this is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: 'The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you. This is the wordThis phrase introduces a divine message, emphasizing the authority and certainty of God's pronouncement. In the Hebrew text, "word" is "dabar," which signifies not just a spoken word but a matter or thing decreed. It underscores the power and reliability of God's communication, reminding us that His words are not mere suggestions but authoritative declarations that shape reality. the LORD
The term "LORD" in all capital letters represents the Hebrew name "YHWH," often vocalized as Yahweh. This is the covenant name of God, highlighting His eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. It is a reminder of God's personal relationship with His people and His sovereign rule over all creation. has spoken against him
This phrase indicates a divine judgment or opposition. The Hebrew root "dabar" is again used here, emphasizing that God's spoken word carries the weight of action. Historically, this refers to God's stance against the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, who threatened Jerusalem. It reassures believers that God actively opposes those who rise against His people and His purposes. ‘The Virgin Daughter of Zion
This poetic expression personifies Jerusalem, portraying her as a young, pure, and vulnerable woman. "Virgin" suggests innocence and purity, while "Daughter of Zion" refers to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, emphasizing their special status as God's chosen people. Despite their vulnerability, they are under God's protection, highlighting His care and commitment to their preservation. despises you and mocks you
These actions of despising and mocking are expressions of defiance and scorn. In the context of Isaiah, it is a prophetic declaration that Jerusalem, though seemingly weak, will stand in defiance of the mighty Assyrian empire. This reversal of expectations serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to empower the weak and humble the proud. the Daughter of Jerusalem
This phrase reiterates the identity of God's people, emphasizing their connection to the holy city, Jerusalem. It serves as a reminder of their heritage and the promises associated with the city of David. The repetition of "daughter" underscores their cherished status in God's eyes. shakes her head behind you
This gesture of shaking the head is a sign of derision and dismissal. In ancient Near Eastern culture, it was a common expression of scorn. Here, it symbolizes the ultimate defeat and humiliation of the Assyrian forces. It is a prophetic assurance that those who oppose God and His people will ultimately face shame and defeat. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORDThe sovereign God of Israel, who speaks through the prophet Isaiah. 2. The Virgin Daughter of ZionA poetic representation of Jerusalem, symbolizing purity and the chosen status of God's people. 3. The Daughter of JerusalemAnother metaphor for the city of Jerusalem, emphasizing its central role in God's plan. 4. SennacheribThe Assyrian king who threatened Jerusalem, representing the forces opposed to God's people. 5. IsaiahThe prophet through whom God delivers His message to King Hezekiah and the people of Judah. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty and ProtectionGod is in control, even when His people face powerful adversaries. He can turn the tables and bring about deliverance in unexpected ways. The Power of Faithful RepresentationThe imagery of the "Virgin Daughter of Zion" reminds believers of their identity as God's chosen people, called to live in purity and faithfulness. Mocking the EnemyJust as Jerusalem mocks Sennacherib, believers can have confidence in God's power to overcome any spiritual adversary, knowing that the enemy's threats are ultimately empty. The Role of ProphecyIsaiah's role as a prophet underscores the importance of listening to God's word and trusting His promises, even when circumstances seem dire. The Importance of CommunityThe collective identity of Jerusalem as "Daughter of Zion" highlights the strength found in community and shared faith, encouraging believers to support one another. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the imagery of the "Virgin Daughter of Zion" enhance our understanding of Jerusalem's role in God's plan? 2. In what ways can we apply the confidence shown by the Daughter of Zion in our own spiritual battles today? 3. How does the account of Sennacherib's defeat encourage us to trust in God's sovereignty over our personal challenges? 4. What lessons can we learn from Isaiah's faithfulness in delivering God's message, and how can we apply them in our own lives? 5. How can the concept of community, as seen in the "Daughter of Jerusalem," strengthen our faith and witness in today's world? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Kings 19:21This passage parallels Isaiah 37:22, providing a historical account of the same event, emphasizing God's protection over Jerusalem. Psalm 2:4This verse highlights God's sovereignty and His ability to mock the plans of earthly rulers, similar to how the Daughter of Zion mocks Sennacherib. Lamentations 2:13Offers a lament over Jerusalem, contrasting the current mocking of enemies with times of distress, showing the city's fluctuating fortunes. Micah 4:10-13Speaks of Zion's future deliverance and victory over enemies, reinforcing the theme of God's ultimate protection and vindication of His people. People Adrammelech, Amoz, Assyrians, David, Eliakim, Esarhaddon, Haran, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Rabshakeh, Sennacherib, Sharezer, Shebna, TirhakahPlaces Ararat, Arpad, Assyria, Cush, Egypt, Gozan, Hamath, Haran, Hena, Ivvah, Jerusalem, Lachish, Lebanon, Libnah, Mount Zion, Nineveh, Rezeph, Sepharvaim, Telassar, Tigris-Euphrates Region, ZionTopics Behind, Daughter, Derided, Despised, Despises, Despiseth, Flee, Jerusalem, Laughed, Laugheth, Mocked, Mocks, Ridiculed, Scorn, Scorns, Shaken, Shaketh, Shamed, Spake, Spoken, Sport, Tosses, Trampled, Virgin, Virgin-daughter, Wags, ZionDictionary of Bible Themes Isaiah 37:22 1690 word of God
5157 head
5740 virgin Isaiah 37:21-22 7270 Zion, as a place Isaiah 37:21-24 5893 insults Isaiah 37:21-29 5776 achievement Isaiah 37:21-38 5800 blasphemy Isaiah 37:22-23 7271 Zion, as symbol
8816 ridicule, nature of Isaiah 37:22-25 8672 striving with God Isaiah 37:22-29 8782 mockery Library Where to Carry Troubles
And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.'--ISAIAH xxxvii. 14. When Hezekiah heard the threatenings of Sennacherib's servants, he rent his clothes and went into the house of the Lord, and sent to Isaiah entreating his prayers. When he received the menacing letter, his faith was greater, having been heartened by Isaiah's assurances. So he then himself appealed to Jehovah, spreading …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Triumph of Faith
'And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15. And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord, saying, 16. O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: Thou hast made heaven and earth. 17. Incline Thine ear, O Lord, and hear; open Thine eyes, O Lord, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The First Trumpet.
The first trumpet of the seventh seal begins from the final disturbance and overthrow of the Roman idolarchy at the close of the sixth seal; and as it was to bring the first plague on the empire, now beginning to fall, it lays waste the third part of the earth, with a horrible storm of hail mingled with fire and blood; that is, it depopulates the territory and people of the Roman world, (viz. the basis and ground of its universal polity) with a terrible and bloody irruption of the northern nations, …
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
The Medes and Cimmerians: Lydia--The conquest of Egypt, of Arabia, and of Elam. As we have already seen, Sennacherib reigned for eight years after his triumph; eight years of tranquillity at home, and of peace with all his neighbours abroad. If we examine the contemporary monuments or the documents of a later period, and attempt to glean from them some details concerning the close of his career, we find that there is a complete absence of any record of national movement on the part of either Elam, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8 The Golden Eagle is Cut to Pieces. Herod's Barbarity when He was Ready to Die. He Attempts to Kill Himself. He Commands Antipater to be Slain.
1. Now Herod's distemper became more and more severe to him, and this because these his disorders fell upon him in his old age, and when he was in a melancholy condition; for he was already seventy years of age, and had been brought by the calamities that happened to him about his children, whereby he had no pleasure in life, even when he was in health; the grief also that Antipater was still alive aggravated his disease, whom he resolved to put to death now not at random, but as soon as he should …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem Christ Rightly and Properly Said to have Merited Grace and Salvation for Us.
1. Christ not only the minister, but also the author and prince of salvation. Divine grace not obscured by this mode of expression. The merit of Christ not opposed to the mercy of God, but depends upon it. 2. The compatibility of the two proved by various passages of Scripture. 3. Christ by his obedience truly merited divine grace for us. 4. This grace obtained by the shedding of Christ's blood, and his obedience even unto death. 5. In this way he paid our ransom. 6. The presumptuous manner in which …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion The Harbinger
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD , make straight in the desert a high-way for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. T he general style of the prophecies is poetical. The inimitable simplicity which characterizes every …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 A Discourse of the House and Forest of Lebanon
OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. That part of Palestine in which the celebrated mountains of Lebanon are situated, is the border country adjoining Syria, having Sidon for its seaport, and Land, nearly adjoining the city of Damascus, on the north. This metropolitan city of Syria, and capital of the kingdom of Damascus, was strongly fortified; and during the border conflicts it served as a cover to the Assyrian army. Bunyan, with great reason, supposes that, to keep …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
WHEREIN ITS GOODLY LIGHT, WALLS, GATES, ANGELS, AND THE MANNER OF THEIR STANDING, ARE EXPOUNDED: ALSO HER LENGTH AND BREADTH, TOGETHER WITH THE GOLDEN MEASURING-REED EXPLAINED: AND THE GLORY OF ALL UNFOLDED. AS ALSO THE NUMEROUSNESS OF ITS INHABITANTS; AND WHAT THE TREE AND WATER OF LIFE ARE, BY WHICH THEY ARE SUSTAINED. 'Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.'-Psalm 87:3 'And the name of the city from that day shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.'-Ezekiel 48:35 London: Printed in the year 1665 …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Concerning the Lord's Supper
There are two passages which treat in the clearest manner of this subject, and at which we shall look,--the statements in the Gospels respecting the Lord's Supper, and the words of Paul. (1 Cor. xi.) Matthew, Mark, and Luke agree that Christ gave the whole sacrament to all His disciples; and that Paul taught both parts of it is so certain, that no one has yet been shameless enough to assert the contrary. Add to this, that according to the relation of Matthew, Christ did not say concerning the bread, …
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation Divine Support and Protection
[What shall we say then to these things?] If God be for us, who can be against us? T he passions of joy or grief, of admiration or gratitude, are moderate when we are able to find words which fully describe their emotions. When they rise very high, language is too faint to express them; and the person is either lost in silence, or feels something which, after his most laboured efforts, is too big for utterance. We may often observe the Apostle Paul under this difficulty, when attempting to excite …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Isaiah 37:22 NIVIsaiah 37:22 NLTIsaiah 37:22 ESVIsaiah 37:22 NASBIsaiah 37:22 KJV
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