But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king’s commandment was, “Don’t answer him.”
- KJV But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
- NKJV But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”
- NASB But they were silent and did not answer him so much as a word; for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”
- NLT But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.”
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
The people stay silent, obeying Hezekiah's command not to answer the Assyrian.
Overview
In contrast to the Rabshakeh's loud taunts, the people respond with disciplined silence at the king's order. Their restraint reflects both wisdom and a refusal to be drawn into the enemy's war of words. The silence leaves the matter in God's hands, trusting him rather than engaging the blasphemer's arguments.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 26:4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
- Amos 5:13Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.
- Ps 38:13–15But like a deaf man, I do not hear; and like a mute man, I do not open my mouth.
- Matt 7:6Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
- 2 Kgs 18:26Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak with us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”
- Prov 9:7–8He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
- Ps 39:1For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”
- 2 Kgs 18:37Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 36:21 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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