Isaiah 39:1

Isaiah 39:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery.
• English Standard Version (ESV)At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered.
• New King James Version (NKJV)At that time Merodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered.

Context of Isaiah 39:1

At that time, Baladan's son, Merodach-Baladan, was the king of Babylon. Merodach-Baladan sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah. He had heard the news that Hezekiah had been ill, but he was now better. 2Hezekiah was happy to meet the officers who came from the king of Babylon. Hezekiah showed them the places where he stored his valuable things. He showed them all his silver and gold things, his spices and very valuable olive oil. He also showed them all his weapons. Hezekiah showed them all his valuable things. There was nothing in his palace or in his whole kingdom that he did not show to the king of Babylon's officers. 3Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah. Isaiah asked the king, ‘What did those men say? Where did they come from?’ Hezekiah replied, ‘They came to me from Babylon, far away.’

Isaiah 39:1 word by word

בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֡וא שָׁלַ֡ח מְרֹדַ֣ךְ בַּ֠לְאֲדָן בֶּֽן־בַּלְאֲדָ֧ן מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל סְפָרִ֥ים וּמִנְחָ֖ה אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ וַיִּשְׁמַ֕ע כִּ֥י חָלָ֖ה וַֽיֶּחֱזָֽק׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• At that timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• Merodach–baladanמְרֹדַךְ בַּלְאֲדָןmer'ôdak bal'âdân · Merodach-baladanH4757
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Baladanבַּלְאֲדָןbal'ădân · BaladanH1081
• kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• of Babylonבָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶלbâbel · BabylonH894
• sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• lettersסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: documentH5612
• and a presentמִנְחָהminchâh · offering: giftH4503
• to Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּchizqîyâh chizqîyâhû yechizqîyâh yechizqîyâhû · HezekiahH2396
• for he had heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• that he had been sickחָלָהchâlâh · be weak: illH2470
• and was recoveredחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388

Cross-references for Isaiah 39:1

• 2 Kings 20:12At that time, Baladan's son, Merodach-Baladan, was the king of Babylon. Merodach-Baladan sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah. He had heard the news that Hezekiah had been ill.
• Isaiah 13:1This is God's message about Babylon that he showed to Isaiah, the son of Amoz:
• Isaiah 14:4Then you will laugh at the king of Babylon. You will say to him, ‘Now you cannot be cruel to us any more! Your power to cause trouble has finished!
• Isaiah 23:13Look at what happened in Babylonia. Its people have disappeared! The Assyrian army has made it a place for wild animals to live in. Their soldiers built hills of earth against the city's walls. They climbed over and they destroyed its strong buildings. Babylon's buildings became heaps of stones.
• 2 Samuel 8:10There had been a war between King Hadadezer and King Toi. So now Toi sent his son, Joram to say ‘hello’ to David. He wanted to thank David because he had won the battle against King Hadadezer. Joram brought gifts to David that were made of gold, silver and bronze.
• 2 Samuel 10:2David thought, ‘I will be kind to Hanun, because his father Nahash was kind to me.’ So David sent some of his officers to give a message to Hanun. David wanted to tell Hanun that he was sorry that Nahash had died. David's officers took his message to the land of the Ammonites.
• 2 Chronicles 32:23Many people brought gifts to Jerusalem to offer to the Lord. They also brought valuable gifts for King Hezekiah. From that time, all the other nations respected Hezekiah as a great king.

Commentaries on Isaiah 39:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1At that time Merodach-baladan - This name is variously written in the MSS. Berodach, Medorach, Medarech, and Medurach. "And ambassadors" - The Septuagint add here ; that is, ומלאכים umalachim . and ambassadors; which word seems to be necessary to the sense, though omitted in the Hebrew text both here and in the other copy, 2 Kings 20:12. For the subsequent narration refers to them all along, "these men, whence came they?" etc.; plainly supposing them to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1At that time - That is, soon after his recovery; or after he had amassed great wealth, and was surrounded with the evidences of prosperity 2 Chronicles 32:27-31. Merodach-baladan, the son of Balddan, king of Babylon - In the parallel place in 2 Kings 20:12, this name is written Berodach-baladan, by a change of a single letter. Probably the name was written and pronounced both ways. Merodach was an idol of the Babylonians Jeremiah 50:2: Babylon is taken…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1This chapter is the same as II Kin. 20:12-19.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Merodach-baladan, the king of Babylon from 722 to 710 and 704 to 703 BC, planned to rebel against Assyria. He sought help from Hezekiah. His envoys visited after Hezekiah recovered from a serious illness but before Sennacherib's final attack in 701 BC.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-81. Merodach-baladan--For a hundred fifty years before the overthrow of Nineveh by Cyaxares the Mede, a succession of rulers, mostly viceroys of Assyria, ruled Babylon, from the time of Nabonassar, 747 B.C. That date is called "the Era of Nabonassar." Pul or Phallukha was then expelled, and a new dynasty set up at Nineveh, under Tiglath-pileser. Semiramis, Pul's wife, then retired to Babylon, with Nabonassar, her son, whose advent to the throne of Babylon…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 39:1

• Ambassadors
• Isaiah
• Letters
• Merodach-Baladan
• Temptation

In the dictionaries

• Babylon
• Hezekiah
• Babylon, Babylonia, Babylonian
• Merodach-Baladan
• Baladan
• Berodachbaladan
• Merodachbaladan
• Babylonia
• Chronicles, Books of
• Epistle

Commentaries on Isaiah 39

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings