The Meaning of Isaiah 36:5 Explained

Isaiah 36:5

KJV: I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

YLT: I have said: Only, a word of the lips! counsel and might are for battle: now, on whom hast thou trusted, that thou hast rebelled against me?

Darby: Thou sayest, but it is a word of the lips, There is counsel and strength for war. Now on whom dost thou rely, that thou hast revolted against me?

ASV: I say, thy counsel and strength for the war are but vain words: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I say,  [sayest thou], (but [they are but] vain  words  ) [I have] counsel  and strength  for war:  now on whom dost thou trust,  that thou rebellest  against me? 

What does Isaiah 36:5 Mean?

Study Notes

trust
Trust is the characteristic O.T. word for the N.T. "faith," "believe." It occurs 152 times in the O.T., and is the rendering of Heb. words signifying to take refuge (e.g. Ruth 2:12 "to lean on" (e.g.) Psalms 56:3 "to roll on" (e.g.) Psalms 22:8 "to stay upon" (e.g.) Job 35:14 .

Verse Meaning

The commander claimed that Hezekiah"s strategy lacked wisdom and arms, that it only amounted to empty words (cf. Isaiah 28:9-11). Ironically, it would be the "empty words" of a rumor that would defeat him (cf. Isaiah 37:7-9).

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 36

1  Sennacherib invades Judah
2  Rabshakeh, sent by Sennacherib, solicits the people to revolt
22  His words are told to Hezekiah

What do the individual words in Isaiah 36:5 mean?

I say you speak of having but [they are] words mere plans and power for war now in whom do you trust that you rebel against me
אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ אַךְ־ דְּבַר־ שְׂפָתַ֔יִם עֵצָ֥ה וּגְבוּרָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה עַתָּה֙ עַל־ מִ֣י בָטַ֔חְתָּ כִּ֥י מָרַ֖דְתָּ בִּֽי

אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙  I  say  you  speak  of  having 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
דְּבַר־  [they  are]  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
שְׂפָתַ֔יִם  mere 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
עֵצָ֥ה  plans 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵצָה 
Sense: counsel, advice, purpose.
וּגְבוּרָ֖ה  and  power 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גְּבוּרָה  
Sense: strength, might.
לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה  for  war 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
עַתָּה֙  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
מִ֣י  whom 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
בָטַ֔חְתָּ  do  you  trust 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
כִּ֥י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
מָרַ֖דְתָּ  you  rebel 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָרַד  
Sense: to rebel, revolt, be rebellious.
בִּֽי  against  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular