Isaiah 10:8
New International Version
Are not my commanders all kings?’ he says.

New Living Translation
He will say, ‘Each of my princes will soon be a king.

English Standard Version
for he says: “Are not my commanders all kings?

Berean Standard Bible
“Are not all my commanders kings?” he says.

King James Bible
For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?

New King James Version
For he says, ‘Are not my princes altogether kings?

New American Standard Bible
For it says, “Are not my officers all kings?

NASB 1995
For it says, “Are not my princes all kings?

NASB 1977
For it says, “Are not my princes all kings?

Legacy Standard Bible
For it says, “Are not my princes all kings?

Amplified Bible
For Assyria says, “Are not my princes all kings?

Christian Standard Bible
For he says, “Aren’t all my commanders kings?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For he says,” Aren’t all my commanders kings?

American Standard Version
For he saith, Are not my princes all of them kings?

Contemporary English Version
The king of Assyria says: My army commanders are kings!

English Revised Version
For he saith, Are not my princes all of them kings?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They ask, 'Aren't all our commanders kings?

Good News Translation
He boasts, "Every one of my commanders is a king!

International Standard Version
"Because this is what he is saying: 'My commanders are all kings, are they not?

Majority Standard Bible
?Are not all my commanders kings?? he says.

NET Bible
Indeed, he says: "Are not my officials all kings?

New Heart English Bible
For he says, "Aren't all of my officials kings?

Webster's Bible Translation
For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?

World English Bible
For he says, “Aren’t all of my princes kings?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For he says, Are my princes not altogether kings?

Young's Literal Translation
For he saith, 'Are not my princes altogether kings?

Smith's Literal Translation
For he will say, Are not my chiefs united together kings?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For he shall say:

Catholic Public Domain Version
For he will say:

New American Bible
For he says, “Are not my commanders all kings?”

New Revised Standard Version
For he says: “Are not my commanders all kings?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For he says, Are not my princes altogether kings?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because he said: “Behold, the Princes are Kings together
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For he saith: 'Are not my princes all of them kings?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if they should say to him, Thou alone art ruler;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judgment on Assyria
7But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations. 8“Are not all my commanders kings?” he says. 9“Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?…

Cross References
Isaiah 36:4
The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours?

Isaiah 37:13
Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”

2 Kings 18:19
The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours?

2 Kings 19:13
Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”

Ezekiel 31:11
I delivered it into the hand of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with it according to its wickedness. I have banished it.

Jeremiah 46:18
As surely as I live, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts, there will come one who is like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea.

Jeremiah 50:18
Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria.

Daniel 4:22
you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.

Daniel 5:18-19
As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor. / Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished.

Nahum 3:18
O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them.

Matthew 20:25
But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.

Mark 10:42
So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.

Luke 22:25
So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors.

Acts 4:26
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’

Romans 13:1
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.


Treasury of Scripture

For he said, Are not my princes altogether kings?

Isaiah 36:8
Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

2 Kings 18:24
How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

2 Kings 19:10
Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Jump to Previous
Altogether Captains Commanders Kings Princes
Jump to Next
Altogether Captains Commanders Kings Princes
Isaiah 10
1. The woe of tyrants
5. Assyria, the rod of hypocrites, for its pride shall be broken
20. A remnant of Israel shall be saved
23. Judah is comforted with promise of deliverance from Assyria














For he says
This phrase introduces the boastful speech of the Assyrian king, reflecting his arrogance and self-exaltation. In the Hebrew text, the word "he says" (אָמַר, 'amar) is often used to denote a declaration or proclamation. This sets the tone for the subsequent statement, highlighting the prideful nature of the Assyrian ruler. Historically, Assyria was known for its military prowess and expansionist policies, often attributing their success to their own strength rather than acknowledging divine sovereignty.

Are not my commanders
The term "commanders" (שָׂרַי, saray) refers to the military leaders or officers under the Assyrian king's authority. In the ancient Near Eastern context, these commanders were not just military leaders but also held significant political power. The Assyrian empire was structured in a way that its military leaders were integral to its administration and governance, often acting with autonomy akin to that of regional kings. This reflects the vastness and complexity of the Assyrian military machine, which was a source of pride and confidence for the king.

all kings?
The phrase "all kings" (כֻּלָּם מְלָכִים, kullam melakhim) underscores the Assyrian king's perception of his commanders as equivalent to kings. This hyperbolic statement reveals the extent of his arrogance, as he equates his subordinates with sovereign rulers. In the historical context, Assyria's dominance over other nations often resulted in the subjugation of local kings, who were reduced to vassals or replaced by Assyrian-appointed governors. The king's boast reflects a worldview where his power and influence are unrivaled, dismissing the sovereignty of other nations and their rulers.

(8) Are not my princes altogether kings?--So Tiglath-pileser names the twenty-three kings (Ahaz and Pekah among them) who came to do homage and pay tribute at Damascus (Records of the Past, v. 5-26).

Verse 8. - Are not my princes altogether kings? One mark of the superiority of Assyria to other countries was to be seen in the fact that her king had not mere officers, but vassal kings under him. Hence the title "king of kings" assumed by so many Assyrian monarchs. While conquered territories were by degrees and to a certain extent absorbed into the empire and placed under prefects (see the 'Eponym Canon'), an outer zone of more loosely organized dependencies was always maintained by the Assyrians; and these dependencies continued ordinarily to be administered by their native monarchs (see 'Ancient Monarchies,' vol. 2. pp. 524-526). These are the "princes" who were "altogether kings."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Are not
הֲלֹ֥א (hă·lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

all
יַחְדָּ֖ו (yaḥ·dāw)
Adverb
Strong's 3162: A unit, unitedly

my commanders
שָׂרַ֛י (śā·ray)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

kings?”
מְלָכִֽים׃ (mə·lā·ḵîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4428: A king

he says.
יֹאמַ֑ר (yō·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say


Links
Isaiah 10:8 NIV
Isaiah 10:8 NLT
Isaiah 10:8 ESV
Isaiah 10:8 NASB
Isaiah 10:8 KJV

Isaiah 10:8 BibleApps.com
Isaiah 10:8 Biblia Paralela
Isaiah 10:8 Chinese Bible
Isaiah 10:8 French Bible
Isaiah 10:8 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Isaiah 10:8 For he says Aren't all of my (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 10:7
Top of Page
Top of Page