But they were silent and did not answer him so much as a word; for the king’s command was, “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.
- BSB But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”
- NKJV But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment 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 26:4Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
- Amos 5:13Therefore a prudent person keeps silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.
- Ps 38:13–15But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth.
- Matt 7:6“Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
- 2 Kgs 18:26Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it. Don’t speak with us in the Jews’ language, in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”
- Prov 9:7–8He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
- Ps 39:1For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”
- 2 Kgs 18:37Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, came with Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him Rabshakeh’s words.
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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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