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 of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20Who are they among all the gods of these countries that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Jehovah should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand? And they were silent, and answered him not a word; for the king's command was, saying, Answer him not. 22And Eliakim the son of Hilkijah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the chronicler, came to Hezekiah, with their garments rent, and told him the words of Rab-shakeh.

Isaiah 36:21 word by word

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

• silentחָרֵשׁchârash · be quietH2790
• wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• commandמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Answerעוּן‛ânâh · to dwellH6030

Cross-references for Isaiah 36:21

• 2 Kings 18:26And Eliakim the son of Hilkijah, and Shebnah and Joah said to Rab-shakeh, Speak, we pray thee, to thy servants in Syriac, for we understand it, and talk not with us in the Jewish [language] in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
• Psalms 38:13But I, as a deaf [man], hear not; and am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
• Psalms 39:1I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked is before me.
• Proverbs 9:7He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked [man] [getteth] to himself a blot.
• Proverbs 26:4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
• Amos 5:13Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in this time; for it is an evil time.
• Matthew 7:6Give not that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them with their feet, and turning round rend you.

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