Isaiah 37:31-36

37:31 Those who remain in Judah will take root in the ground and bear fruit.

37:32 “For a remnant will leave Jerusalem;

survivors will come out of Mount Zion.

The intense devotion of the Lord who commands armies will accomplish this.

37:33 So this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria:

‘He will not enter this city,

nor will he shoot an arrow here.

He will not attack it with his shielded warriors,

nor will he build siege works against it.

37:34 He will go back the way he came –

he will not enter this city,’ says the Lord.

37:35 I will shield this city and rescue it for the sake of my reputation and because of my promise to David my servant.”’”

37:36 The Lord’s messenger went out and killed 185,000 troops in the Assyrian camp. When they got up early the next morning, there were all the corpses!


tn Heb “The remnant of the house of Judah that is left will add roots below and produce fruit above.”

tn Heb “the zeal of the Lord who commands armies [traditionally, the Lord of hosts].” In this context the Lord’s “zeal” refers to his intense devotion to and love for his people which prompts him to protect and restore them.

tn Heb “there” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV). In terms of English style “here” is expected in collocation with “this” in the previous line.

tn Heb “[with] a shield” (so ASV, NASB, NRSV).

tn Heb “for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.”

tn Traditionally, “the angel of the Lord” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).

tn The word “troops” is supplied in the translation for smoothness and clarity.

tn This refers to the Israelites and/or the rest of the Assyrian army.

tn Heb “look, all of them were dead bodies”; NLT “they found corpses everywhere.”