2 Kings 19:20-28 Meaning: When God Says, 'I Have Heard You'
20Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says ‘You have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, and I have heard you.
21This is the word that Yahweh has spoken concerning him: ‘The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and ridiculed you. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you.
22Whom have you defied and blasphemed? Against whom have you exalted your voice and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel!
23By your messengers, you have defied the Lord, and have said, “With the multitude of my chariots, I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon, and I will cut down its tall cedars and its choice cypress trees; and I will enter into his farthest lodging place, the forest of his fruitful field.
24I have dug and drunk strange waters, and I will dry up all the rivers of Egypt with the sole of my feet.”
25Haven’t you heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? Now I have brought it to pass, that it should be yours to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
26Therefore their inhabitants had little power. They were dismayed and confounded. They were like the grass of the field and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops and like grain blasted before it has grown up.
27But I know your sitting down, your going out, your coming in, and your raging against me.
28Because of your raging against me, and because your arrogance has come up into my ears, therefore I will put my hook in your nose, and my bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came.’
20Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
21This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
22Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
23By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.
24I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.
25Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.
26Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
27But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.
28Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
20Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard thee.
21This is the word that Jehovah hath spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
22Whom hast thou defied and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
23By thy messengers thou hast defied the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir-trees thereof; and I will enter into his farthest lodging-place, the forest of his fruitful field.
24I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet will I dry up all the rivers of Egypt.
25Hast thou not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that it should be thine to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
26Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as grain blasted before it is grown up.
27But I know thy sitting down, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy raging against me.
28Because of thy raging against me, and because thine arrogancy is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
20And Isaiah son of Amoz sendeth unto Hezekiah, saying, `Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed unto Me concerning Sennacherib king of Asshur I have heard:
21this is the word that Jehovah spake concerning him: `Trampled on thee--laughed at thee, Hath the virgin daughter of Zion Behind thee shaken the head--Hath the daughter of Jerusalem?
22Whom hast thou reproached and reviled? And against whom lifted up a voice? Yea, thou dost lift up on high thine eyes--Against the Holy One of Israel!
23By the hand of thy messengers Thou hast reproached the Lord, and sayest: In the multitude of my chariots I have come up to a high place of mountains--The sides of Lebanon, And I cut down the height of its cedars, The choice of its firs, And I enter the lodging of its extremity, The forest of its Carmel.
24I have digged, and drunk strange waters, And I dry up with the sole of my steps All floods of a bulwark.
25Hast thou not heard from afar, it I made, From days of old that I formed it? Now I have brought it in, And it becometh a desolation, Ruinous heaps are fenced cities,
26And their inhabitants are feeble-handed, They were broken down, and are dried up, They have been the herb of the field, And the greenness of the tender grass, Grass of the roofs, And blasted corn--before it hath risen up!
27And thy sitting down, and thy going out, And thy coming in, I have known, And thine anger towards Me;
28Because of thine anger towards Me, And thy noise--it came up into Mine ears, I have put My hook in thy nose, And My bridle in thy lips, And have caused thee to turn back, In the way in which thou camest.
20And Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel: That which thou hast prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
21This is the word that Jehovah has spoken against him: The virgin-daughter of Zion despiseth thee, laugheth thee to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem shaketh her head at thee.
22Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted the voice? Against the Holy one of Israel hast thou lifted up thine eyes on high.
23By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots have I come up To the height of the mountain, to the recesses of Lebanon, And I will cut down its tall cedars, the choice of its cypresses; And I will enter into its furthest lodging-place, [into] the forest of its fruitful field.
24I have digged, and have drunk strange waters, And with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the streams of Matsor.
25Hast thou not heard long ago that I have done it? And that from ancient days I formed it? Now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest lay waste fortified cities [into] ruinous heaps.
26And their inhabitants were powerless, They were dismayed and put to shame; They were [as] the growing grass, and [as] the green herb, [As] the grass on the housetops, and grain blighted before it be grown up.
27But I know thine abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, And thy raging against me.
28Because thy raging against me and thine arrogance is come up into mine ears, I will put my ring in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, And I will make thee go back by the way by which thou camest.
Meaning in one sentence
God hears Hezekiah's prayer against Sennacherib and answers with an oracle of judgment, affirming His sovereignty over earthly rulers and His protection
Context
This passage comes right after Hezekiah's desperate prayer in the temple. The king had received a letter from the Assyrian commander, full of threats and blasphemies. He spread it before the Lord and cried out for deliverance. Now Isaiah sends God's reply. It is a stunning word, part courtroom verdict, part battle cry. God first assures Hezekiah that his prayer has been heard. Then He turns and speaks directly to Sennacherib, exposing every proud thought and promising to lead him away like a captured animal. The chapter will end with the angel of the Lord striking down the Assyrian army, but here we see the word that made it happen.
Key Words
Three words carry the weight of this passage. The Hebrew word for 'heard' (shama) means more than sound hitting the ear. It carries the sense of paying attention and acting on what you hear. God tells Hezekiah, 'I have heard you', then He speaks.
The word for 'know' (yada) in verse twenty-seven is intimate and thorough. God says He knows Sennacherib's sitting down, his going out, his coming in, every mundane detail. This is not distant awareness; it is the watchful knowing of a sovereign who misses nothing.
Finally, the word for 'arrogance' (sha'anah) originally meant ease or security. But in this context it twisted into pride that comes up to God's ears. Sennacherib was not simply confident; his ease had become idolatry, and God heard it.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators across traditions agree that this passage displays God's absolute sovereignty over history. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown calls it a 'highly poetical strain' that exposes the 'turgid vanity' of the Assyrian king. The Cambridge Bible notes that God tells Sennacherib he was merely an instrument in the divine plan. Matthew Henry emphasizes the comfort this brings to God's people: God has a hook in the nose of every enemy. No tradition argues that Sennacherib's defeat was luck; all see it as the direct answer to Hezekiah's prayer.
A common misunderstanding
One common misreading is to take the boastful speech in verses twenty-three and twenty-four as an actual transcript of Sennacherib's words. In fact, as Barnes notes, Isaiah clothes in words the thoughts of Sennacherib's heart. The prophet is not quoting but exposing the inner arrogance of the king. This makes the judgment even more pointed: God is responding not just to what Sennacherib said publicly, but to what he thought privately.
Living This Out
This week, when you feel threatened by someone or something beyond your control, do what Hezekiah did. Take the fear to God in specific prayer. Then listen for His perspective. He sees your 'sitting down and going out.' He knows the full extent of what worries you. You may not receive a dramatic prophecy, but you can trust that God has heard you and that He holds every proud power in His hands. Your part is to pray and wait; His part is to act.
Main takeaway: God hears the prayers of those who call on Him, and He will humble every pride that rises against His holiness.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Hezekiah was very scared when a big army came to his city. He prayed to God. God said, 'I heard you.' He promised to send the army away. God always listens when you pray.
For ages 9, 12
Hezekiah faced a terrifying situation: the Assyrian army, led by King Sennacherib, was surrounding Jerusalem and making terrible threats. Instead of giving up, Hezekiah went to the temple and poured out his heart to God. God answered through the prophet Isaiah, saying that He had heard the prayer and would defend the city. This story shows us that no enemy is too strong for God. When you are afraid, you can pray honestly and trust that God not only hears but also has the power to act.
Questions People Ask
What does 'the virgin daughter of Zion' mean in 2 Kings 19:21?
This poetic title pictures Jerusalem as a pure, protected city untouched by the enemy. The word 'virgin' emphasizes inviolable security under God's care. It is a personification, not a literal description, showing that God keeps His city safe from invaders.
Why does God say He will put a hook in Sennacherib's nose?
Ancient conquerors sometimes put a ring or hook through the nose of captives to lead them away. God uses this vivid image to show that He has total control over the proud Assyrian king. The great emperor will be led like a wild animal, powerless before the Holy One of Israel.
Did Sennacherib actually say the words in verses 23-24?
Not exactly. Commentators note that these verses are a prophetic summary of the arrogant attitudes behind Sennacherib's actions, not a verbatim transcript. Isaiah puts into words the thoughts of the king's heart to expose his pride for what it is. God judges not just spoken words but inner rebellion.
What is the main lesson of this passage for Christians today?
This passage teaches that God hears specific prayers from His people and answers them with power. It also reminds us that human pride, especially when it opposes God, will not stand. We can face large challenges with confidence, knowing that God knows every detail and holds all authority.
How does this passage connect to the rest of the Bible?
It echoes the theme of God defending His chosen city and people, found throughout the Old Testament. It also prefigures God's ultimate victory over all evil powers, fulfilled in Christ's resurrection. The image of a hook in the nose appears elsewhere in prophecy, reinforcing God's sovereign control over the nations.
For pastors & researchers
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