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? Did they rescue Samaria from my control? 20Did the gods of these countries rescue them from my control? Could the Lord then rescue Jerusalem from my control?” They were silent and didn’t say anything to him because the king commanded them not to answer him. 22Then Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace and was son of Hilkiah, Shebna the scribe, and Joah, who was the royal historian and the son of Asaph, went to Hezekiah with their clothes torn in grief. They told him the message from the field commander.

Isaiah 36:21 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• But they held their peaceחָרֵשׁchârash · be quietH2790
• and answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• him not a wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• for the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• commandmentמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• was, sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559

Cross-references for Isaiah 36:21

• 2 Kings 18:26Then Eliakim (son of Hilkiah), Shebnah, and Joah said to the field commander, “Speak to us in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in the Judean language as long as there are people on the wall listening.”
• Psalms 38:13But I am like a person who cannot hear and like a person who cannot speak.
• Psalms 39:1I said, “I will watch my ways so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will bridle my mouth while wicked people are in my presence.”
• Proverbs 9:7Whoever corrects a mocker receives abuse. Whoever warns a wicked person gets hurt.
• Proverbs 26:4Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity, or you will be like him.
• Amos 5:13That is why a wise person remains silent at such times, because those times are so evil.
• Matthew 7:6“Don’t give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls to pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them and then 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