The Meaning of 2 Kings 18:24 Explained

2 Kings 18:24

KJV: How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

YLT: And how dost thou turn back the face of one captain of the least of the servants of my lord, that thou dost trust for thee on Egypt for chariot, and for horsemen?

Darby: How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants? And thou reliest upon Egypt for chariots and for horsemen!

ASV: How then canst thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

How then wilt thou turn away  the face  of one  captain  of the least  of my master's  servants,  and put thy trust  on Egypt  for chariots  and for horsemen? 

What does 2 Kings 18:24 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 18:24 mean?

Then how will you repel - the face captain of one servants of my master the least and put trust your in Egypt for chariots and horsemen
וְאֵ֣יךְ תָּשִׁ֗יב אֵ֠ת פְּנֵ֨י פַחַ֥ת אַחַ֛ד עַבְדֵ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י הַקְּטַנִּ֑ים וַתִּבְטַ֤ח לְךָ֙ עַל־ מִצְרַ֔יִם לְרֶ֖כֶב ؟ וּלְפָרָשִֽׁים

וְאֵ֣יךְ  Then  how 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: אֵיךְ 
Sense: how? interj.
תָּשִׁ֗יב  will  you  repel 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
אֵ֠ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
פְּנֵ֨י  the  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
פַחַ֥ת  captain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּחָה  
Sense: governor.
אַחַ֛ד  of  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
עַבְדֵ֥י  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
אֲדֹנִ֖י  of  my  master 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
הַקְּטַנִּ֑ים  the  least 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: קָטָן 
Sense: young, small, insignificant, unimportant.
וַתִּבְטַ֤ח  and  put  trust 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
לְךָ֙  your 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
מִצְרַ֔יִם  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
לְרֶ֖כֶב  for  chariots 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶכֶב  
Sense: a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders.
؟ וּלְפָרָשִֽׁים  and  horsemen 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: פָּרָשׁ 
Sense: horse, steed, warhorse.