2 Kings 19:21 Meaning and Explanation
“This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God's oracle opens: Zion herself despises Sennacherib and shakes her head at his retreat.
What Does 2 Kings 19:21 Mean?
Now the LORD's own answer to Sennacherib begins. God pictures Jerusalem not as a trembling victim but as a young woman, the virgin daughter of Zion, who despises the great king and laughs him to scorn, shaking her head as he retreats. The mockery he aimed at the city is turned back upon him.
What a reversal this is. Sennacherib came to make Zion cower, and instead God portrays her standing untouched, watching the conqueror withdraw in shame. The defenseless city is safe because the LORD Himself answers for her. When God takes up our cause, the very threats meant to crush us can be overturned. The daughter of Zion does not laugh in her own strength, but in the certainty that her God has spoken.
2 Kings 19:21 in the Original Language
betulah (בְּתוּלָה), 'virgin' -- an unmarried young woman; Jerusalem is pictured as inviolate, untouched by the invader who threatened her.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 19:21
What does 2 Kings 19:21 mean?
God's oracle opens: Zion herself despises Sennacherib and shakes her head at his retreat.