2 Kings 18:36
New International Version
But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

New Living Translation
But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.”

English Standard Version
But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”

Berean Standard Bible
But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

King James Bible
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

New King James Version
But the people held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”

New American Standard Bible
But the people were silent and did not answer him with even a word, because it was the king’s command: “Do not answer him.”

NASB 1995
But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”

NASB 1977
But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”

Amplified Bible
But the people kept silent and did not answer him, for the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

Christian Standard Bible
But the people kept silent; they did not answer him at all, for the king’s command was, “Don’t answer him.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But the people kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was, “Don’t answer him.”

American Standard Version
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

English Revised Version
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the people were silent and didn't say anything to him because the king commanded them not to answer him.

Good News Translation
The people kept quiet, just as King Hezekiah had told them to; they did not say a word.

International Standard Version
But the people remained silent and did not answer with even so much as a word, because the king's order was, "Don't answer him."

Majority Standard Bible
But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, ?Do not answer him.?

NET Bible
The people were silent and did not respond, for the king had ordered, "Don't respond to him."

New Heart English Bible
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, "Do not answer him."

Webster's Bible Translation
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

World English Bible
But the people stayed quiet, and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Don’t answer him.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the people have kept silent, and have not answered him a word, for the command of the king is, saying, “Do not answer him.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the people have kept silent, and have not answered him a word, for the command of the king is, saying, 'Do not answer him.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the people were silent and answered him not a word: for it was the command of the king, saying, Ye shall not answer.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for they had received commandment from the king that they should not answer him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the people were silent, and they did not respond at all to him. For indeed, they had received an instruction from the king that they should not respond to him.

New American Bible
But the people remained silent and did not answer at all, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”

New Revised Standard Version
But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king had commanded, saying, Do not answer him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the people kept silent and they did not give him an answer, because the King commanded and said: “Do not give him an answer!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying: 'Answer him not.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But the men were silent, and answered him not a word: for there was a commandment of the king, saying, Ye shall not answer him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
35Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” 36But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.” 37Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.…

Cross References
Isaiah 36:21
But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

2 Kings 19:1-2
On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD. / And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz

Isaiah 37:1-2
On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD. / And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz

2 Chronicles 32:20
In response, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out to heaven in prayer,

2 Kings 19:6-7
who replied, “Tell your master that this is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid of the words you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. / Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’”

Isaiah 37:6-7
who replied, “Tell your master that this is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid of the words you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. / Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’”

2 Kings 19:14-19
So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. / And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD: “O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. / Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God. ...

Isaiah 37:14-20
So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. / And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: / “O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. ...

2 Kings 19:32-34
So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it. / He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city, declares the LORD. / I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”

Isaiah 37:33-35
So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it. / He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city,’ declares the LORD. / ‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”

2 Chronicles 32:7-8
“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater One with us than with him. / With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

2 Kings 19:35-37
And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. / One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Isaiah 37:36-38
Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. / One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Matthew 5:39
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;

Romans 12:19-21
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” / On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” / Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


Treasury of Scripture

But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

held their peace.

Psalm 38:13,14
But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth…

Psalm 39:1
To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

Proverbs 9:7
He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

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2 Kings 18
1. Hezekiah's good reign
4. He destroys idolatry, and prospers
9. The inhabitants of Samaria are carried captive for their sins
13. Sennacherib invading Judah, is pacified by a tribute
17. Rabshakeh, by blasphemous persuasions, solicits the people to revolt














But the people remained silent
The phrase "remained silent" is significant in the context of ancient Israelite culture, where silence often indicated respect, obedience, or contemplation. The Hebrew root for "silent" is "ḥāraš," which can also mean to be still or to hold one's peace. This silence was a collective act of obedience to King Hezekiah's command, reflecting the people's trust in their leader and their faith in God's plan. In a broader biblical context, silence can be a powerful response, demonstrating restraint and wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 17:28, which suggests that even a fool is considered wise when he remains silent.

and did not answer a word
This phrase emphasizes the complete obedience of the people to Hezekiah's directive. The Hebrew word for "answer" is "ʿānâ," which means to respond or reply. The people's refusal to engage with the Assyrian envoy, despite the provocations, highlights their discipline and unity. Historically, this moment reflects the tension and fear during the Assyrian siege, yet it also underscores the strength found in collective silence and trust in divine intervention. This act of not answering can be seen as a form of spiritual warfare, choosing faith over fear.

for Hezekiah had commanded
King Hezekiah's command is central to this verse. Hezekiah, whose name means "Yahweh strengthens," was a king known for his faithfulness to God and his reforms to restore proper worship in Judah. His leadership during the Assyrian threat was marked by reliance on God rather than political alliances. The command not to answer reflects his strategic and spiritual insight, understanding that engaging with the enemy's taunts could lead to demoralization or doubt among the people. This decision aligns with biblical principles of seeking God's wisdom and guidance in times of crisis.

'Do not answer him.'
The directive "Do not answer him" is a clear and decisive command. The use of the imperative form in Hebrew underscores the urgency and importance of obedience. This command reflects Hezekiah's understanding of the psychological warfare being waged by the Assyrians. By instructing the people not to respond, Hezekiah prevents the enemy from sowing discord and fear. This mirrors the biblical teaching found in Exodus 14:14, where Moses tells the Israelites, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." It is a call to trust in God's deliverance rather than human strength or words.

Verse 36. - But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word. All Rabshakeh's efforts to produce open disaffection failed. Whatever impression his arguments may have made, no indication was given that they had produced any. If, then, he had hoped to bring about a mutiny, or even to create a disturbance, he was disappointed. For the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. Hezekiah had either anticipated Rabshakeh's tactics, and given an order beforehand that no word should be uttered, or he had promptly met them by sending such an order, on learning Rabshakeh's proceedings, The latter is more probable, since such an outrageous course as that which Rabshakeh had pursued can scarcely have been expected.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But the people
הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

remained silent
וְהֶחֱרִ֣ישׁוּ (wə·he·ḥĕ·rî·šū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2790: To cut in, engrave, plow, devise

and did not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

answer
עָנ֥וּ (‘ā·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

a word,
דָּבָ֑ר (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

for
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

[Hezekiah]
הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

had commanded,
מִצְוַ֨ת (miṣ·waṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4687: Commandment

“Do not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

answer him.”
תַעֲנֻֽהוּ׃ (ṯa·‘ă·nu·hū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond


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OT History: 2 Kings 18:36 But the people held their peace (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
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