Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.” New Living Translation But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.” English Standard Version But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.” Berean Standard Bible But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.” King James Bible But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. New King James Version But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” New American Standard Bible But they were silent and did not answer him so much as a word; for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.” NASB 1995 But they were silent and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” NASB 1977 But they were silent and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” Legacy Standard Bible But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” Amplified Bible But they kept silent and did not say a word to him in reply, for King Hezekiah’s command was, “Do not answer him.” Christian Standard Bible But they kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was, “Don’t answer him.” Holman Christian Standard Bible But they kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was, “Don’t answer him.” American Standard Version But they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. English Revised Version But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. GOD'S WORD® Translation They were silent and didn't say anything to him because the king commanded them not to answer him. Good News Translation The people kept quiet, just as King Hezekiah had told them to; they did not say a word. International Standard Version But the people remained silent and didn't respond to him with so much as a single word, because the king had commanded, "Don't answer him." Majority Standard Bible But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, ?Do not answer him.? NET Bible They were silent and did not respond, for the king had ordered, "Don't respond to him." New Heart English Bible But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king's commandment was, "Do not answer him." Webster's Bible Translation But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. World English Bible But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king’s commandment was, “Don’t answer him.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they keep silent, and have not answered him a word, for a command of the king is, saying, “Do not answer him.” Young's Literal Translation And they keep silent, and have not answered him a word, for a command of the king is, saying, 'Do not answer him.' Smith's Literal Translation And they will be silent and not answer him a word: for this the command of the king, saying, Ye shall not answer. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd they held their peace, and answered him not a word. For the king had commanded, saying: answer him not. Catholic Public Domain Version And they remained silent and did not answer a word to him. For the king had commanded them, saying, “You shall not respond to him.” New American Bible But they remained silent and did not answer at all, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.” New Revised Standard Version But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king had commanded, saying, Do not answer him. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they kept silent before them and no man gave him an answer, because the King commanded and said, "Do not give him an answer" OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917But they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying: 'Answer him not.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And they were silent, and none answered him a word; because the king had commanded that none should answer. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem…20Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” 21But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.” 22Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.… Cross References 2 Kings 18:36 But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.” Isaiah 37:1-2 On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD. / And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz 2 Chronicles 32:20 In response, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out to heaven in prayer, Isaiah 30:15 For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.” Isaiah 7:4 and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.” Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. Matthew 27:12-14 And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. / Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?” / But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement. Mark 15:3-5 And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things. / Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!” / But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply. Luke 23:9 Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer. 1 Peter 2:23 When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. John 19:9 and he went back into the Praetorium. “Where are You from?” he asked. But Jesus gave no answer. Acts 8:32-33 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. / In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.” Treasury of Scripture But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. 2 Kings 18:26,37 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall… Psalm 38:13-15 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth… Psalm 39:1 To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. Jump to Previous Command Commanded Commandment Held Kept King's Order Peace Quiet Silent WordJump to Next Command Commanded Commandment Held Kept King's Order Peace Quiet Silent WordIsaiah 36 1. Sennacherib invades Judah2. Rabshakeh, sent by Sennacherib, solicits the people to revolt 22. His words are told to Hezekiah But the people remained silent The Hebrew root for "remained silent" is "ḥāraš," which conveys a sense of being still or holding one's peace. In the context of ancient Israel, silence was often a powerful response, signifying trust and obedience. The people of Judah, under the leadership of King Hezekiah, chose silence as an act of faith and discipline. This silence can be seen as a form of resistance against the psychological warfare waged by the Assyrian envoy, Rabshakeh. In a broader spiritual sense, this silence reflects a deep trust in God’s sovereignty and a refusal to be swayed by fear or intimidation. and did not answer a word for Hezekiah had commanded Do not answer him Persons / Places / Events 1. HezekiahThe King of Judah during the time of the Assyrian invasion. He is known for his faithfulness to God and his reforms to restore proper worship in Judah. 2. Rabshakeh The Assyrian field commander sent by King Sennacherib to Jerusalem to intimidate and persuade the people to surrender. 3. Jerusalem The capital city of Judah, under siege by the Assyrian army. It is a central location for many significant biblical events. 4. Assyrian Siege The historical event where the Assyrian army, led by King Sennacherib, besieged Jerusalem, attempting to conquer it. 5. Sennacherib The King of Assyria, known for his military campaigns and attempts to expand his empire, including the siege of Jerusalem. Teaching Points The Power of SilenceSilence can be a powerful response in the face of intimidation and provocation. Hezekiah's command to remain silent demonstrates wisdom and trust in God's deliverance rather than human argument. Trust in God Over Human Strength Hezekiah's decision to not engage with Rabshakeh's taunts reflects a deep trust in God's power and promises, rather than relying on human negotiation or military might. Leadership and Obedience Hezekiah's leadership is marked by his ability to guide his people in faithfulness and obedience to God's direction, even in challenging circumstances. Spiritual Warfare The siege of Jerusalem is a reminder of the spiritual battles believers face. Silence and prayer can be effective weapons against the enemy's tactics. Faith in Action Hezekiah's actions encourage believers to put their faith into action by trusting God and following His guidance, even when it seems counterintuitive.(21) But they held their peace . . .--Hezekiah seems to have commanded silence, as if distrustful either of the wisdom of the ambassadors or of the effect which any chance words might have upon the garrison and people of Jerusalem. As it was, the only words they had spoken (Isaiah 36:11) had made matters infinitely worse.Verse 21. - They (i.e. the people, as in 2 Kings 18:36) held their peace. Rabshakeh's attempt to shake their fidelity had, at any rate, no manifest effect. For the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. Hezekiah can scarcely have anticipated that Rabshakeh would so far depart from ordinary usage as to make a speech to "the men on the wall." But he may have been in the immediate neighbourhood, and, when apprised of the envoy's proceedings, may have sent the order. We are not to suppose that the Jewish king was at a loss for an answer. He did not choose to bandy words with an envoy who had behaved himself so outrageously. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But [the people] remained silentוַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּ (way·ya·ḥă·rî·šū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 2790: To cut in, engrave, plow, devise and did not וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no answer a word, עָנ֥וּ (‘ā·nū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6030: To answer, respond for כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction [Hezekiah] הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king had commanded, מִצְוַ֨ת (miṣ·waṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 4687: Commandment “Do not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no answer him.” תַעֲנֻֽהוּ׃ (ṯa·‘ă·nu·hū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine singular Strong's 6030: To answer, respond Links Isaiah 36:21 NIVIsaiah 36:21 NLT Isaiah 36:21 ESV Isaiah 36:21 NASB Isaiah 36:21 KJV Isaiah 36:21 BibleApps.com Isaiah 36:21 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 36:21 Chinese Bible Isaiah 36:21 French Bible Isaiah 36:21 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 36:21 But they remained silent and said nothing (Isa Isi Is) |
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