The Meaning of 2 Kings 18:20 Explained

2 Kings 18:20

KJV: 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?

YLT: 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?

Darby: 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?

ASV: 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?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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? 

What does 2 Kings 18:20 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 18:13-25 - Threatened By Worldly Might
It is an interesting fact that this siege of Lachish is mentioned on the Assyrian monuments, and Sennacherib is depicted as giving orders for its destruction. Also the names and Jewish physiognomy of these ambassadors are clearly recognizable. It was a mistake to bribe the foe; the bribes only excited his cupidity. You may as well come to blows with Apollyon as soon as he straddles across your path; sooner or later the conflict will have to come to a head. Three years afterward, Rabshakeh appeared before the gates of Jerusalem.
It has been suggested that this bold blasphemer was an apostate Jew. He drew a false inference from the recent destructions of altars, etc., which had been reported to him. His taunts were barbed with biting satire. He spoke contemptuously of the little army that was absolutely unable to cope with the disciplined troops of Assyria. It seemed a most unequal conflict which could end only in one way. But he failed to take into account the covenant mercy of God and the heavenly forces which were allied with Hezekiah. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 18

1  Hezekiah's good reign
4  He destroys idolatry, and prospers
9  The inhabitants of Samaria are carried captive for their sins
13  Sennacherib invading Judah, is pacified by a tribute
17  Rabshakeh, by blasphemous persuasions, solicits the people to revolt

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 18:20 mean?

You speak but [they are] words mere of [having] plans and power for war And in whom do you trust that you rebel against me
אָמַ֙רְתָּ֙ אַךְ־ דְּבַר־ שְׂפָתַ֔יִם עֵצָ֥ה וּגְבוּרָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה עַתָּה֙ עַל־ מִ֣י בָטַ֔חְתָּ כִּ֥י מָרַ֖דְתָּ בִּֽי

אָמַ֙רְתָּ֙  You  speak 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
דְּבַר־  [they  are]  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
שְׂפָתַ֔יִם  mere 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
עֵצָ֥ה  of  [having]  plans 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵצָה 
Sense: counsel, advice, purpose.
וּגְבוּרָ֖ה  and  power 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גְּבוּרָה  
Sense: strength, might.
לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה  for  war 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
מִ֣י  whom 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
בָטַ֔חְתָּ  do  you  trust 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
כִּ֥י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
מָרַ֖דְתָּ  you  rebel 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָרַד  
Sense: to rebel, revolt, be rebellious.
בִּֽי  against  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular

What are the major concepts related to 2 Kings 18:20?

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