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Sunday, September 14th, 2025
the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Bible in Basic English

2 Kings 19:21

This is the word which the Lord has said about him: In the eyes of the virgin daughter of Zion you are shamed and laughed at; the daughter of Jerusalem has made sport of you.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Hezekiah;   Jerusalem;   Prophecy;   Zion;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Assyria;   Head;   Jerusalem;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Arpad;   Isaiah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Assyria;   Hezekiah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Jerusalem;   Mediator, Mediation;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Sennacherib;   Zion;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Assyria, History and Religion of;   Poetry;   Scorn, Scornful;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gestures;   Hezekiah;   Isaiah, Book of;   Israel;   Philistines;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Virgin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Gestures;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Daughter;   Sennacherib ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hezekiah;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Interesting facts about the bible;   Zion;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Head;   Israel;   Virgin;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Urim and Thummim;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Laughter;   Scorn;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
This is the word the Lord has spoken against him:
Hebrew Names Version
This is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Tziyon has despised you and laughed you to scorn; the daughter of Yerushalayim has shaken her head at you.
King James Version
This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
English Standard Version
This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him: "She despises you, she scorns you— the virgin daughter of Zion; she wags her head behind you— the daughter of Jerusalem.
New Century Version
This is what the Lord has said against Sennacherib: ‘The people of Jerusalem hate you and make fun of you. The people of Jerusalem laugh at you as you run away.
New English Translation
This is what the Lord says about him: "The virgin daughter Zion despises you, she makes fun of you; Daughter Jerusalem shakes her head after you.
Amplified Bible
"This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: 'The virgin daughter of Zion Has despised you and mocked you; The daughter of Jerusalem Has shaken her head behind you!
New American Standard Bible
"This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: 'She, the virgin daughter of Zion, has shown contempt for you and mocked you; She, the daughter of Jerusalem, has shaken her head behind you!
World English Bible
This is the word that Yahweh has spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and laughed you to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you.
Geneva Bible (1587)
This is the worde that the Lord hath spoken against him, O Virgine, daughter of Zion, he hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorne: O daughter of Ierusalem, he hath shaken his head at thee.
Legacy Standard Bible
This is the word that Yahweh has spoken against him:‘She has despised you and mocked you,The virgin daughter of Zion;She has shaken her head behind you,The daughter of Jerusalem!
Berean Standard Bible
This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: 'The virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you.
Contemporary English Version
Now this is what I say to that king: The people of Jerusalem hate and make fun of you; they laugh behind your back.
Complete Jewish Bible
Here is Adonai 's answer concerning him: ‘The virgin daughter of Tziyon despises you; she laughs you to scorn. The daughter of Yerushalayim shakes her head at you.
Darby Translation
This is the word that Jehovah has spoken against him: The virgin-daughter of Zion despiseth thee, laugheth thee to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem shaketh her head at thee.
Easy-to-Read Version
"This is the Lord 's message against Sennacherib: ‘The virgin daughter Zion does not think you are important. She makes fun of you. Daughter Jerusalem shakes her head at you and laughs behind your back.
George Lamsa Translation
This is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him: The virgin the daughter of Zion despises you and laughs you to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you.
Good News Translation
the Lord had said, "The city of Jerusalem laughs at you, Sennacherib, and makes fun of you.
Lexham English Bible
This is the word that Yahweh has spoken concerning him: She despises you, she scorns you, the virgin daughter of Zion. Behind you the daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head.
Literal Translation
this is the Word that Jehovah spoke concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and laughed you to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head behind you.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
This is it that the LORDE hath spoken agaynst him: He hath despysed ye and mocked the O virgin thou doughter Sion: he hath shake his heade at the O doughter Ierusalem.
American Standard Version
This is the word that Jehovah hath spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
This is therefore the worde that the Lorde hath sayd of him: The virgin, euen the daughter of Sion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorne [O thou king of Assyria,] the daughter of Hierusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
King James Version (1611)
This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning him, The Uirgin, the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorne, the daughter of Ierusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
This is the word which the Lord has spoken against him; The virgin daughter of Sion has made light of thee, and mocked thee; the daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at thee.
English Revised Version
This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
This is the word, which the Lord spak of hym, Thou virgyn douytir of Syon, he dispiside thee, and scornyde thee; thou douyter of Jerusalem, he mouyde his heed aftir thi bak.
Update Bible Version
This is the word that Yahweh has spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and laughed you to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you.
Webster's Bible Translation
This [is] the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, [and] laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
New King James Version
This is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him: "The virgin, the daughter of Zion, Has despised you, laughed you to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem Has shaken her head behind your back!
New Living Translation
And the Lord has spoken this word against him: "The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and laughs at you. The daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head in derision as you flee.
New Life Bible
This is the Word that the Lord has spoken against him: ‘She has hated you and made fun of you, the young daughter of Zion! She has shaken her head behind you, the daughter of Jerusalem!
New Revised Standard
This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him: She despises you, she scorns you— virgin daughter Zion; she tosses her head—behind your back, daughter Jerusalem.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
This, is the word that Yahweh hath spoken concerning him, - The virgin daughter of Zion, laugheth thee to scorn, mocketh thee, The daughter of Jerusalem, after thee, doth wag her head.
Douay-Rheims Bible
This is the word that the Lord hath spoken of him: The virgin, the daughter of Sion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn: the daughter of Jerusalem hath wagged her head behind thy back.
Revised Standard Version
This is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him: "She despises you, she scorns you--the virgin daughter of Zion; she wags her head behind you--the daughter of Jerusalem.
Young's Literal Translation
this [is] the word that Jehovah spake concerning him: `Trampled on thee -- laughed at thee, Hath the virgin daughter of Zion Behind thee shaken the head -- Hath the daughter of Jerusalem?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: 'She has despised you and mocked you, The virgin daughter of Zion; She has shaken her head behind you, The daughter of Jerusalem!

Contextual Overview

20 Then Isaiah, the son of Amoz, sent to Hezekiah, saying, The Lord, the God of Israel, says, The prayer which you have made to me against Sennacherib, king of Assyria, has come to my ears. 21 This is the word which the Lord has said about him: In the eyes of the virgin daughter of Zion you are shamed and laughed at; the daughter of Jerusalem has made sport of you. 22 Against whom have you said evil and bitter things? against whom has your voice been loud and your eyes lifted up? even against the Holy One of Israel. 23 You have sent your servants with evil words against the Lord, and have said, With all my war-carriages I have come up to the top of the mountains, to the inmost parts of Lebanon; its tall cedars will be cut down, and the best trees of its woods; I will come up into his highest places, into his thick woods. 24 I have made water-holes and taken their waters, and with my foot I have made all the rivers of Egypt dry. 25 Has it not come to your ears how I did it long before, purposing it in times long past? Now I have given effect to my design, so that by you strong towns might be turned into masses of broken walls. 26 This is why their townsmen had no power, they were broken and put to shame; they were like the grass of the field and the green plant, like grass on the house-tops. 27 But I have knowledge of your getting up and your resting, of your going out and your coming in. 28 Because your wrath against me and your words of pride have come up to my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my cord in your lips, and I will make you go back by the way you came. 29 And this will be the sign to you: you will get your food this year from what comes up of itself; and in the second year from the produce of the same; and in the third year you will put in your seed and get in the grain and make vine-gardens and take of their fruit.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

The virgin: Isaiah 23:12, Isaiah 37:21, Isaiah 37:22-35, Isaiah 47:1, Jeremiah 14:17, Jeremiah 18:13, Jeremiah 31:4, Lamentations 1:15, Lamentations 2:13, Amos 5:2

the daughter: Psalms 9:14, Psalms 137:8, Isaiah 1:8, Isaiah 23:10, Isaiah 47:5, Jeremiah 46:11, Lamentations 2:13, Lamentations 4:21, Micah 4:8, Zechariah 9:9

shaken her head: Job 16:4, Psalms 22:7, Psalms 22:8, Isaiah 37:22, Lamentations 2:15, Matthew 27:39

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 19:29 - a sign Job 5:22 - laugh Job 39:18 - General Psalms 2:4 - shall laugh Psalms 44:14 - shaking Isaiah 10:33 - lop Lamentations 1:6 - from

Cross-References

Genesis 4:7
If you do well, will you not have honour? and if you do wrong, sin is waiting at the door, desiring to have you, but do not let it be your master.
Genesis 12:2
And I will make of you a great nation, blessing you and making your name great; and you will be a blessing:
Genesis 18:24
If by chance there are fifty upright men in the town, will you give the place to destruction and not have mercy on it because of the fifty upright men?
Genesis 19:8
See now, I have two unmarried daughters; I will send them out to you so that you may do to them whatever seems good to you: only do nothing to these men, for this is why they have come under the shade of my roof.
Genesis 19:9
And they said, Give way there. This one man, they said, came here from a strange country, and will he now be our judge? now we will do worse to you than to them; and pushing violently against Lot, they came near to get the door broken in.
Genesis 19:15
And when morning came, the angels did all in their power to make Lot go, saying, Get up quickly and take your wife and your two daughters who are here, and go, for fear that you come to destruction in the punishment of the town.
Genesis 19:16
But while he was waiting, the men took him and his wife and his daughters by the hand, for the Lord had mercy on them, and put them outside the town.
Psalms 34:15
The eyes of the Lord are on the upright, and his ears are open to their cry.
Psalms 102:17
When he has given ear to the prayer of the poor, and has not put his request on one side.
Psalms 145:19
To his worshippers, he will give their desire; their cry comes to his ears, and he gives them salvation.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Concerning him - i. e., “concerning Sennacherib.” 2 Kings 19:21-28 are addressed to the great Assyrian monarch himself, and are God’s reply to his proud boastings.

The virgin, the daughter of Zion, - Rather, holy eastern city, is here distinguished from Jerusalem, the western one, and is given the remarkable epithet “virgin,” which is not applied to her sister; probably because the true Zion, the city of David, had remained inviolable from David’s time, having never been entered by an enemy. Jerusalem, on the other hand, had been taken, both by Shishak 1 Kings 14:26 and by Jehoash 2 Kings 14:13. The personification of cities as females is a common figure (compare marginal references).

Hath shaken her head at thee - This was a gesture of scorn with the Hebrews (compare the marginal references; Matthew 27:39).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 19:21. The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. — "So truly contemptible is thy power, and empty thy boasts, that even the young women of Jerusalem, under the guidance of Jehovah, shall be amply sufficient to discomfit all thy forces, and cause thee to return with shame to thy own country, where the most disgraceful death awaits thee."

When Bishop Warburton had published his Doctrine of Grace, and chose to fall foul on some of the most religious people of the land, a young woman of the city of Gloucester exposed his graceless system in a pamphlet, to which she affixed the above words as a motto!


 
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