Isaiah 36:16
New International Version
“Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree and drink water from your own cistern,

New Living Translation
“Don’t listen to Hezekiah! These are the terms the king of Assyria is offering: Make peace with me—open the gates and come out. Then each of you can continue eating from your own grapevine and fig tree and drinking from your own well.

English Standard Version
Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern,

Berean Standard Bible
Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and drink water from his own cistern,

King James Bible
Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;

New King James Version
Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make peace with me by a present and come out to me; and every one of you eat from his own vine and every one from his own fig tree, and every one of you drink the waters of his own cistern;

New American Standard Bible
Do not listen to Hezekiah,’ for this is what the king of Assyria says: ‘Surrender to me and come out to me, and eat, each one, of his vine and each of his fig tree, and each drink of the waters of his own cistern,

NASB 1995
‘Do not listen to Hezekiah,’ for thus says the king of Assyria, ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me, and eat each of his vine and each of his fig tree and drink each of the waters of his own cistern,

NASB 1977
‘Do not listen to Hezekiah,’ for thus says the king of Assyria, ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me, and eat each of his vine and each of his fig tree and drink each of the waters of his own cistern,

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not listen to Hezekiah,’ for thus says the king of Assyria, ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me, and eat each of his vine and each of his fig tree, and drink each of the waters of his own cistern,

Amplified Bible
Do not listen to Hezekiah,’ for this is what the king of Assyria says, ‘Make peace with me and come out to me, and each one of you will eat from his own vine and each from his own fig tree and each [one of you] drink from the water of his own cistern,

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: “Make peace with me and surrender to me. Then every one of you may eat from his own vine and his own fig tree and drink water from his own cistern

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: “Make peace with me and surrender to me. Then every one of you may eat from his own vine and his own fig tree and drink water from his own cistern

American Standard Version
Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig-tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;

Contemporary English Version
Stop listening to Hezekiah. Pay attention to my king. Surrender to him. He will let you keep your own vineyards, fig trees, and cisterns

English Revised Version
Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't listen to Hezekiah, because this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me! Come out, and give yourselves up to me! Everyone will eat from his own grapevine and fig tree and drink from his own cistern.

Good News Translation
Don't listen to Hezekiah! The emperor of Assyria commands you to come out of the city and surrender. You will all be allowed to eat grapes from your own vines and figs from your own trees, and to drink water from your own wells--

International Standard Version
Don't listen to Hezekiah, because this is what the king of Assyria says: 'Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then everyone will eat from his own vine and from his own fig tree, and everyone will drink water from his own cistern,

Majority Standard Bible
Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and drink water from his own cistern,

NET Bible
Don't listen to Hezekiah!' For this is what the king of Assyria says, 'Send me a token of your submission and surrender to me. Then each of you may eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern,

New Heart English Bible
Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria, 'Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and each of you eat from his vine, and each one from his fig tree, and each one of you drink the waters of his own cistern;

Webster's Bible Translation
Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig-tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;

World English Bible
Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for the king of Assyria says, ‘Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and each of you eat from his vine, and each one from his fig tree, and each one of you drink the waters of his own cistern;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus said the king of Asshur: Make a blessing with me, and come out to me, and each of you eat of his vine, and each of his fig tree, and each drink the waters of his own well,

Young's Literal Translation
'Do not hearken unto Hezekiah, for thus said the king of Asshur, Make ye with me a blessing, and come out unto me, and eat ye each of his vine, and each of his fig-tree, and drink ye each the waters of his own well,

Smith's Literal Translation
Ye shall not hear to Hezekiah; for thus said the king of Assur, Make to me a blessing, and come forth to me: and eat a man of his vine and a man of his fig tree, and drink ye a man water of his cistern;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Do not hearken to Ezechias: for thus said the king of the Assyrians: Do with me that which is for your advantage, and come out to me, and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his dg tree, and drink ye every one the water of his cistern,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do not listen to Hezekiah. For the king of the Assyrians says this: Act with me to your own benefit, and come out to me. And let each one eat from his own vine, and each one from his own fig tree. And let each one drink water from his own well,

New American Bible
Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: Make peace with me and surrender to me! Eat, each of you, from your vine, each from your own fig tree. Drink water, each from your own well,

New Revised Standard Version
Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me; then every one of you will eat from your own vine and your own fig tree and drink water from your own cistern,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: Do me a favor, and come out to me; and eat every one of his vines and every one of his fig tree and drink every one the waters of his own cistern;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do not listen to Hezekiah, because, thus says the King of Assyria: ‘Do a favor with me and go out with me and let each man eat his own grapes and a man his own figs, and each man drink the waters of his own well
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Hearken not to Hezekiah; for thus saith the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig-tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Hearken not to Ezekias: thus says the king of the Assyrians, If ye wish to be blessed, come out to me: and ye shall eat every one of his vine and his fig-trees, and ye shall drink water out of your own cisterns:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
15Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, ‘The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’ 16Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and drink water from his own cistern, 17until I come and take you away to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.…

Cross References
2 Kings 18:31-32
Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, / until I come and take you away to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey—so that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah, for he misleads you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’

Jeremiah 29:5-7
“Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce. / Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. / Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

2 Chronicles 32:11
Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give you over to death by famine and thirst when he says, ‘The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria?’

Deuteronomy 20:10-11
When you approach a city to fight against it, you are to make an offer of peace. / If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you.

2 Kings 19:10-13
“Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. / Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries, devoting them to destruction. Will you then be spared? / Did the gods of the nations destroyed by my fathers rescue those nations—the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and of the people of Eden in Telassar? ...

Jeremiah 38:17-18
Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you indeed surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive. / But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans. They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape their grasp.’”

Matthew 4:8-9
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. / “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.

2 Kings 18:19-25
The 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? / 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? / Look 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. ...

2 Chronicles 32:15-17
So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and do not let him mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand!” / And the servants of Sennacherib spoke further against the LORD God and against His servant Hezekiah. / He also wrote letters mocking the LORD, the God of Israel, and saying against Him: “Just as the gods of the nations did not deliver their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.”

Ezekiel 17:13-14
He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land, / so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, surviving only by keeping his covenant.

Luke 4:5-7
Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. / “I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,” he said. “For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. / So if You worship me, it will all be Yours.”

2 Kings 18:28-30
Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! / This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you; he cannot deliver you from my hand. / Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, ‘The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’

2 Chronicles 32:18-19
Then the Assyrians called out loudly in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them in order to capture the city. / They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as they had spoken against the gods of the peoples of the earth—the work of human hands.

Jeremiah 27:12-14
And to Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke the same message: “Put your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and live! / Why should you and your people die by sword and famine and plague, as the LORD has decreed against any nation that does not serve the king of Babylon? / Do not listen to the words of the prophets who say, ‘You must not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying to you a lie.


Treasury of Scripture

Listen not to Hezekiah: for thus said the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat you every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink you every one the waters of his own cistern;

Genesis 32:20
And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.

Genesis 33:11
Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.

1 Samuel 25:27
And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.

come out

1 Samuel 11:3
And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

2 Kings 24:12-16
And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign…

eat ye

1 Kings 4:20,25
Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry…

Micah 4:4
But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

Zechariah 3:10
In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

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Agreement Assyria Cistern Drink Eat Fig Fig-Tree Hearken Hezekiah Peace Present Tree Vine Waters
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Agreement Assyria Cistern Drink Eat Fig Fig-Tree Hearken Hezekiah Peace Present Tree Vine Waters
Isaiah 36
1. Sennacherib invades Judah
2. Rabshakeh, sent by Sennacherib, solicits the people to revolt
22. His words are told to Hezekiah














Do not listen to Hezekiah
This phrase reflects the Assyrian king's attempt to undermine the authority of King Hezekiah of Judah. Hezekiah was known for his faithfulness to God, as seen in 2 Kings 18:5-7, where he is described as a king who trusted in the Lord. The Assyrian strategy was to sow doubt and fear among the people, encouraging them to abandon their leader. This tactic is reminiscent of the serpent's deception in Genesis 3:1, where doubt is cast on God's word.

for this is what the king of Assyria says:
The king of Assyria, likely Sennacherib at this time, represents the world powers that often stand in opposition to God's people. Historically, Assyria was a dominant empire known for its military prowess and brutal conquests. The Assyrian king's words are a direct challenge to the authority of God, similar to Goliath's defiance in 1 Samuel 17:10.

Make peace with me and come out to me.
This invitation to make peace is a deceptive offer, as true peace cannot be found in submission to a pagan king. The phrase echoes the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4:8-9, where Satan offers the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship. The call to "come out" suggests leaving the protection of God, akin to Lot's wife looking back at Sodom in Genesis 19:26.

Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree,
The imagery of the vine and fig tree symbolizes prosperity and security, as seen in Micah 4:4, where it describes a time of peace under God's rule. However, the Assyrian promise is a counterfeit, offering material comfort in exchange for spiritual compromise. This reflects the false peace offered by the world, contrasting with the true peace found in Christ (John 14:27).

and drink water from his own cistern,
Water is a symbol of life and sustenance in the Bible, as seen in John 4:14, where Jesus speaks of the living water He provides. The promise of drinking from one's own cistern suggests self-sufficiency, but it is ultimately a false security. Jeremiah 2:13 condemns forsaking God, the "spring of living water," for broken cisterns that cannot hold water. This phrase highlights the futility of relying on worldly assurances instead of God's provision.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hezekiah
The King of Judah during the time of the Assyrian invasion. He is known for his faithfulness to God and his efforts to reform the religious practices of Judah.

2. King of Assyria
The ruler of the Assyrian Empire, which was a dominant power in the ancient Near East. At this time, the Assyrian king was Sennacherib, who sought to conquer Jerusalem.

3. Jerusalem
The capital city of Judah, which was under siege by the Assyrian army. It was a central place of worship and governance for the Israelites.

4. Assyrian Siege
The military campaign led by Sennacherib against Judah, aiming to capture Jerusalem and subdue its people.

5. Vine and Fig Tree
Symbolic of peace and prosperity in the ancient Near East, representing a life of security and abundance.
Teaching Points
Discernment in Leadership
Hezekiah's leadership is challenged by the Assyrian king's offer. Believers must discern between worldly promises and God's truth.

False Promises of Peace
The Assyrian king's offer of peace is conditional and deceptive. True peace comes from God, not from compromising with worldly powers.

Trust in God's Provision
The promise of eating from one's own vine and fig tree is appealing, but believers are called to trust in God's provision rather than succumbing to fear or pressure.

Spiritual Warfare
The siege of Jerusalem is a physical manifestation of spiritual warfare. Believers must be vigilant and rely on God's strength in times of trial.

Faithfulness in Adversity
Hezekiah's situation teaches the importance of remaining faithful to God even when facing overwhelming odds.Verse 16. - Make an agreement with me by a present; literally, make a blessing with me. Delitzsch paraphrases, "Enter into a connection of mutual good wishes with me." Vance Smith translates boldly, "Make peace with me;" and Mr. Cheyne, "Make a treaty with me." There seems to be no doubt that b'rakah, besides its primary sense of "blessing," had two secondary senses, "present" and "treaty." Here "treaty" is no doubt intended. Come out to me; i.e. "come out of Jerusalem, and surrender yourselves" (comp 1 Samuel 11:3; Jeremiah 38:17). And eat ye... drink ye. Peace being made, the Jews could leave the protection of their walled cities, and disperse themselves over their lands, where they could live in plenty and security (comp. 1 Kings 4:25), at any rate for a time. They would be safe front the terrible extremities hinted at in ver. 12, and might confidently await the great king's ultimate disposal of them, which would be determined widen the war in these parts was over. The waters of his own cistern; rather, of his own well. All cultivators had wells in their plots of ground. Cisterns, or reservoirs, in which the rain-water was stored, were comparatively uncommon.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
אַֽל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

listen
תִּשְׁמְע֖וּ (tiš·mə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Hezekiah,
חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ (ḥiz·qî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2396: Hezekiah -- 'Yah has strengthened', a king of Judah, also several other Israelites

for
כִּי֩ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

this is what
כֹ֨ה (ḵōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the king
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Assyria
אַשּׁ֗וּר (’aš·šūr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 804: Ashshur

says:
אָמַ֜ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

Make
עֲשֽׂוּ־ (‘ă·śū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

peace
בְרָכָה֙ (ḇə·rā·ḵāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1293: Benediction, prosperity

with me
אִתִּ֤י (’it·tî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

and come out
וּצְא֣וּ (ū·ṣə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

to me.
אֵלַ֔י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Then every one of you
אִישׁ־ (’îš-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

will eat
וְאִכְל֤וּ (wə·’iḵ·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

from his own vine
גַּפְנוֹ֙ (gap̄·nōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1612: A vine, the grape

and
וְאִ֣ישׁ (wə·’îš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

his own fig tree,
תְּאֵנָת֔וֹ (tə·’ê·nā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8384: Of foreign derivation, the fig

and drink
וּשְׁת֖וּ (ū·šə·ṯū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

water
מֵי־ (mê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

from his own cistern,
בוֹרֽוֹ׃ (ḇō·w·rōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 953: A pit, cistern, well


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 36:16 Don't listen to Hezekiah for thus says (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 36:15
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