Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:

ISAIAH 37:21KJV
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Isaiah 37:21 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 37:21 mean?

Isaiah 37:21 shows that God responds directly to King Hezekiah’s prayer about the threat from Sennacherib, king of Assyria. The prophet Isaiah sends a message to Hezekiah, making it clear that the LORD, the God of Israel, has heard his prayer and is about to answer it.

In this verse, Isaiah is acting as God’s messenger, delivering a personal reply to Hezekiah’s plea for help. The setting is tense: Jerusalem is under threat from a powerful enemy, and Hezekiah has turned to prayer. This verse marks the turning point where God acknowledges Hezekiah’s faith and signals that He is involved in the situation.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 37:21

  • The word "prayed" (פָּלַל, palal) means to intercede or make a plea, highlighting that Hezekiah’s prayer was earnest and direct, not just a routine ritual.
  • The name "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH) is used here, emphasizing the personal and covenant relationship between God and Israel, rather than a distant or generic deity.
  • "Sent" (שָׁלַח, shalach) shows Isaiah is intentionally delivering a message from God, not just offering his own advice or opinion.

Why Isaiah 37:21 matters

  • This verse clarifies that God is attentive to sincere prayer, especially in moments of crisis, and that He responds through His chosen messengers.
  • The verse connects Hezekiah’s private prayer with a public answer, showing the link between faith and God’s action in history.
  • It sets the stage for the following verses, where God’s response to the Assyrian threat unfolds, making this a key turning point in the narrative.

Where else these words appear

“Amoz” Hebrew H531 · used in 13 verses

  • 2 Kings 19:2 And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
  • Isaiah 13:1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

“Sennacherib” Hebrew H5576 · used in 13 verses

  • 2 Kings 18:13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:1 After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.

“Isaiah” Hebrew H3470 · used in 39 verses

  • 2 Kings 19:2 And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
  • 2 Kings 20:19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
  • Isaiah 7:3 Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;

“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.