Revised Literal Translation

Isaiah 36

1Now it came to pass in the fourteenthבְּאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨הbe.'ar.Ba' 'es.RehH6240 H702yearשָׁנָ֜הsha.NahH8141of kingלַמֶּ֣לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֗הוּchiz.ki.Ya.huH2396, thatSennacheribסַנְחֵרִ֤יבsan.che.RivH5576kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Assyriaאַשּׁוּר֙'a.ShurH804came upעָלָ֞ה'a.LahH5927against all the defencedהַבְּצֻר֖וֹתha.be.tzu.RotH1219citiesעָרֵ֧י'a.ReiH5892of Judahיְהוּדָ֛הye.hu.DahH3063,and tookוַֽיִּתְפְּשֵֽׂם׃Vai.yit.pe.SemH8610them.

2And the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Assyriaאַשּׁ֣וּר׀'a.ShurH804sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֣חvai.yish.LachH7971RabshakehH7262from Lachishמִלָּכִ֧ישׁmi.la.KhishH3923to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלְַ֛מָהye.ru.sha.Le.mahH3389unto kingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּchiz.ki.Ya.huH2396with a greatכָּבֵ֑דka.VedH3515armyH2426.And he stoodוַֽיַּעֲמֹ֗דvai.ya.'a.ModH5975by the conduitבִּתְעָלַת֙bit.'a.LatH8585of the upperהָעֶלְיוֹנָ֔הha.'el.yo.NahH5945poolהַבְּרֵכָ֣הha.be.re.KhahH1295in the highwayבִּמְסִלַּ֖תbim.si.LatH4546of the fuller’sכוֹבֵֽס׃kho.VesH3526fieldשְׂדֵ֥הse.DehH7704.

3Then came forthוַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'H3318unto him Eliakimאֶלְיָקִ֥ים'el.ya.KimH471,Hilkiah’sחִלְקִיָּ֖הוּchil.ki.Ya.huH2518sonבֶּן־ben-H1121,which was over the houseהַבָּ֑יִתha.Ba.yitH1004,and Shebnaוְשֶׁבְנָא֙ve.shev.Na'H7644the scribeהַסֹּפֵ֔רha.so.FerH5608,and Joahוְיוֹאָ֥חve.yo.'AchH3098,Asaph’sאָסָ֖ף'a.SafH623sonבֶּן־ben-H1121,the recorderהַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃ha.maz.KirH2142.

4And RabshakehH7262saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, Sayאִמְרוּ־'im.ru-H559ye now to Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֑הוּchiz.ki.Ya.huH2396,Thus saithאָמַ֞ר'a.MarH559the greatהַגָּדוֹל֙ha.ga.dOlH1419kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Assyriaאַשּׁ֔וּר'a.ShurH804,What confidenceהַבִּטָּח֛וֹןha.bi.ta.ChonH986isthis wherein thou trustestבָּטָֽחְתָּ׃ba.Ta.che.taH982?

5I sayאָמַ֙רְתִּי֙'a.Mar.tiH559, sayest thou, (but they are butvainשְׂפָתַ֔יִםse.fa.Ta.yimH8193wordsדְּבַר־de.var-H1697) I havecounselעֵצָ֥ה'e.TzahH6098and strengthוּגְבוּרָ֖הu.ge.vu.RahH1369for warלַמִּלְחָמָ֑הla.mil.cha.MahH4421:now on whom dost thou trustבָטַ֔חְתָּva.Tach.taH982,that thou rebellestמָרַ֖דְתָּma.Rad.taH4775against me?

6Lo, thou trustestבָטַ֡חְתָּva.Tach.taH982in the staffמִשְׁעֶנֶת֩mish.'e.NetH4938of this brokenהָרָצ֤וּץha.ra.TzutzH7533reedהַקָּנֶ֨הha.ka.NehH7070,on Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714;whereon if a manאִישׁ֙'ishH376leanיִסָּמֵ֥ךְyi.sa.MekhH5564,it will goוּבָ֥אu.Va'H935into his handבְכַפּ֖וֹve.kha.PoH3709,and pierceוּנְקָבָ֑הּu.ne.ka.VahH5344it: so isPharaohפַּרְעֹ֣הpar.'OhH6547kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714to all that trustהַבֹּטְחִ֖יםha.bo.te.ChimH982in him.

7But if thou sayתֹאמַ֣רto.MarH559to me, We trustבָּטָ֑חְנוּba.Ta.che.nuH982in Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068our Godאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430: is itnot he, whose high placesבָּמֹתָ֣יוba.mo.TavH1116and whose altarsמִזְבְּחֹתָ֔יוmiz.be.cho.TavH4196Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙chiz.ki.Ya.huH2396hath taken awayהֵסִ֤ירhe.SirH5493,and saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Judahלִֽיהוּדָה֙li.hu.DahH3063and to Jerusalemוְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םve.li.Ru.sha.LimH3389,Ye shall worshipתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃Tish.ta.cha.VuH7812beforeלִפְנֵ֛יlif.NeiH6440this altarהַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַha.miz.Be.achH4196?

8Now therefore give pledgesהִתְעָ֣רֶבhit.'A.revH6148,I pray thee, to my masterאֲדֹנִ֖י'a.do.NiH113the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428of Assyriaאַשּׁ֑וּר'a.ShurH804,and I will giveוְאֶתְּנָ֤הve.'e.te.NahH5414thee two thousandאַלְפַּ֣יִם'al.Pa.yimH505horsesסוּסִ֔יםsu.SimH5483,if thou be ableתּוּכַ֕לtu.KhalH3201on thy part to setלָ֥תֶתLa.tetH5414ridersרֹכְבִ֥יםro.khe.VimH7392upon them.

9How then wilt thou turn awayתָּשִׁ֗יבta.ShivH7725the faceפְּנֵ֨יpe.NeiH6440of oneאַחַ֛ד'a.ChadH259captainפַחַ֥תfa.ChatH6346of the leastהַקְטַנִּ֑יםhak.ta.NimH6996of my master’sאֲדֹנִ֖י'a.do.NiH113servantsעַבְדֵ֥י'av.DeiH5650,and put thy trustוַתִּבְטַ֤חva.tiv.TachH982on Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714for chariotsלְרֶ֖כֶבle.Re.khevH7393and for horsemenוּלְפָרָשִֽׁים׃u.le.fa.ra.ShimH6571?

10And am I now come upעָלִ֛יתִי'a.Li.tiH5927withoutהֲמִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣יha.mi.bal.'a.DeiH1107Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068against this landהָאָ֥רֶץha.'A.retzH776to destroyלְהַשְׁחִיתָ֑הּle.hash.chi.TahH7843it? Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559unto me, Go upעֲלֵ֛ה'a.LehH5927against this landהָאָ֥רֶץha.'A.retzH776,and destroyוְהַשְׁחִיתָֽהּ׃ve.hash.chi.TahH7843it.

11Then saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Eliakimאֶלְיָקִים֩'el.ya.KimH471and Shebnaוְשֶׁבְנָ֨אve.shev.Na'H7644and Joahוְיוֹאָ֜חve.yo.'AchH3098unto RabshakehH7262,Speakדַּבֶּר־da.ber-H1696,I pray thee, unto thy servantsעֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙'a.va.Dei.khaH5650in the Syrian languageאֲרָמִ֔ית'a.ra.MitH762;for we understandשֹׁמְעִ֖יםsho.me.'ImH8085it:and speakתְּדַבֵּ֤רte.da.BerH1696not to us in the Jews’ languageיְהוּדִ֔יתye.hu.DitH3066,in the earsבְּאָזְנֵ֣יbe.'a.ze.NeiH241of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971that areon the wallהַחוֹמָֽה׃ha.cho.MahH2346.

12But RabshakehH7262saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Hath my masterאֲדֹנֶ֤יךָ'a.do.Nei.khaH113sentשְׁלָחַ֣נִיshe.la.Cha.niH7971me to thy masterאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113and to thee to speakלְדַבֵּ֖רle.da.BerH1696these wordsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697? hath he not sent meto the menהָאֲנָשִׁ֗יםha.'a.na.ShimH582that sitהַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙hai.yo.she.VimH3427upon the wallהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346,that they may eatלֶאֱכֹ֣לle.'e.KholH398their own dungצוֹאָתָ֗םchar.'ei.hemH6675 H2716,and drinkוְלִשְׁתּ֛וֹתve.lish.TotH8354their own pissמֵימֵ֥י רַגְלֵיהֶ֖םmei.meimei.mei/ /rag.lei./hemrag.lei.hemH7890 H7272 H4325with you?

13Then RabshakehH7262stoodוַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙vai.ya.'a.ModH5975,and criedוַיִּקְרָ֥אvai.yik.Ra'H7121with a loudגָּד֖וֹלga.DolH1419voiceבְקוֹל־ve.kol-H6963in the Jews’ languageיְהוּדִ֑יתye.hu.DitH3066,and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Hearשִׁמְע֗וּshim.'UH8085ye the wordsדִּבְרֵ֛יdiv.ReiH1697of the greatהַגָּד֖וֹלha.ga.DolH1419kingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,the kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Assyriaאַשּֽׁוּר׃'a.ShurH804.

14Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,Let not Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֑הוּchiz.ki.Ya.huH2396deceiveיַשִּׁ֥אya.Shi'H5377you: for he shall not be ableיוּכַ֖לyu.KhalH3201to deliverלְהַצִּ֥ילle.ha.TzilH5337you.

15Neither let Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙chiz.ki.Ya.huH2396make you trustיַבְטַ֨חyav.TachH982in Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068will surelyהַצֵּ֥לha.TzelH5337deliverיַצִּילֵ֖נוּya.tzi.Le.nuH5337us: this cityהָעִ֣ירha.'IrH5892shall not be deliveredתִנָּתֵן֙ti.na.TenH5414into the handבְּיַ֖דbe.YadH3027of the kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Assyriaאַשּֽׁוּר׃'a.ShurH804.

16Hearkenתִּשְׁמְע֖וּtish.me.'UH8085not to Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ סchiz.ki.Ya.huH2396:for thus saithאָמַ֜ר'a.MarH559the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428of Assyriaאַשּׁ֗וּר'a.ShurH804,Makeעֲשֽׂוּ־'a.su-H6213an agreement with me bya presentבְרָכָה֙ve.ra.KhahH1293,and come outוּצְא֣וּu.tze.'UH3318to me: and eatוְאִכְל֤וּve.'ikh.LuH398ye every oneאִישׁ־'ish-H376of his vineגַּפְנוֹ֙gaf.NoH1612,and every oneוְאִ֣ישׁve.'IshH376of his fig treeתְּאֵנָת֔וֹte.'e.na.ToH8384,and drinkוּשְׁת֖וּu.she.TuH8354ye every oneאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376the watersמֵי־mei-H4325of his own cisternבוֹרֽוֹ׃vo.RoH953;

17Until I comeבֹּאִ֕יbo.'IH935and take you awayוְלָקַחְתִּ֥יve.la.kach.TiH3947to a landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776like your own landכְּאַרְצְכֶ֑םke.'ar.tze.KhemH776,a landאֶ֤רֶץ'E.retzH776of grainדָּגָן֙da.GanH1715and wineוְתִיר֔וֹשׁve.ti.Ro.oshH8492,a landאֶ֥רֶץ'E.retzH776of breadלֶ֖חֶםLe.chemH3899and vineyardsוּכְרָמִֽים׃u.khe.ra.MimH3754.

18Bewarelest Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙chiz.ki.Ya.huH2396persuadeיַסִּ֨יתya.SitH5496you, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068will deliverיַצִּילֵ֑נוּya.tzi.Le.nuH5337us. Hath anyאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of the godsאֱלֹהֵ֤י'e.lo.HeiH430of the nationsהַגּוֹיִם֙ha.go.YimH1471deliveredהַהִצִּ֜ילוּha.hi.Tzi.luH5337his landאַרְצ֔וֹ'ar.TzoH776out of the handמִיַּ֖דmi.YadH3027of the kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Assyriaאַשּֽׁוּר׃'a.ShurH804?

19Where arethe godsאֱלֹהֵ֤י'e.lo.HeiH430of Hamathחֲמָת֙cha.MatH2574and Arphadוְאַרְפָּ֔דve.'ar.PadH774? where arethe godsאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Sepharvaimסְפַרְוָ֑יִםse.far.Va.yimH5617?and have they deliveredהִצִּ֥ילוּhi.Tzi.luH5337Samariaשֹׁמְר֖וֹןsho.me.RonH8111out of my handמִיָּדִֽי׃mi.ya.DiH3027?

20Who are theyamong all the godsאֱלֹהֵ֤י'e.lo.HeiH430of these landsהָֽאֲרָצוֹת֙ha.'a.ra.tzOtH776,that have deliveredהִצִּ֥ילוּhi.Tzi.luH5337their landאַרְצָ֖ם'ar.TzamH776out of my handמִיָּדִ֑יmi.ya.DiH3027,that Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068should deliverיַצִּ֧ילya.TzilH5337Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םye.ru.sha.LimH3389out of my handמִיָּדִֽי׃mi.ya.DiH3027?

21But they held their peaceוַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּvai.ya.cha.Ri.shuH2790,and answeredעָנ֥וּ'a.NuH6030him not a wordדָּבָ֑רda.VarH1697:for the king’sהַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428commandmentמִצְוַ֨תmitz.VatH4687was, sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559,Answerתַעֲנֻֽהוּ׃ta.'a.Nu.huH6030him not.

22Then cameוַיָּבֹ֣אvai.ya.Vo'H935Eliakimאֶלְיָקִ֣ים'el.ya.KimH471,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Hilkiahחִלְקִיָּ֣הוּchil.ki.Ya.huH2518, that wasover the householdהַ֠בַּיִתHa.ba.yitH1004,and Shebnaוְשֶׁבְנָ֨אve.shev.Na'H7644the scribeהַסּוֹפֵ֜רha.so.FerH5608,and Joahוְיוֹאָ֨חve.yo.'AchH3098,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Asaphאָסָ֧ף'a.SafH623,the recorderהַמַּזְכִּ֛ירha.maz.KirH2142,to Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּchiz.ki.Ya.huH2396with theirclothesבְגָדִ֑יםve.ga.DimH899rentקְרוּעֵ֣יke.ru.'EiH7167,and toldוַיַּגִּ֣ידוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046him the wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697of RabshakehH7262.

Commentaries on Isaiah 36