Isaiah 36:5
◄  Isaiah 36:5  ►
New International Version (©2011)
You say you have counsel and might for war--but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?

New Living Translation (©2007)
Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me?

English Standard Version (©2001)
Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me?

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"I say, 'Your counsel and strength for the war are only empty words.' Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
I say that your strategy and military preparedness are mere words. What are you now relying on that you have rebelled against me?

International Standard Version (©2012)
Do you really think that guarantees alone can withstand strategy and military strength? On whom are you now depending, that you're rebelling against me?

NET Bible (©2006)
Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk. In whom are you trusting, that you would dare to rebel against me?

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
You give useless advice about getting ready for war. Whom, then, do you trust for support in your rebellion against me?

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
I say, you speak (but they are but vain words), I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?

American King James Version
I say, say you, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?

American Standard Version
I say, thy counsel and strength for the war are but vain words: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Or with what counsel or strength dost thou prepare for war? on whom dost thou trust, that thou art revolted from me?

Darby Bible Translation
Thou sayest, but it is a word of the lips, There is counsel and strength for war. Now on whom dost thou rely, that thou hast revolted against me?

English Revised Version
I say, thy counsel and strength for the war are but vain words: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

Webster's Bible Translation
I say, sayest thou (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

World English Bible
I say that your counsel and strength for the war are only vain words. Now in whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?

Young's Literal Translation
I have said: Only, a word of the lips! counsel and might are for battle: now, on whom hast thou trusted, that thou hast rebelled against me?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

36:1-22:See 2Ki 18:17-37, and the commentary thereon.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 5. - I say. In 2 Kings 18:20 we read, "Thou sayest" for "I say," which gives a better sense. Dr. Kay holds the two forms to be "complementary." I have counsel and strength for war. Either the words of Hezekiah had been reported to Sennacherib, or he rightly divined Hezekiah's thoughts. It was, no doubt, in reliance on the "counsel" of Eliakim and the "strength" of Egypt that the Jewish monarch had a second time provoked his suzerain.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

I say, (sayest thou,) but they are but vain words,.... Or, "word of lips" (f); meaning the following, which he suggests were only the fruit of his lips, not of his heart; or were vain and foolish, and without effect, and stood for nothing; so the first part of the words are Hezekiah's, "I say (sayest thou)"; and the latter, Rabshakeh's note upon them; though they may be understood as Hezekiah's, or what he is made to speak by Rabshakeh, as the ground of his confidence, namely, "word of lips"; that is, prayer to God, as Kimchi explains it; or eloquence in addressing his soldiers, and encouraging them to fight, either of which Rabshakeh derides, as well as what follows:

I have counsel and strength for war; as he had; he had wise ministers to consult, and was capable of forming a good plan, and wise schemes, and of putting them in execution, and of heartening men; though he did not put his confidence in these things, as Rabshakeh suggested, 2 Chronicles 32:3, the words may be rendered; "but counsel and strength are for war" (g): what signifies words to God, or eloquence with men? this is all lip labour, and of little service; wisdom and counsel to form plans, and power to execute them, are the things which are necessary to carry on a war with success, and which, it is intimated, were wanting in Hezekiah; and therefore he had nothing to ground his confidence upon, within himself, or his people:

now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? which it does not appear he had, having paid the money agreed to for the withdrawment of his army; but this was a pretence for the siege of Jerusalem.

(f) "verbum labiorum", Montanus; "vel, sermo labiorum", Vatablus. (g) "consilium et fortitudo ad praelium", Montanus; "sed consilio et fortitudine opus ad praelium", Pagninus, i.e. "requiruntur", ut Grotius.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. counsel—Egypt was famed for its wisdom.

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Sennacherib Invades Judah
…4And Rabshakeh said to them, Say you now to Hezekiah, Thus said the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein you trust? 5I say, say you, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom do you trust, that you rebel against me? 6See, you trust in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; where on if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him. …

2 Kings 18:7 And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.
2 Kings 18:20 You say you have the counsel and the might for war--but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?