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.
• 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.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “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 rescued Samaria from my hand? 20Who of all the gods of these countries have been able to save their lands from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.” 22Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn, and told him what the field commander had said.

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, and Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”
• Psalms 38:13I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak;
• Psalms 39:1I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.”
• Proverbs 9:7Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
• Proverbs 26:4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.
• Amos 5:13Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil.
• Matthew 7:6“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and 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