Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

ISAIAH 36:20KJV
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Isaiah 36:20 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 36:20 mean?

Isaiah 36:20 records a challenge from the Assyrian official, questioning whether any of the gods (other than the LORD) have been able to save their lands from Assyria, and doubting that the LORD could deliver Jerusalem. The verse highlights the Assyrian’s confidence in their own power and their dismissal of Jerusalem’s hope in God.

In this scene, the Assyrian spokesman (the Rabshakeh) is speaking to the people of Jerusalem during the siege by King Sennacherib. He points out that none of the gods (H430; אֱלֹהִים, ’elohim) of other nations (H776; אֶרֶץ, ’erets) have managed to rescue (H5337; נָצַל, natsal) their lands from Assyria’s hand (H3027; יָד, yad), so he questions why the LORD (H3068; יְהוָה, YHWH) would be any different. This is meant to undermine the people’s trust in their God and pressure them to surrender.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 36:20

  • אֱלֹהִים (’elohim, H430) — "gods": The spokesman uses the general word for gods, lumping the LORD together with the powerless idols of other nations, which shows his misunderstanding of Israel’s God.
  • נָצַל (natsal, H5337) — "delivered": This verb is used twice, emphasizing the idea of rescue or saving from danger. The repetition underlines the challenge: no one has been delivered before, so why expect it now?
  • יְהוָה (YHWH, H3068) — "the LORD": The Assyrian official uses the specific name for Israel’s God, showing he knows who the people trust, but treats YHWH as just another local deity.
  • אֶרֶץ (’erets, H776) — "lands" and "land": The same word is used for both the territories of other nations and Jerusalem, suggesting the Assyrian sees all lands as equally vulnerable.

Why Isaiah 36:20 matters

  • This verse reveals the Assyrian’s misunderstanding of the LORD, treating Him as no different from other local gods, which sets up the contrast for what follows in the story.
  • It highlights the pressure and psychological warfare used against Jerusalem, aiming to break their faith and force a surrender.
  • The verse connects to the larger narrative in Isaiah, where God’s uniqueness and power to save are central themes, and it prepares the reader for God’s response to this challenge.