Bible Strands
2 Kings 18:35
Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Assyrian commander addresses Jerusalem’s officials and populace from outside the city walls, following his taunt that the gods of conquered nations failed to protect their territories.
The words — The rhetorical challenge hinges on הִצִּ֥ילוּ (hi.Tzi.lu), meaning “they have delivered,” which frames the gods of conquered nations as powerless to rescue their lands.
The thread — This pattern of imperial arrogance challenging divine protection appears in Exodus 5:2, where Pharaoh questions the LORD’s authority, and Daniel 3:15, where Nebuchadnezzar issues a similar ultimatum to his subjects. The historical backdrop aligns with 2 Kings 19:17, which notes that Assyrian kings have laid waste to nations and their lands.
Why it lands — The verse demands a direct response to the claim that human power and foreign deities cannot override divine sovereignty, while the surrounding context shows the commanded silence as the official answer.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?
Cross-references
- Daniel 3:15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the statue I have made, very good. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”
- Exodus 5:2 But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”
- 2 Kings 19:17 Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste these nations and their lands.
- 2 Chronicles 32:15 So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and do not let him mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand!”
- Job 15:25 For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,
- Psalms 2:1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
- Isaiah 10:15 Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood!
- Isaiah 37:23 Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!