They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands.
Parallel translations
- KJV And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.
- BSB They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as they had spoken against the gods of the peoples of the earth—the work of human hands.
- NKJV And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth—the work of men’s hands.
- NASB They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they did against the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of human hands.
- NLT These officers talked about the God of Jerusalem as though he were one of the pagan gods, made by human hands.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as though He were like the man-made gods of the nations. It matters because they failed to recognize Him as the living Creator.
Overview
The Assyrians lumped Yahweh together with idols 'the work of men's hands,' a fatal category error. The true God is the Maker, not a thing made, and cannot be defeated like lifeless idols. Their blasphemous misjudgment invites the demonstration that the living God alone saves, a salvation fully revealed in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 26
- 2 Kgs 19:18and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they have destroyed them.
- Isa 2:8Their land also is full of idols. They worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.
- Jer 10:3For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the ax.
- Jer 10:9There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the artificer and of the hands of the goldsmith; Blue and purple are their clothing; they are all the work of skillful men.
- Deut 4:28There you shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
- Deut 27:15‘Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ All the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
- 1 Sam 17:36Your servant struck both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.”
- 2 Chr 6:6but now I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’
- 2 Chr 32:13–17Don’t you know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands in any way able to deliver their land out of my hand?
- Isa 37:19and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them.
- Isa 14:32What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That Yahweh has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people will take refuge.
- Isa 44:16–20He burns part of it in the fire. With part of it, he eats meat. He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. Yes, he warms himself, and says, “Aha! I am warm. I have seen the fire.”
- Job 15:25–26Because he has stretched out his hand against God, and behaves himself proudly against the Almighty;
- Hos 8:5–6Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity?
- Heb 12:22But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,
- Ps 139:19–20If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
- Ps 10:13–14Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account?”
- Ps 73:8–11They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
- Ps 132:13–14For Yahweh has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation.
- Ps 76:1–2For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm by Asaph. A song. In Judah, God is known. His name is great in Israel.
- Ps 87:1–3A Psalm by the sons of Korah; a Song. His foundation is in the holy mountains.
- Ps 78:68But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.
- Ps 135:15–18The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
- Jer 1:16I will utter my judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.
- Ps 115:4–8Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
- Jer 32:30“For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done only that which was evil in my sight from their youth; for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, says Yahweh.
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Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 32:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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