The Meaning of 2 Kings 18:23 Explained

2 Kings 18:23

KJV: Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

YLT: 'And, now, give a pledge for thee, I pray thee, to my lord the king of Asshur, and I give to thee two thousand horses, if thou art able to give for thee riders on them.

Darby: And now, engage, I pray thee, with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou canst set the riders upon them.

ASV: Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges  to my lord  the king  of Assyria,  and I will deliver  thee two thousand  horses,  if thou be able  on thy part to set  riders  upon them. 

What does 2 Kings 18:23 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 18:23 mean?

now therefore give a pledge I urge you to my master - the king of Assyria and I will give you two thousand horses if you are able to put on your part riders on them
וְעַתָּה֙ הִתְעָ֣רֶב נָ֔א אֶת־ אֲדֹנִ֖י אֶת־ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וְאֶתְּנָ֤ה לְךָ֙ אַלְפַּ֣יִם סוּסִ֔ים אִם־ תּוּכַ֕ל לָ֥תֶת לְךָ֖ רֹכְבִ֥ים עֲלֵיהֶֽם

וְעַתָּה֙  now  therefore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
הִתְעָ֣רֶב  give  a  pledge 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: עָרַב 
Sense: to pledge, exchange, mortgage, engage, occupy, undertake for, give pledges, be or become surety, take on pledge, give in pledge.
נָ֔א  I  urge  you 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
אֲדֹנִ֖י  my  master 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מֶ֣לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אַשּׁ֑וּר  of  Assyria 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַשּׁוּר  
Sense: the second son of Shem, eponymous ancestor of the Assyrians.
וְאֶתְּנָ֤ה  and  I  will  give 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אַלְפַּ֣יִם  two  thousand 
Parse: Number, md
Root: אֶלֶף 
Sense: a thousand.
סוּסִ֔ים  horses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: סוּס 
Sense: swallow, swift.
תּוּכַ֕ל  you  are  able 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
לָ֥תֶת  to  put 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לְךָ֖  on  your  part 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
רֹכְבִ֥ים  riders 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: רָכַב  
Sense: to mount and ride, ride.
עֲלֵיהֶֽם  on  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.