New King James Version
Isaiah 36:21
21But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”
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 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? Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 20Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’ ” But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” 22Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.
Read all of Isaiah 36Isaiah 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.
Cross-references for Isaiah 36:21
- 2 Kings 18:26Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”
- Psalms 38:13But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth.
- Psalms 39:1I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.”
- Proverbs 9:7“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
- Proverbs 26:4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.
- Amos 5:13Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an evil time.
- Matthew 7:6“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in 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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries