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Isaiah 37
Isaiah 37:1
It came about that
This phrase is used here to mark an important event in the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-newevent)
he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth
This is a sign of mourning and distress. Alternate translation: "he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth because he was very distressed" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
Isaiah 37:2
Eliakim ... Shebna
Translate the names of these men the same as you did in Isaiah 36:3. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
over the household
This is an idiom that means that he was in charge of the affairs of the palace household. Alternate translation: "in charge of the palace" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
all covered with sackcloth
This is a sign of mourning and distress. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
Isaiah 37:3
They said to him
"The men sent by Hezekiah said to Isaiah"
like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to give birth to her child
This comparison is made to emphasizes that they are in a time of extreme difficulty. Alternate translation: "It is as terrible as the day when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to give birth to her child" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
Isaiah 37:4
It may be Yahweh your God will hear the words
Hezekiah is indirectly suggesting that if the people pray Yahweh may listen and act upon what the chief commander had said. The full meaning of this statement can be made clear. Alternate translation: "Maybe if you pray to Yahweh your God will hear the message" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
the chief commander
See how you translated this phrase in Isaiah 36:2.
his master
This phrase means that the king is the chief commander's master.
will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard
Here the phrase "the words which Yahweh your God has heard" refers to what the king of Assyria had said. The full meaning of this statement can be made clear. Alternate translation: "Yahweh your God will rebuke the king of Assyria for what he has said" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
lift up your prayer
Praying to Yahweh is described this way to emphasize that Yahweh is in heaven. A prayer is spoken of as if they were objects that could be lifted high into the sky. Alternate translation: "pray" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
for the remnant that is still here
This refers to the people who are left in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "for the few of us that are still here" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 37:5
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Isaiah 37:6
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Isaiah 37:7
I will put a spirit in him, and he will hear a certain report and go back to his own land
The phrase "put a spirit in him" means that God will influence him to make a specific decision. The word "spirit" here means a strong attitude or feeling. Alternate translation: "I will influence him so that when he hears a certain report, he will go back to his own land" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Look
This word is used here to draw the peoples' attention to what is said next. Alternate translation: "Listen"
I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land
The phrase "fall by the sword" is an idiom that means that his enemy will kill him with a sword. Alternate translation: "And there in his own land, I will cause his enemies to kill him with their swords" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Isaiah 37:8
Lachish
See how you translated the name of this city in Isaiah 36:2. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Libnah
This is a city in southern Judah. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Isaiah 37:9
Sennacherib
See how you translated this man's name in Isaiah 36:1. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Tirhakah king of Cush and Egypt had mobilized to fight against him
"Tirhakah" is the name of a man. He had mobilized his army so that they were ready to fight. The full meaning of this statement can be made clear. Alternate translation: "Tirhakah king of Cush and Egypt had mobilized his army" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
to fight against him
The word "him" represents Sennacherib. Here Sennacherib represents his army. Alternate translation: "to fight against the army of Sennacherib" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 37:10
Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria
This can be stated in active form. The word "hand" refers to the king's military power. Alternate translation: "The king of Assyria and his army will not conquer you in Jerusalem" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 37:11
General Information:
This continues the king of Assyria's message to Hezekiah.
See, you have heard
The word "see" here is used to add emphasis to what is said next. Alternate translation: "You have certainly heard"
So will you be rescued?
The king of Assyria uses this question to ridicule Hezekiah and his army. This may be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "So you too will not be saved." or "So of course no one will rescue you either!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Isaiah 37:12
Have the gods of the nations rescued them ... Tel Assar?
The king of Assyria uses this question to ridicule Hezekiah and his army. This may be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "The nations' god did not rescue the nations that my fathers destroyed ... Tel Assar!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
that my fathers destroyed
These men destroyed the cities listed by conquering them with their armies. Here the word "fathers" refers to his father and his other ancestors who were kings. Alternate translation: "that my fathers destroyed with their armies" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Gozan ... Haran ... Rezeph ... Eden ... Tel Assar
These are places that the Assyrians had conquered. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Isaiah 37:13
Hena ... Ivvah
These are places that the Assyrians had conquered. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Where is the king ... Ivvah?
The king of Assyria uses this question to ridicule Hezekiah and his army. This may be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "We also conquered the king ... Ivvah!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Hamath ... Arpad ... Sepharvaim
Translate the names of these cities the same as you did in Isaiah 36:19. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Isaiah 37:14
from the hand of the messengers
Here the messengers are referred to by their "hand" to emphasize that they personally gave it to the king. Alternate translation: "that the messengers gave him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
he went up to the house of Yahweh
The house of Yahweh was at the highest place in Jerusalem, so it is spoken of as "up."
spread it before him
"spread out the letter in front of Yahweh." Being in the house of Yahweh is considered the same as being in Yahweh's presence. The letter was a scroll that could be unrolled and spread out.
Isaiah 37:15
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Isaiah 37:16
you who sit above the cherubim
You may need to make explicit that the cherubim are those on the lid of the ark of the covenant. The biblical writers often spoke of the ark of the covenant as if it were Yahweh's footstool upon which he rested his feet as he sat on his throne in heaven above. Alternate translation: "you who sit on your throne above the cherubim on the ark of the covenant" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
you are God alone
"only you are God"
over all the kingdoms
This idiom means to have authority and to rule over all the kingdoms. Alternate translation: "have authority over all the kingdoms" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
You made the heavens and the earth
This means that he created everything. Alternate translation: "You made everything" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-merism)
Isaiah 37:17
General Information:
Hezekiah continues praying to Yahweh.
which he has sent
Hezekiah is referring to the letter from Sennacherib. The meaning of this can be made clear. Alternate translation: "in the message he has sent" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Turn your ear
"Incline your ear" or "Turn your head." This means to turn your head so that you can hear something better.
Sennacherib
See how you translated this man's name in Isaiah 36:1. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Isaiah 37:18
all the nations and their lands
This is a generalization. The kings had destroyed many of the nearby lands, but not necessarily all lands. Alternate translation: "many of the nations and their lands" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
Isaiah 37:19
General Information:
Hezekiah continues praying to Yahweh.
for they were not gods but the work of men's hands, just wood and stone
This emphasizes that humans made these idols with their own hands and are therefore worthless. Alternate translation: "because they were false gods that men made out of wood and stone" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Isaiah 37:20
from his power
"from the king of Assyria's power"
all the kingdoms
This refers to the people in the kingdoms. Alternate translation: "all the people in the kingdoms" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
you are Yahweh alone
"only you, Yahweh, are God"
Isaiah 37:21
sent a message
This means that he sent a messenger to give a message to the king. Alternate translation: "sent someone to give a message" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 37:22
is the word that Yahweh has spoken
"is what Yahweh has said"
laughs you to scorn
"laughs at you" or "makes fun of you"
shakes her head
This is a gesture of scorn. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
The virgin daughter of Zion ... the daughter of Jerusalem
These are idioms. Both of these phrases have the same meaning. The "daughter" of a city means the people who live in the city. See how you translated a similar phrase in Isaiah 1:8. Alternate translation: "The people of Zion ... the people of Jerusalem" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Isaiah 37:23
Whom have you defied and insulted? ... Against the Holy One of Israel.
Yahweh uses these rhetorical questions to ridicule the king of Assyria. These can be written as statements. Alternate translation: "You have defied and insulted Yahweh, you have shouted at and acted pridefully against the Holy One of Israel!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
have you exalted your voice
This refers to speaking loudly as if the person's voice were an object that they lifted high. Alternate translation: "have you shouted" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
lifted up your eyes in pride
This is an idiom that means to look at something pridefully, considering yourself more important that you should. Alternate translation: "looked at pridefully" or "acted pridefully" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Isaiah 37:24
General Information:
This continues Yahweh's message to the king of Assyria.
By your servants
This refers to to the servants that he had sent to Hezekiah with a message. This can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: "In the messages you sent with your servants" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
I have gone ... I will cut ... I will enter
Here Sennacherib speaks of himself conquering many things. He is actually conquering them with the armies and chariots that he commands. Alternate translation: "We have gone ... We will cut ... we will enter" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
its tall cedars
"Lebanon's tall cedars"
its most fruitful forest
Here the word "fruitful" refers to the forest being dense and full of healthy trees. The understood information may be supplied. Alternate translation: "and into its most fruitful forest" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)
Isaiah 37:25
I have dug ... I dried ... my feet
Here Sennacherib speaks of himself conquering many things. He is actually conquering them with the armies and chariots that he commands. Alternate translation: "We have dug ... we dried ... our feet" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
I dried up all the rivers of Egypt under the soles of my feet
Here Sennachrib is exaggerating his conquest and travels across the rivers of Egypt by claiming to have dried up the rivers when he marched his army through them. Alternate translation: "I have marched through all the rivers of Egypt as if they were dry under my feet" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
Isaiah 37:26
General Information:
This continues Yahweh's message to the king of Assyria.
Have you not heard how ... times?
Yahweh uses this rhetorical question to remind Sennacherib of information that he should already be aware of. This can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "Certainly you have heard how ... times." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
You are here to reduce impregnable cities into heaps of ruins
Yahweh had planned for Sennacherib's army to destroy the cities that they had destroyed. This can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: "I planned that your army would destroy cities and cause them to become piles of rubble" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
impregnable
strong and heavily guarded
I am bringing it to pass
The idiom "to bring something to pass" means to cause a specific thing to happen. Alternate translation: "I am causing it to happen" or "I am causing these things to take place" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Isaiah 37:27
of little strength
"who are weak"
shattered
broken into small pieces. This is a metaphor for being greatly discouraged. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
They are plants in the field, green grass, the grass on the roof or in the field, before the east wind
This speaks of how weak and vulnerable the cities are before the Assryian army by comparing the cities to grass. Alternate translation: "The cities are as weak as the grass in the fields before your armies. They are as weak as the grass that grows on the roofs of houses and is scorched by the hot east wind" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
before the east wind
The east wind is hot and dry from the desert and plants die when it blows.
Isaiah 37:28
General Information:
This continues Yahweh's message to the king of Assyria.
But I know your sitting down, your going out, your coming in
This refers to all activities of life. Alternate translation: "I know everything you do" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-merism)
and your raging against me
The word "raging" can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: "how you rage against me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
Isaiah 37:29
your arrogance
Here the king's "arrogance" refers to his arrogant speech. Alternate translation: "your arrogant speech" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
your arrogance has reached my ears
This speaks of Yahweh hearing the king's speech as if the king's speech were something that traveled to his ear. Alternate translation: "I have heard you speaking arrogantly" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
I will put my hook in your nose, and my bit in your mouth
A person uses a hook and bit to lead an animal around. This speaks of Yahweh controlling the king as if the king were an animal Yahweh controlled with a bit and hook. Alternate translation: "I will control you like a man controls his animal by place a hook in its nose and a bit in its mouth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
I will turn you back the way you came
This refers to causing the king to return to his own home country. The meaning of this can be made clear. Alternate translation: "I will force you to return to your own country" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Isaiah 37:30
General Information:
This continues Yahweh's message to Hezekiah (Isaiah 37:21).
sign for you
"sign for you, Hezekiah." Here "you" is singular and refers to Hezekiah. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-you)
you will eat ... you must plant
Here "you" is plural and refers to the people of Judah. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-you)
in the second year what grows
This describes what the people will eat. The words "you will eat" are understood from the previous phrase Alternate translation: "in the second year you will eat what grows" or "next year you will eat what grows" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis and rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal)
what grows from that
"what grows wild from that" or "what grows wild"
in the third year
This refers to the year after the second year. Alternate translation: "the year after that" or "in the following year" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal)
Isaiah 37:31
General Information:
This continues Yahweh's message to Hezekiah.
remnant
A "remnant" is a part of something that remains after the rest is gone. Here this refers to the people who are left in Judah.
the house of Judah
Here Judah's "house" refers to his descendants. Alternate translation: "the descendants of Judah" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
will again take root and bear fruit
This speaks of the people of Judah becoming prosperous as if they were plants that would root and bear fruit. Alternate translation: "will prosper like a plant that takes root and produces fruit" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 37:32
For from Jerusalem a remnant will come out; from Mount Zion survivors will come
These two phrases have the same meaning and are used together to emphasize the remnant of people who will survive. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this
This speaks of Yahweh doing something because of his zeal as if his "zeal" were actually doing the action. Alternate translation: "Because of his zeal, Yahweh of hosts will do this" or "Yahweh of hosts will do this because of his zeal" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 37:33
He will not come ... He will not come
Here the Assyrian king refers to both him and his army. Alternate translation: "His army will not come ... They will not come" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
with shield
"with shields"
siege ramp
a large mound of dirt built against the wall of a city that better enables an army to attach the city
Isaiah 37:34
he came ... he will not enter
Here the Assyrian king refers to both him and his army. Alternate translation: "they came ... they will not enter" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
this is Yahweh's declaration
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. Translate as in Isaiah 30:1. Alternate translation: "this is what Yahweh has declared" or "this is what I, Yahweh, have declared" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-123person)
Isaiah 37:35
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking.
for my own sake and for David my servant's sake
"so that things will be better for me and for my servant David"
Isaiah 37:36
putting to death
This idiom means to kill. Alternate translation: "killing" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
185,000 soldiers
"one hundred and eighty-five thousand soldiers" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers)
Isaiah 37:37
Sennacherib king of Assyria left Israel and went home and stayed in Nineveh
Here Sennacherib refers to both him and his army. They all left Israel and returned home to Assryia. Sennacherib returned to the city Nineveh. Alternate translation: "Sennacherib and his army left Israel and went home, and Sennacherib stayed in Nineveh" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Sennacherib
See how you translated this man's name in Isaiah 36:1. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Isaiah 37:38
as he was worshiping
"as Sennacherib was worshiping"
Nisrok
This is the name of a false god. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Adrammelek ... Sharezer ... Esarhaddon
These are the names of men. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
with the sword
"with their swords"