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Read the Bible

New King James Version

Isaiah 37:26

"Did you not hear long ago How I made it, From ancient times that I formed it? Now I have brought it to pass, That you should be For crushing fortified cities into heaps of ruins.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Blasphemy;   Libnah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Assyria;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Isaiah;   Sennacherib;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Boasting;   Election;   God;   Nation;   Predestination;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Mediator, Mediation;   Predestination;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Hezekiah;   King;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Predestination;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Sennacherib;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ararat;   Assyria;   Hezekiah;   Interesting facts about the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fence;   Heap;   Hezekiah (2);   Isaiah;   Ruin;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Isaiah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Have you not heard?I designed it long ago;I planned it in days gone by.I have now brought it to pass,and you have crushed fortified citiesinto piles of rubble.
Hebrew Names Version
Have you not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that it should be your to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
King James Version
Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps.
English Standard Version
"‘Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should make fortified cities crash into heaps of ruins,
New American Standard Bible
"Have you not heard? Long ago I did it, From ancient times I planned it. Now I have brought it about That you would turn fortified cities into ruined heaps.
New Century Version
"‘King of Assyria, surely you have heard. Long ago I, the Lord , planned these things. Long ago I designed them, and now I have made them happen. I allowed you to turn those strong, walled cities into piles of rocks.
Amplified Bible
"Have you not heard [says the God of Israel] That I did it long ago, That I planned it in ancient times? Now I have brought it to pass, That you [king of Assyria] would [be My instrument to] turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
World English Bible
Have you not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that it should be your to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Hast thou not heard howe I haue of olde time made it, and haue formed it long ago? and should I now bring it, that it should be destroyed, and layde on ruinous heapes, as cities defensed?
Legacy Standard Bible
Have you not heard?Long ago I did it;From days of old I formed it.Now I have brought it to pass,That you should devastate fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
Berean Standard Bible
Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble.
Contemporary English Version
Sennacherib, now listen to me, the Lord . I planned all of this long ago. And you don't even know that I alone am the one who decided that you would do these things. I let you make ruins of fortified cities.
Complete Jewish Bible
" ‘Haven't you heard? Long ago I made it; in antiquity I produced it; and now I am making it happen: you are turning fortified cities into heaps of ruins,
Darby Translation
Hast thou not heard that long ago I did it, and that from ancient days I formed it? Now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest lay waste fortified cities [into] ruinous heaps.
Easy-to-Read Version
‘How could you say this, Sennacherib? Did no one ever tell you that I, the Lord, planned these things long ago? From ancient times I decided what would happen. And now I have made it happen. I let you tear down strong cities and change them into piles of rocks.
George Lamsa Translation
Have you not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of the days of old, that I have prepared it? Now I have brought it to pass, that you should be laid waste and desolate as when fortified cities are in ruin,
Good News Translation
"Have you never heard that I planned all this long ago? And now I have carried it out. I gave you the power to turn fortified cities into piles of rubble.
Lexham English Bible
Have you not heard from a long time ago? I have made it from days of primeval time, and I formed it. Now I have brought it about, and it is for fortified cities to collapse into heaps of destroyed stones.
Literal Translation
Have you not heard it from afar? I have made it from days of old, even I formed it. Now I have caused it to come, and you are to cause fortified cities to crash into heaps, ruins.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yee (saiest thou) hast thou not herde, what I haue taken in honde, & brought to passe of olde tyme? That same wil I do now also: waist, destroye, & bringe the stronge cities vnto heapes of stones.
American Standard Version
Hast thou not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that it should be thine to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
Bible in Basic English
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.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Hast thou not heard? Long ago I made it, in ancient times I fashioned it; now have I brought it to pass, yea, it is done; that fortified cities should be laid waste into ruinous heaps.
King James Version (1611)
Hast thou not heard long agoe, how I haue done it, and of ancient times, that I haue formed it? now haue I brought it to passe, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heapes.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yea, hast thou not hearde what I haue taken in hande and brought to passe of olde tyme? That same wyll I do nowe also, and waste, destroy, and bryng strong cities vnto heapes of stones.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Hast thou not heard of these things which I did of old? I appointed them from ancient times; but now have I manifested my purpose of desolating nations in their strong holds, and them that dwell in strong cities.
English Revised Version
Hast thou not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whether thou, Sennacherib, herdist not what thingis Y dide sum tyme? Fro elde daies Y fourmyde that thing, and now Y haue brouyt; and it is maad in to drawyng vp bi the roote of litle hillis fiytynge togidere, and of strong citees.
Update Bible Version
Have you not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now I have brought it to pass, that it should be yours to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
Webster's Bible Translation
Hast thou not heard long ago, [how] I have done it; [and] of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldst be to lay waste fortified cities [into] ruinous heaps.
New English Translation
Certainly you must have heard! Long ago I worked it out, in ancient times I planned it, and now I am bringing it to pass. The plan is this: Fortified cities will crash into heaps of ruins.
New Living Translation
"But have you not heard? I decided this long ago. Long ago I planned it, and now I am making it happen. I planned for you to crush fortified cities into heaps of rubble.
New Life Bible
Have you not heard that I planned this long ago? From days of old I planned it. Now I have made it happen, that you should turn strong cities built for battles into waste lands.
New Revised Standard
"Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should make fortified cities crash into heaps of ruins,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Hast thou not heard - That, long ago, that, is what I appointed, And from days of old, devised? Now, have I brought it to pass, That thou mightest Serve to lay waste, in desolate ruins, fortified cities;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Hast thou not heard what I have done to him of old? from the days of old I have formed it: and now I have brought it to effect: and it hath come to pass that hills fighting together, and fenced cities should be destroyed.
Revised Standard Version
'Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should make fortified cities crash into heaps of ruins,
Young's Literal Translation
Hast thou not heard from afar? -- it I did, From days of old -- that I formed it. Now, I have brought it in, And it is to make desolate, Ruinous heaps -- fenced cities,
THE MESSAGE
"‘Haven't you gotten the news that I've been behind this all along? This is a longstanding plan of mine and I'm just now making it happen, using you to devastate strong cities, turning them into piles of rubble and leaving their citizens helpless, bewildered, and confused, drooping like unwatered plants, stunted like withered seedlings.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Have you not heard? Long ago I did it, From ancient times I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, That you should turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps.

Contextual Overview

21 2 Kings 19:20-34">[xr] Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, "Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 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! 23 "Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice, And lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel. 24 By your servants you have reproached the Lord, And said, "By the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, To the limits of Lebanon; I will cut down its tall cedars And its choice cypress trees; I will enter its farthest height, To its fruitful forest. 25 I have dug and drunk water, And with the soles of my feet I have dried up All the brooks of defense.' 26 "Did you not hear long ago How I made it, From ancient times that I formed it? Now I have brought it to pass, That you should be For crushing fortified cities into heaps of ruins. 27 Therefore their inhabitants had little power; They were dismayed and confounded; They were as the grass of the field And the green herb, As the grass on the housetops And grain blighted before it is grown. 28 "But I know your dwelling place, Your going out and your coming in, And your rage against Me. 29 Because your rage against Me and your tumult Have come up to My ears, Therefore I will put My hook in your nose And My bridle in your lips, And I will turn you back By the way which you came."' 30 "This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows of itself, And the second year what springs from the same; Also in the third year sow and reap, Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

long ago: etc. or, how I have made it long ago, and formed it of ancient times, Should I now bring it to be laid waste, and defenced cities to be ruinous heaps.

how I: Isaiah 10:5, Isaiah 10:6, Isaiah 10:15, Isaiah 45:7, Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 46:11, Genesis 50:20, Psalms 17:13, Psalms 76:10, Amos 3:6, Acts 2:23, Acts 4:27, Acts 4:28, 1 Peter 2:8, Jude 1:4

Reciprocal: Numbers 22:35 - Go Judges 3:12 - and the Lord 1 Kings 11:23 - God 2 Kings 3:25 - beat down 2 Kings 19:25 - Hast thou not Psalms 9:6 - thou hast Isaiah 17:1 - a ruinous Isaiah 22:11 - ye have Isaiah 54:16 - I have Jeremiah 33:2 - the maker Jeremiah 34:22 - I will command Jeremiah 47:7 - the Lord Jeremiah 51:20 - art Ezekiel 28:14 - and I Habakkuk 1:12 - thou hast ordained Revelation 6:4 - power Revelation 13:7 - and power

Cross-References

Genesis 4:10
And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.
Genesis 25:32
And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?"
Genesis 37:20
Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, "Some wild beast has devoured him.' We shall see what will become of his dreams!"
Deuteronomy 17:8
"If a matter arises which is too hard for you to judge, between degrees of guilt for bloodshed, between one judgment or another, or between one punishment or another, matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the LORD your God chooses.
2 Samuel 1:16
So David said to him, "Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, "I have killed the LORD's anointed."'
Job 16:18
"O earth, do not cover my blood, And let my cry have no resting place!
Psalms 30:9
"What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth?
Jeremiah 41:8
But ten men were found among them who said to Ishmael, "Do not kill us, for we have treasures of wheat, barley, oil, and honey in the field." So he desisted and did not kill them among their brethren.
Ezekiel 24:7
For her blood is in her midst; She set it on top of a rock; She did not pour it on the ground, To cover it with dust.
Matthew 16:26
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Hast thou not heard long ago?.... By report, by reading the history of ancient times, or by means of the prophets; these are the words of the Lord to Sennacherib. The Targum adds,

"what I did to Pharaoh king of Egypt;''

it follows:

how I have done it; and of ancient times that I have formed it? meaning either the decree in his own breast from all eternity, and which he had published by his prophets, of raising up him, this wicked prince, to be the scourge of nations; or by the "it" are meant the people of the Jews, God's Israel, whom he had made, formed into a body politic, and into a church state, and had done great things for, in bringing them out of Egypt, leading them through the Red sea, providing for them, and protecting them in the wilderness, subduing nations under them, and settling them in the land of Canaan;

now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps t; which some render interrogatively,

now should I bring, it to be laid waste, and fenced cities to be ruinous heaps? that is, the people of the Jews, the city of Jerusalem, and other fenced cities? no, I will not: or the meaning is, that that decree, which he had framed and formed in his own mind from all eternity, he was now bringing to pass; which was, that this king of Babylon should be a waster and destroyer of fortified cities, which he should reduce to heaps of ruin; wherefore he had no reason to vaunt as he had done, for he was only an instrument of executing the purposes and designs of God, though it was not in his heart, nor did he so mean.

t גלים נצים "in acervos et flores", "into heaps and flowers", that is, into heaps of dust, which being moved, and raised by the wind, fly away like flowers and blossoms of trees; so Gussetius, "in acervos volantes, aut ad volandum excitatos, scil. dum redacti in pulveres, magna ex parte, volant, excitati a ventis", Comment. Ebr. p. 502.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Hast thou not heard - This is evidently the language of God addressed to Sennacherib. It is designed to state to him that he was under his control; that this was the reason Isaiah 37:27 why the inhabitants of the nations had been unable to resist him; that he was entirely in his hands Isaiah 37:28; and that lie would control him as he pleased Isaiah 37:29.

Long ago how I have done it - You boast that all this is by your own counsel and power. Yet I have done it; that is, I have purposed, planned, arranged it long ago (compare Isaiah 22:11).

That thou shouldest be to lay waste - I have raised you up for this purpose, and you have been entirely under my control (see the note at Isaiah 10:5).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 37:26. Lay waste defended cities into ruinous heaps - "Lay waste warlike nations; strong fenced cities."] גלים נצים gallim nitstsim. It is not easy to give a satisfactory account of these two words, which have greatly embarrassed all the interpreters, ancient and modern. For גלים gallim I read גוים goyim, as the Septuagint do in this place, εθνη. The word נצים netsim the Vulgate renders in this place compugnantium; in the parallel place, 2 Kings 19:25, pugnantium; and the Septuagint μαχιμων, fighting, warlike. This rendering is as well authorized as any other that I know of; and, with the reading of the Septuagint, perfectly clears up the construction. See the margin on all the preceding verses.


 
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