Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

2 KINGS 19:10KJV
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2 Kings 19:10 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 19:10 mean?

2 Kings 19:10 records a message sent to King Hezekiah of Judah, warning him not to trust that his God will save Jerusalem from being conquered by the king of Assyria. The speaker is trying to shake Hezekiah’s confidence, suggesting that his faith in God’s protection is misplaced.

The verse is part of a letter from the Assyrian king’s messengers to Hezekiah during a siege. The Assyrians are taunting Hezekiah, claiming that just as other nations fell despite their gods, Jerusalem will also fall. This moment highlights the pressure Hezekiah faces and sets up the dramatic tension between human threats and trust in God.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 19:10

  • "trustest" (בָּטַח, batach): This word means to rely on or have confidence in. The Assyrian message specifically targets Hezekiah’s reliance on God, aiming to undermine his faith and resolve.
  • "deceive" (נָשָׁא, nasha): This verb means to lead astray or mislead. The Assyrians accuse Hezekiah’s God of giving false hope, which is a direct challenge to God’s power and faithfulness.
  • "delivered" (נָתַן, nathan): This word means to give or hand over. The threat is that Jerusalem will be "given" into the Assyrian king’s hand, emphasizing the idea of total defeat and loss of control.

Why 2 Kings 19:10 matters

  • This verse exposes the psychological warfare used by the Assyrians, showing that their strategy was not just military but also aimed at breaking the spirit and faith of their enemies.
  • It highlights the central conflict in this part of 2 Kings: whether Hezekiah will trust God or give in to fear and intimidation.
  • The verse sets up the dramatic contrast between the claims of the Assyrian king and the later response of God, helping readers see the significance of faith under pressure.

Where else these words appear

“deceive” Hebrew H5377 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
  • Isaiah 19:13 The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.
  • Jeremiah 29:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

“Hezekiah” Hebrew H2396 · used in 78 verses

  • 2 Kings 16:20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Kings 20:5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
  • Isaiah 36:16 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;

“trustest” Hebrew H982 · used in 117 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:52 And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.
  • Psalms 44:6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
  • Isaiah 30:12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

“Assyria” Hebrew H804 · used in 138 verses

  • Genesis 2:14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
  • 2 Kings 23:29 In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.
  • Isaiah 36:13 Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.