Bible Strands
Isaiah 37:13
Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Assyrian official poses this question in a written taunt to King Hezekiah, immediately after listing nations whose gods failed to rescue them from Assyrian conquest (Isaiah 37:12).
The words — אַיֵּ֤ה ('ai.Yeh) = where? and מֶֽלֶךְ (Me.lekh) = king. The text literally asks for the location of the rulers of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah.
The thread — Isaiah 37:13 targets the political leaders of these cities, whereas 2 Kings 18:34 asks about their gods. 2 Kings 17:24 and 2 Kings 17:30 document the Assyrian resettlement and idolatrous worship established in these same locations.
Why it lands — The verse forces a direct comparison between claimed military authority and actual divine deliverance. It requires the reader to evaluate whether political power or sovereign protection determines the fate of nations.
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
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 17:24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.
- 2 Kings 17:30 The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,
- 2 Kings 18:34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand?
- 2 Kings 19:13 Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”
- Isaiah 10:9 “Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?
- Isaiah 36:19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand?
- Jeremiah 49:23 Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard a bad report; they are agitated like the sea; their anxiety cannot be calmed.