And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying,

ISAIAH 37:15KJV
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Isaiah 37:15 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 37:15 mean?

Isaiah 37:15 describes King Hezekiah turning to God in prayer, addressing the LORD directly as he faces a crisis. This verse marks the moment when Hezekiah chooses to seek help from God instead of relying solely on political or military solutions.

Hezekiah is the king of Judah, and at this point in the story, Jerusalem is under threat from the Assyrian army. Instead of panicking or making alliances, Hezekiah goes into the temple and prays to the LORD. This sets the stage for the prayer that follows, showing Hezekiah’s dependence on God during a time of great danger.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 37:15

  • Hezekiah (חִזְקִיָּהוּ, ḥizqiyyāhū): The name means "Yahweh strengthens." This is significant because the story centers on whether Hezekiah will find strength in God.
  • Prayed (פָּלַל, pālal): This word often carries the sense of interceding or earnestly seeking favor, showing that Hezekiah is not just speaking but pleading with God.
  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing a direct and covenant relationship.
  • Saying (אָמַר, ’āmar): This simply introduces the words Hezekiah is about to speak, marking the beginning of his heartfelt prayer.

Why Isaiah 37:15 matters

  • This verse highlights Hezekiah’s choice to seek God first in a moment of national crisis, which contrasts with other kings who relied on their own strength or foreign alliances.
  • The verse sets the tone for the following prayer, which is one of the most significant prayers of trust and dependence on God in the Old Testament.
  • By naming the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH), the verse reminds readers that Hezekiah is appealing to the God who has a special relationship with Israel, not just a distant or generic deity.

Where else these words appear

“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 20:3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
  • Isaiah 36:15 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

“prayed” Hebrew H6419 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 20:7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
  • 1 Kings 13:6 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
  • Job 42:8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.