2 Kings 18:20 - Forerunner Commentary

2 Kings 18:20

18 And when they had called to the king, ^aEliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them.

19 Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: ^a“What confidence is this in which you trust?

20 You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are¹ mere words. And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?

21 ^aNow look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

22 But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,’ is it not He ^awhose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?” ’

23 Now therefore, I urge you, give a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses—if you are able on your part to put riders on them!

24 How then will you repel one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

Verse Comparison: 2 Kings 18:20

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American Standard Version
Thou sayest (but they are but vain words), `There is' counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

Amplified® Bible
You say--but they are empty words--There is counsel and strength for war. Now on whom do you rely, that you rebel against me?

Contemporary English Version
Does he think he can plan and win a war with nothing but words? Who is going to help him, now that he has turned against the king of Assyria?

Darby English Version
Thou sayest -- but it is a word of the lips -- There is counsel and strength for war. Now on whom dost thou rely, that thou hast revolted against me?

Good News Bible
He demanded, "Do you think that words can take the place of military skill and might? Who do you think will help you rebel against Assyria?

King James Version
Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

New American Standard Bible
"You say (but {they are} only empty words), `{I have} counsel and strength for the war.' Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?

New International Version
You say you have strategy and military strength—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?

New King James Version
You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
"You say (but they seem only empty words), 'I have counsel and strength for the war.' Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?

Revised Standard Version
Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? On whom do you now rely, that you have rebelled against me?

Young's Literal Translation
Thou hast said: Only a word of the lips! counsel and might `are' for battle; now, on whom hast thou trusted that thou hast rebelled against me?

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