2 Kings 19:23

2 Kings 19:23 Meaning and Explanation

By thy messengers thou hast reproached the LORD, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.

King James Version (KJV)

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God quotes Sennacherib's boasts of scaling mountains and felling the cedars of Lebanon.

What Does 2 Kings 19:23 Mean?

God now repeats Sennacherib's own boasting back to him. Through his messengers the king had reproached the LORD, bragging that with his countless chariots he had climbed the heights of Lebanon, cut down its tallest cedars and finest firs, and pressed into its farthest forests. He had spoken as if no height or stronghold could resist him.

The cedars of Lebanon were the grandest trees of the ancient world, and Sennacherib felled them as a symbol of how nothing could stand before him. But God has heard every word, and the boast that sounded so mighty in Assyria is now recited in heaven's court as evidence. Human pride loves to magnify itself with grand images, yet every such word is heard above. What we say in our self-exaltation does not vanish into the air; it stands recorded before God.

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What does 2 Kings 19:23 mean?

God quotes Sennacherib's boasts of scaling mountains and felling the cedars of Lebanon.

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