Bible Strands
2 Kings 20:18
And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Isaiah delivers this prophecy to King Hezekiah immediately after Hezekiah displays his palace treasures to Babylonian envoys.
The words — The Hebrew phrase וּ/מִ/בָּנֶ֜י/ךָ (u./mi./ba.Nei./kha) literally renders "and some of your descendants," while the verb יִקָּ֑חוּ (yi.kach) is parsed as an active form meaning "people will take away."
The thread — This prediction of royal offspring being carried to Babylon aligns with the later deportations recorded in 2 Kings 24:12 and the selection of royal youths in Daniel 1:3.
Why it lands — The text declares that Hezekiah’s own flesh and blood will serve in the Babylonian court, demanding acknowledgment that human wealth cannot avert divine judgment.
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
And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 33:11 So the LORD brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.
- 2 Kings 24:12 Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials all surrendered to the king of Babylon. So in the eighth year of his reign, the king of Babylon took him captive.
- Daniel 1:3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—
- 2 Kings 25:6 The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment on him.