The Meaning of 2 Kings 18:8 Explained

2 Kings 18:8

KJV: He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

YLT: he hath smitten the Philistines unto Gaza, and its borders, from a tower of watchers unto the fenced city.

Darby: He smote the Philistines unto Gazah and its borders, from the watchmen's tower to the fortified city.

ASV: He smote the Philistines unto Gaza and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He smote  the Philistines,  [even] unto Gaza,  and the borders  thereof, from the tower  of the watchmen  to the fenced  city. 

What does 2 Kings 18:8 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 18:1-12 - A Resolute Religious Reformer
It is wonderful that such a man as Ahaz should have had so good a son, but it is likely that Hezekiah had a good mother. See 2 Chronicles 29:1; 2 Chronicles 26:5. No doubt the fall of Samaria was a great incentive with the king and his advisers to root out idolatry. There is no better way of neutralizing evil than by accentuating good, and Hezekiah was wise to reopen and purify the Temple at the very beginning of his reign. See 2 Chronicles 29:3; 2 Chronicles 29:19; 2 Chronicles 29:21-35. It has been supposed that the prophecy of Micah 3:12 and Jeremiah 26:18 was made effective by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When a soul is all for God, God is all to it. "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." See 2 Kings 18:7. Let us see to it that we follow the suggestion of Psalms 1:1-6, and strike our roots deep into the Word of God, pondering it carefully and obeying it reverently; then our leaf shall not fade, and whatsoever we do shall prosper. It is a good thing to cleave to God and keep His commandments. Compare 2 Kings 18:6 with Deuteronomy 10:20. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 18

1  Hezekiah's good reign
4  He destroys idolatry, and prospers
9  The inhabitants of Samaria are carried captive for their sins
13  Sennacherib invading Judah, is pacified by a tribute
17  Rabshakeh, by blasphemous persuasions, solicits the people to revolt

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 18:8 mean?

He subdued - the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory from watchtower to city fortified -
הֽוּא־ הִכָּ֧ה אֶת־ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֛ים עַד־ עַזָּ֖ה וְאֶת־ גְּבוּלֶ֑יהָ מִמִּגְדַּ֥ל נוֹצְרִ֖ים עַד־ עִ֥יר מִבְצָֽר פ

הִכָּ֧ה  subdued 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֛ים  the  Philistines 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: פְּלִשְׁתִּי  
Sense: an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan.
עַד־  as  far  as 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
עַזָּ֖ה  Gaza 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עַזָּה  
Sense: another name for ‘Gaza’, a city of the Philistines located in the extreme southwest of Palestine close to the Mediterranean.
גְּבוּלֶ֑יהָ  its  territory 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: גְּבוּל  
Sense: border, territory.
נוֹצְרִ֖ים  watchtower 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: נְצוּרִים 
Sense: to guard, watch, watch over, keep.
עִ֥יר  city 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
מִבְצָֽר  fortified 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִבְצָר 
Sense: fortification, fortress, fortified city, stronghold.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation