2 Chronicles 32:18
in 2 Chronicles 32Then the Assyrians called out loudly in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them in order to capture the city.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
KJV
Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
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This verse in 2 Chronicles 32
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThen they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall,.... The messengers of Sennacherib, particularly Rabshakeh the chief speaker; though they were desired to speak in the Syrian language, Isa 36:11, but this they did to affright them, and to trouble them, that they might take the city; to throw them into terror and confusion, that they might prevail upon them to deliver up the city to them.
This site's exposition
spoke further against the LORD God
on 2 Chronicles 32:16-19
Sennacherib’s servants press the same argument in writing and aloud. Letters go out “mocking the LORD, the God of Israel”. Verse 19 states the blasphemy: “They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as they had spoken against the gods of the peoples of the earth”.
This site's exposition
called out loudly in Hebrew
Hezekiah's officials had asked the envoys to speak in Aramaic, the language of diplomats, as Isaiah 36:11 records. John Gill notes that they kept to Hebrew so the people on the wall would hear and take fright. The words were aimed past the officials.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
After, &c. - An emphatical preface, signifying, that notwithstanding all his zeal for God, God saw fit to exercise him with a sore trial. And God ordered it at this time, that he might have an opportunity of shewing himself strong, on the behalf of his returning people. It is possible, we may be in the way of our duty, and yet meet with trouble and danger.
The real answer God gave to Sennacherib's blasphemies, and to Hezekiah's prayers, in the total rout of the Assyrian army, to the shame of Sennacherib and the honour of Hezekiah,
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
with a loud voice in Judean, etc. to frighten them and to terrify them Here he relates the matter in generalities, but in II Kings (19) and in Isaiah (37) it is thoroughly elaborated upon.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
16 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ | vaiyikreu | and they called out | H7121 → | 733 times |
| בְקוֹל־ | vekol- | with a voice | H6963 → | 506 times |
| גָּד֜וֹל | gadol | great | H1419 → | 526 times |
| יְהוּדִ֗ית | yehudit | [in] Judean | H3066 → | |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | to | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| עַ֤ם | ʾam | [the] people of | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ | yerushalim | Jerusalem | H3389 → | 643 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | [was] on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הַֽחוֹמָ֔ה | hachomah | the wall | H2346 → | 133 times |
| לְיָֽרְאָ֖ם | leyaream | to make afraid them | H3372 → | 315 times |
| וּֽלְבַהֲלָ֑ם | ulevahalam | and to terrify them | H926 → | 39 times |
| לְמַ֖עַן | lemaan | so that | H4616 → | 272 times |
| יִלְכְּד֥וּ | yilkedu | they may capture | H3920 → | 121 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הָעִֽיר׃ | hair | the city | H5892 → | 1090 times |
וַיִּקְרְא֨וּand they called out
vaiyikreuH7121 →733 times
בְקוֹל־with a voice
vekol-H6963 →506 times
גָּד֜וֹלgreat
gadolH1419 →526 times
יְהוּדִ֗ית[in] Judean
yehuditH3066 →
עַל־to
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
עַ֤ם[the] people of
ʾamH5971 →1873 times
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙Jerusalem
yerushalimH3389 →643 times
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
עַל־[was] on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הַֽחוֹמָ֔הthe wall
hachomahH2346 →133 times
לְיָֽרְאָ֖םto make afraid them
leyareamH3372 →315 times
וּֽלְבַהֲלָ֑םand to terrify them
ulevahalamH926 →39 times
לְמַ֖עַןso that
lemaanH4616 →272 times
יִלְכְּד֥וּthey may capture
yilkeduH3920 →121 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הָעִֽיר׃the city
hairH5892 →1090 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Samuel 17:10Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!”
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 17:36
Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Samuel 17:25–26
Now the men of Israel had been saying, “Do you see this man who keeps coming out to defy Israel? To the man who kills him the king will give great riches. And he…
- 1 Samuel 17:45
But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies…
- 1 Samuel 17:36
Through
1 Samuel 17:26David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 5:26
For who of all flesh has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire, as we have, and survived?
- 1 Samuel 11:2
But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.”
- Deuteronomy 5:26
Through
Nehemiah 6:9For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.
it leads to
- Psalms 138:3
On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Hebrews 12:12
Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
- Psalms 138:3
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Chronicles
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.