2 Kings 18:37

2 Kings 18:37 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rab–shakeh.
• New International Version (NIV)Then 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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then 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.

Context of 2 Kings 18:37

35What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? So what makes you think that the Lord can rescue Jerusalem from me?” 36But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.” Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator; Shebna the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian, went back to Hezekiah. They tore their clothes in despair, and they went in to see the king and told him what the Assyrian chief of staff had said.

2 Kings 18:37 word by word

וַיָּבֹ֣א אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַ֠בַּיִת וְשֶׁבְנָ֨א הַסֹּפֵ֜ר וְיוֹאָ֨ח בֶּן־אָסָ֧ף הַמַּזְכִּ֛יר אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ קְרוּעֵ֣י בְגָדִ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ ל֔וֹ דִּבְרֵ֖י רַב־שָׁקֵֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• Eliakimאֶלְיָקִים'elyâqîym · EliakimH471
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Hilkiahחִלְקִיָּהוּchilqîyâh chilqîyâhû · HilkiahH2518
• over the householdבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: templeH1004
• and Shebnaשֶׁבְנָאshebnâ' shebnâh · ShebnaH7644
• the scribeסֹפֵרsâphar · secretaryH5608
• and Joahיוֹאָחyô'âch · JoahH3098
• of Asaphאָסָף'âsâph · AsaphH623
• the recorderזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• to Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּchizqîyâh chizqîyâhû yechizqîyâh yechizqîyâhû · HezekiahH2396
• clothesבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
• rentקָרַעqâra‛ · to tearH7167
• and toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• him the wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• of Rab–shakehרַבְשָׁקֵהrabshâqêh · RabshakehH7262

Cross-references for 2 Kings 18:37

• 2 Kings 5:7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, “Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? Why is this man asking me to heal someone with leprosy? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.”
• 2 Kings 22:11When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair.
• Genesis 37:29Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief.
• Job 1:20Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship.
• Isaiah 33:7But now your brave warriors weep in public. Your ambassadors of peace cry in bitter disappointment.
• Isaiah 36:21But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.”
• Jeremiah 36:24Neither the king nor his attendants showed any signs of fear or repentance at what they heard.
• Matthew 26:65Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 18:37

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 37Then came Eliakim - and Shebna - and Joah - to Hezekiah with their clothes rent - It was the custom of the Hebrews, when they heard any blasphemy, to rend their clothes, because this was the greatest of crimes, as it immediately affected the majesty of God, and it was right that a religious people should have in the utmost abhorrence every insult offered to the object of their religious worship. These three ambassadors lay the matter before the king as…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-37Verses 17-37 Rabshakeh tries to convince the Jews, that it was to no purpose for them to stand it out. What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? It were well if sinners would submit to the force of this argument, in seeking peace with God. It is, therefore, our wisdom to yield to him, because it is in vain to contend with him: what confidence is that which those trust in who stand out against him? A great deal of art there is in this speech of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37Tearing clothes was a traditional way to show deep sorrow. In this case, it may have shown grief over Jerusalem’s trouble (see 2 Kings 6:30) and also over the insults spoken against God by the Assyrian official (see 2 Kings 19:4–6).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 18:37

• Assyria
• Diplomacy
• Hilkiah
• Hypocrisy
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Jerusalem
• Scribe (S)
• Secretary (Recordist)
• Sennacherib
• Shebna (Shebnah)

In the dictionaries

• Asaph
• Eliakim
• Hezekiah
• Hilkiah
• Agreement
• Carry
• Joah
• Put
• Rabmag
• Rabshakeh

Commentaries on 2 Kings 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• 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