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 then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:

2 KINGS 18:31KJV
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2 Kings 18:31 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 18:31 mean?

2 Kings 18:31 records the king of Assyria’s message to the people of Jerusalem, urging them not to listen to their own king, Hezekiah. The Assyrian king promises that if they surrender and make peace with him by giving a gift, they will be allowed to stay in their land and enjoy their own food and water in safety.

In this verse, the Assyrian spokesman is trying to persuade the people inside Jerusalem’s walls during a siege. He tells them to ignore Hezekiah’s leadership and instead trust the Assyrian king’s offer of security and normal life if they cooperate. This is part of a larger attempt to break the people’s morale and convince them to surrender without a fight.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 18:31

  • "Hearken" (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ): This word means to listen or pay attention, and here it is used as a command not to listen to Hezekiah. The forceful tone shows the Assyrian king’s attempt to undermine Hezekiah’s authority.
  • "Present" (בְּרָכָה, berakhah): While this word often means "blessing," here it refers to a gift or tribute. The Assyrian king is demanding a token of submission, not simply a friendly gesture.
  • "Cistern" (בּוֹר, bor): This word means a man-made water storage pit. Mentioning drinking from one’s own cistern highlights the promise of personal security and normal life if the people surrender.

Why 2 Kings 18:31 matters

  • This verse shows the psychological tactics used in ancient warfare, where enemy leaders tried to turn a city’s people against their own rulers.
  • The promise of "every man of his own vine and fig tree" is a familiar biblical image of peace and prosperity, making the offer sound especially tempting.
  • Understanding this verse helps clarify the pressure Hezekiah and Jerusalem faced, setting the stage for the dramatic events that follow in the chapter.

Where else these words appear

“tree” Hebrew H8384 · used in 35 verses

  • Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
  • Song of Solomon 2:13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
  • Jeremiah 29:17 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

“vine” Hebrew H1612 · used in 53 verses

  • Genesis 40:9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
  • Psalms 128:3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
  • Ezekiel 15:2 Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

“present” Hebrew H1293 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
  • Deuteronomy 28:8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
  • Psalms 109:17 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

“cistern” Hebrew H953 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 37:20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
  • 1 Chronicles 11:22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.
  • Jeremiah 37:16 When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;