The verse isn't just about God potentially hearing the insults; it's about Him responding to them and rebuking them. This isn't a passive God, but one who actively addresses the blasphemy that has been spoken in His name, a dynamic that should stir us to prayer for those who are left.
It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the LORD your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’” When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Assyrian commander, the Rabshakeh, has just delivered a terrifying ultimatum to Jerusalem, boasting of his king's power and mocking their trust in the LORD. Faced with this blasphemous challenge, King Hezekiah tears his clothes in distress, but instead of despairing, the prophet Isaiah urges him to pray. Isaiah suggests that God might just hear these insults and step in to punish the Assyrians, but this hope hinges on fervent prayer for the few Israelites who remain.
The enemy's words are meant to crush and demean. But God hears them. What does that mean for us when we feel attacked?
Rabshakeh's speech wasn't just a political threat; it was a direct assault on the living God. He questioned God's power and contrasted Him with impotent idols. But notice Isaiah's phrasing: 'It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh... and will rebuke the words.'
This isn't about God being caught off guard. It's about His sovereign decision to acknowledge the insult and to act. The word 'hear' here doesn't just mean passively listening; it implies taking notice, considering, and ultimately responding. It’s a powerful reminder that when God’s character or His people are mocked, He is not indifferent. He hears the reproach.
When faced with outrageous attacks against God, what's the believer's next step? The answer might surprise you.
After acknowledging that God hears the insults, Isaiah issues a command: 'wherefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.'
This is a pivotal moment. Instead of direct action by Isaiah or immediate divine intervention announced, the instruction is to pray. The enemy's words are blasphemous, designed to instill fear and despair, but the divine response is intercession. This highlights the crucial role of prayer in the face of spiritual warfare.
We are called to bring the very words of reproach before the Lord. It's an act of faith, trusting that God will not only hear the enemy's insults but also respond to our prayers His people, the 'remnant' who remain.
Ask a follow-up
Who is this 'remnant,' and why is prayer specifically called for on their behalf?
The 'remnant' in this context refers to the people of Judah and Jerusalem who have not yet been conquered by the Assyrian army. Many cities have fallen, and the enemy's threats are aimed at the heart of the nation's hope.
Isaiah is being told to pray not just for general deliverance, but specifically for those who are left—a small, vulnerable group facing overwhelming odds. The enemy's goal is to annihilate God's people and His covenant promises. Prayer, then, becomes a direct act of standing with and defending this fragile remnant.
It underscores that our prayers are not abstract; they are deeply connected to the survival and well-being of God's people, especially in times of severe testing.
Understand the original words
elohim chayyim · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
The God who is characterized by life, agency, and sovereignty, in direct contrast to the lifeless idols of pagan nations. He is the Creator and Sustainer who actively intervenes in human history.
she'arith · Hebrew Noun
The portion of God’s people who survive judgment or catastrophe. It represents the faithful core through whom God promises to fulfill His covenantal purposes and continue the line of His people.
This passage isn't just a theological exchange; it's a snapshot of a nation under siege. The taunts of the Assyrian envoy, Rabshakeh, are aimed at a people whose northern brethren had already fallen. Hezekiah's plea, echoing Isaiah's call to prayer, highlights the desperate hope placed in the 'living God' against overwhelming military might.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to Assyria, and its people are exiled. This event sets the stage for future Assyrian threats against the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
705 BC
Sennacherib becomes King of Assyria
Sennacherib ascends the throne of the powerful Assyrian Empire, continuing his predecessor's aggressive expansionist policies.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib Invades Judah
Sennacherib launches a major campaign into the Levant, conquering numerous fortified cities in Judah. He besieges Jerusalem, where King Hezekiah and the remaining population have gathered.
c. 701 BC
Rabshakeh's Blasphemous Speech
Assyrian official Rabshakeh delivers a taunting and blasphemous message outside Jerusalem's walls, mocking King Hezekiah and challenging the power of the LORD.
c. 701 BC
Divine Intervention and Assyrian Withdrawal
The Assyrian army is miraculously struck down by the LORD overnight, forcing Sennacherib to lift the siege and retreat. Hezekiah's plea, joined with Isaiah's prayer, is answered.
c. 681 BC
Death of Sennacherib
King Sennacherib is assassinated by his own sons. This marks the end of his reign and a shift in Assyrian focus, though the empire remains a threat.
This passage highlights the concept of the 'living God' contrasted with dead idols, a key point in Rabshakeh's taunt and Isaiah's defense. David's confidence in God's ability to defend His people echoes Hezekiah's predicament here.
Psalm 50:21This psalm speaks of God 'reproving' those who speak evil and act as if God is like them, directly paralleling God's promised response to Rabshakeh's blasphemous words. It underscores that God hears and will act against such reproach.
Jeremiah 14:11In this verse, God tells Jeremiah *not* to intercede for the people. This passage, while a contrast, powerfully reinforces the critical importance and weight of intercessory prayer, showing that God's response is sovereign but prayer is the appointed means.
Luke 11:2Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, 'Your kingdom come.' This passage connects to the idea of praying for the remnant, as Hezekiah is urged to do, by showing the importance of aligning our prayers with God's sovereign purposes and kingdom advancement, even in dire circumstances.
cambridgeIsaiah 37:4: "It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left."
4 . It may be ] Or “Peradventure.” The one hope is that Jehovah will take notice of the dishonour done to His name by the threats and blasphemies of the Assyrian king. the Lord thy God ] See ch. Isaiah 7:13 . The prophet stands…
jfbIsaiah 37:4: "It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left."
- hear—take cognizance of (2Sa 16:12).reprove—will punish him for the words, &c. (Ps 50:21).remnant—the two tribes of the kingdom of Judah, Israel being already captive. Isaiah is entreated to act as intercessor with God.
The verse isn't just about God potentially hearing the insults; it's about Him responding to them and rebuking them. This isn't a passive God, but one who actively addresses the blasphemy that has been spoken in His name, a dynamic that should stir us to prayer for those who are left.
The Assyrian commander, the Rabshakeh, has just delivered a terrifying ultimatum to Jerusalem, boasting of his king's power and mocking their trust in the LORD. Faced with this blasphemous challenge, King Hezekiah tears his clothes in distress, but instead of despairing, the prophet Isaiah urges him to pray. Isaiah suggests that God might just hear these insults and step in to punish the Assyrians, but this hope hinges on fervent prayer for the few Israelites who remain.
The Assyrian commander, the Rabshakeh, has just delivered a terrifying ultimatum to Jerusalem, boasting of his king's power and mocking their trust in the LORD. Faced with this blasphemous challenge, King Hezekiah tears his clothes in distress, but instead of despairing, the prophet Isaiah urges him to pray. Isaiah suggests that God might just hear these insults and step in to punish the Assyrians, but this hope hinges on fervent prayer for the few Israelites who remain.
"It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the LORD your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the r…" — The verse isn't just about God potentially hearing the insults; it's about Him responding to them and rebuking them. This isn't a passive God, but one who actively addresses the blasphemy that has…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
