר לֹ֥א תַעֲנֻֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear

• But the people remained silentחָרֵשׁchârash · be quietH2790
• and did notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• answer a wordעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• ·דָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• forכִּיkîy · forH3588
• ·מֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• ·הוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• had commandedמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• ·אָמַר'âmar · to sayH559

Cross-references for Isaiah 36:21

• 2 Kings 18:26Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak with us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”
• Psalms 38:13But like a deaf man, I do not hear; and like a mute man, I do not open my mouth.
• Psalms 39:1I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”
• Proverbs 9:7He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
• Proverbs 26:4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
• Amos 5:13Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.
• Matthew 7:6Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

Commentaries on Isaiah 36:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21But they held their peace "But the people held their peace" - The word העם haam, the people, is supplied from the other copy, and is authorized by a MS. which inserts it after אתו otho .Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21But they held their peace - Hezekiah had commanded them not to answer. They were simply to hear what Rabshakeh had to propose, and to report to him, that he might decide on what course to pursue. It was a case also in which it was every way proper that they should be silent. There was so much insolence, self-confidence, blasphemy, the proposals were so degrading, and the claims were so arrogant, that it was not proper that they should enter into…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-22The Assyrian chief of staff tried to use intimidation to negotiate a peaceful settlement. In his first speech (Isaiah 36:4–10), he correctly argued that Egypt could not rescue them but incorrectly accused Hezekiah of misplaced trust in the Lord. Interestingly, the Assyrian did not view the contest as between the gods of Assyria and the Lord, but rather between Sennacherib (the great king) and the Lord.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. not a word--so as not to enter into a war of words with the blasphemer (Ex 14:14; Jude 9).Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 36:21

• Blasphemy
• Diplomacy

In the dictionaries

• Destroy
• Hezekiah
• Isaiah
• Rabmag
• Sennacherib
• Bible, the
• Chronicles, Books of
• Chronology of the Old Testament
• Hezekiah (2)
• Shebna

Commentaries on Isaiah 36

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings