2 Kings 18:19 Meaning and Explanation
“And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Assyrian spokesman mocks Hezekiah, demanding to know the source of his confidence.
What Does 2 Kings 18:19 Mean?
The Rabshakeh, the Assyrian field commander and chief speaker, begins his speech with the swagger of empire, calling his master 'the great king' and challenging Hezekiah directly: 'What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?' He intends to dismantle Judah's morale with words before a single arrow is loosed.
The enemy's first weapon is always the question that undermines faith: on what are you really relying? It is the oldest assault, sown in Eden-'Hath God said?' When such a voice presses us to doubt the ground of our trust, the answer is not clever debate but quiet confidence in the God who has proven faithful. Our trust rests on One greater than any 'great king' of earth.
2 Kings 18:19 in the Original Language
battachon (בִּטָּחוֹן), 'confidence, trust' -- the settled assurance one places in an object of reliance, the very thing the enemy now attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 18:19
What does 2 Kings 18:19 mean?
The Assyrian spokesman mocks Hezekiah, demanding to know the source of his confidence.