2 Kings 18:20
New International Version
You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?

New Living Translation
Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me?

English Standard Version
Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me?

Berean Standard Bible
You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?

King James Bible
Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

New King James Version
You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?

New American Standard Bible
You say—but they are only empty words—‘I have a plan and strength for the war.’ Now on whom have you relied, that you have revolted against me?

NASB 1995
“You say (but they are only empty words), ‘I have counsel and strength for the war.’ Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?

NASB 1977
“You say (but they are only empty words), ‘I have counsel and strength for the war.’ Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?

Legacy Standard Bible
You say (but they are only empty words), ‘I have counsel and might for the war.’ Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?

Amplified Bible
You say (but they are only empty words) ‘I have counsel and strength for the war.’ Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?

Christian Standard Bible
You think mere words are strategy and strength for war. Who are you now relying on so that you have rebelled against me?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You think mere words are strategy and strength for war. What are you now relying on so that you have rebelled against me?

American Standard Version
Thou sayest (but they are but vain words), There is counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And you have said that speech of the lips is in you, and counsel and might for battle! Now, on whom is it you have trusted, that you have rebelled against me?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thou hast said, (but they are mere words,) I have counsel and strength for war. Now then in whom dost thou trust, that thou hast revolted from me?

Contemporary English Version
Does he think he can plan and win a war with nothing but words? Who is going to help him, now that he has turned against the king of Assyria?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Perhaps thou hast taken counsel, to prepare thyself for battle. On whom dost thou trust, that thou darest to rebel?

English Revised Version
Thou sayest, but they are but vain words, There is counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You give useless advice about getting ready for war. Whom, then, do you trust for support in your rebellion against me?

Good News Translation
He demanded, "Do you think that words can take the place of military skill and might? Who do you think will help you rebel against Assyria?

International Standard Version
You're saying—but they're only empty words—'I have enough advice and resources to conduct warfare!' '"Now who are you relying on, that you have rebelled against me?

JPS Tanakh 1917
Sayest thou that a mere word of the lips is counsel and strength for the war? Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

Literal Standard Version
You have said: Only a word of the lips! Counsel and might [are] for battle; now, on whom have you trusted that you have rebelled against me?

Majority Standard Bible
You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?

New American Bible
Do you think mere words substitute for strategy and might in war? In whom, then, do you place your trust, that you rebel against me?

NET Bible
Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk. In whom are you trusting that you would dare to rebel against me?

New Revised Standard Version
Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? On whom do you now rely, that you have rebelled against me?

New Heart English Bible
Do you think that empty words are strategy and power for war? Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou sayest, but they are but vain words, I have counsel and strength for the war. Now in whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

World English Bible
You say (but they are but vain words), ‘There is counsel and strength for war.’ Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?

Young's Literal Translation
Thou hast said: Only a word of the lips! counsel and might are for battle; now, on whom hast thou trusted that thou hast rebelled against me?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
19The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours? 20You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me? 21Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.…

Cross References
2 Kings 18:7
And the LORD was with Hezekiah, and he prospered wherever he went. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to serve him.

Isaiah 36:5
You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?


Treasury of Scripture

You say, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?

sayest.

Proverbs 21:30,31
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD…

rebellest.

2 Kings 18:14
And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

Jump to Previous
Authority Battle Counsel Depending Design Empty Lips Mere Military Rebel Rebelled Rebellest Rely Speak Strategy Strength Support Think Trust Trusted Vain War Word Words
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Authority Battle Counsel Depending Design Empty Lips Mere Military Rebel Rebelled Rebellest Rely Speak Strategy Strength Support Think Trust Trusted Vain War Word Words
2 Kings 18
1. Hezekiah's good reign
4. He destroys idolatry, and prospers
9. The inhabitants of Samaria are carried captive for their sins
13. Sennacherib invading Judah, is pacified by a tribute
17. Rabshakeh, by blasphemous persuasions, solicits the people to revolt














(20) Thou sayest (but they are but vain Words).--Literally, thou hast said--a mere lip-word it was--i.e., insincere language, an utterance which thou knewest to be false. (Comp. our expression, "lip-service.")

I have counsel . . .--The margin is wrong.

Verse 20. - Thou sayest (but they are but vain words); literally, words of lips; i.e. words which the lips speak, without the heart having any conviction of their truth. We must suppose that Sennacherib has either heard from his spies that Hezekiah is speaking to the people as he represents him to be speaking, or conjectures what he is likely to say. According to the writer of Chronicles (2 Chronicles 32:7, 8), what he did say was very different. He neither boasted of "counsel" nor of material "strength;" but simply said, "There be more with us than with him: with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles." I have counsel and strength for the war. Sennacherib imagines that Hezekiah's real trust is in the "fleshly arm" of Egypt, and in the counselors who have advised and brought about the alliance. And perhaps he is not far wrong. Hezekiah, it would seem, "halted between two opinions." He hoped for aid from Egypt; but, if it failed, then he hoped for the Divine help promised by Isaiah. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You claim
אָמַ֙רְתָּ֙ (’ā·mar·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

[to have] a strategy
עֵצָ֥ה (‘ê·ṣāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6098: Advice, plan, prudence

and strength
וּגְבוּרָ֖ה (ū·ḡə·ḇū·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1369: Force, valor, victory

for war,
לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (lam·mil·ḥā·māh)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

but
אַךְ־ (’aḵ-)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

[these are] empty
שְׂפָתַ֔יִם (śə·p̄ā·ṯa·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

words.
דְּבַר־ (də·ḇar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

On
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

whom
מִ֣י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

are you now
עַתָּה֙ (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

relying,
בָטַ֔חְתָּ (ḇā·ṭaḥ·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 982: To trust, be confident, sure

that
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you have rebelled
מָרַ֖דְתָּ (mā·raḏ·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 4775: To rebel

against me?
בִּֽי׃ (bî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT History: 2 Kings 18:20 You say but they are but vain (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 18:19
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