Isaiah 37:23-24
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The true offense isn't just boasting, but the direction of that arrogance: it’s not just an idol or another king being defied, but specifically "the Holy One of Israel." This phrase, so often used by Isaiah, underscores that the Assyrians weren't just fighting a nation, but directly challenging the character and power of God Himself with their proud words and haughty gaze.
“‘Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes to the heights? Against the Holy One of Israel! By your servants you have mocked the Lord, and you have said, With my many chariots I have gone up the heights of the mountains, to the far recesses of Lebanon, to cut down its tallest cedars, its choicest cypresses, to come to its remotest height, its most fruitful forest.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Assyrian commander, Rabshakeh, has just delivered a humiliating and blasphemous message to Jerusalem, boasting about his king's power and mocking God. Now, God, speaking through Isaiah, dramatically turns the tables, not just asking questions but directly confronting the Assyrian's arrogance. The context is God revealing the true object of Rabshakeh's defiance: not a mere human king, but the majestic, Holy One of Israel Himself.
When you hear someone bragging or acting superior, who do you think they're really challenging? It's rarely just the person in front of them.
Rabshakeh, the Assyrian king's messenger, had just delivered a terrifying ultimatum, filled with taunts and threats against Jerusalem and its people.
But God, through Isaiah, flips the script. These questions aren't about finding out who Rabshakeh insulted; they're about exposing the true target of his arrogance.
We hear the phrase "Holy One of Israel" often. But what does it really mean, especially when directed at a proud enemy?
Calling God the "Holy One of Israel" is far more than just a name; it's a profound declaration of His nature and His unique relationship with His people.
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Understand the original words
Qadosh Yisra'el · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A theological title for God emphasizing His moral purity, set-apartness, and transcendence. It highlights the distinction between the Creator and the creation, asserting His absolute authority over all nations and idols.
ebed · Hebrew Noun
A term used to describe those under the authority of a ruler or those who carry out the work of a master. In a spiritual sense, it denotes submission to either God or a worldly power, often illustrating the medium through which pride or obedience is expressed.
Adonay · Hebrew Noun
A term for the sovereign ruler or owner, often used to contrast the humility required before the Almighty with the arrogance of human kings. It implies ownership, authority, and the right to command.
This verse is part of Isaiah's dramatic confrontation with Assyrian arrogance. It highlights that mocking Hezekiah and Jerusalem wasn't just political insult, but a direct theological challenge against the unique, Holy One of Israel.
c. 705 BC
Hezekiah's Revolt & Assyrian Campaign
King Hezekiah of Judah rebels against Assyrian dominance, refusing to pay tribute. In response, Assyrian King Sennacherib launches a major campaign into the region.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib invades Judah
Sennacherib's forces invade and conquer many fortified cities in Judah, aiming to crush the rebellion and secure Assyria's western frontier.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Rabshakeh's Blasphemous Demands
The Assyrian commander, Rabshakeh, stands before Jerusalem and taunts King Hezekiah and the people, urging them to surrender and mocking their trust in the Lord.
c. 701 BC
Hezekiah's Prayer & Isaiah's Prophecy
Hezekiah prays in distress, and the prophet Isaiah assures him that God has heard his prayer and will protect Jerusalem from the Assyrian army.
c. 701 BC
Angel of the Lord Destroys Assyrian Army
The Angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in their camp overnight. Sennacherib is forced to withdraw his army and return to Nineveh.
c. 681-627 BC
Sennacherib's Reign Ends
Sennacherib continues to reign for some time after the failed siege of Jerusalem, but is eventually assassinated by his own sons. His successor is Esarhaddon.
This passage mirrors the defiance, where Goliath's taunts were not just against David, but against the God of Israel, just as Sennacherib's pride is directed against the Holy One of Israel.
Psalm 74:18-23This psalm is a desperate plea where the psalmist reminds God of the enemies' blasphemies against Him, echoing Isaiah's theme of God's people confronting those who revile the Lord.
Jeremiah 50:29-32This prophecy details God's judgment on Babylon for its arrogance and defiance, showing a pattern of God's wrath against nations that mock and insult Him.
Romans 1:22-23This New Testament passage speaks of people who, despite knowing God, exchanged Him for idols and worshiped created things, paralleling the foolishness of mocking the Creator by exalting created power or idols.
cambridgeIsaiah 37:23: "Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel."
23 . “What sort of being is He whom thou hast defied?” The first two sentences are rhetorical questions, and require no answer. The last sentence is to be read as an affirmation: Yea, thou hast lifted up thine eyes to the height against the Holy One of Israel . To “lift up the voice” means here to speak proudly, not as oft…
clarkeIsaiah 37:23: "Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel."
Against the Holy One of Israel - For אל el, to, the other copy has על al, against, rather more properly.
The true offense isn't just boasting, but the direction of that arrogance: it’s not just an idol or another king being defied, but specifically "the Holy One of Israel." This phrase, so often used by Isaiah, underscores that the Assyrians weren't just fighting a nation, but directly challenging the character and power of God Himself with their proud words and haughty gaze.
The Assyrian commander, Rabshakeh, has just delivered a humiliating and blasphemous message to Jerusalem, boasting about his king's power and mocking God. Now, God, speaking through Isaiah, dramatically turns the tables, not just asking questions but directly confronting the Assyrian's arrogance. The context is God revealing the true object of Rabshakeh's defiance: not a mere human king, but the majestic, Holy One of Israel Himself.
The Assyrian commander, Rabshakeh, has just delivered a humiliating and blasphemous message to Jerusalem, boasting about his king's power and mocking God. Now, God, speaking through Isaiah, dramatically turns the tables, not just asking questions but directly confronting the Assyrian's arrogance. The context is God revealing the true object of Rabshakeh's defiance: not a mere human king, but the majestic, Holy One of Israel Himself.
"“‘Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes to the heights? Against the Holy One of Israel! By your servants you have mocked the Lord, and you have said, With…" — The true offense isn't just boasting, but the direction of that arrogance: it’s not just an idol or another king being defied, but specifically "the Holy One of Israel." This phrase, so often used by…
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Last reviewed October 2026
