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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 36:21 But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, "Do not answer him."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/36-21.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/23_Isa_36_21.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 36:21 - Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, Do not answer him." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/36.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But they were silent and did not answer him <i>so much as</i> a word; for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/36.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But they were silent and answered him not a word; for the king&#8217s commandment was, &#8220Do not answer him.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/36.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But they were silent and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/36.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/36.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But they kept silent and did not say a word to him in reply, for King Hezekiah’s command was, “Do not answer him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/36.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But they kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was, “Don’t answer him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/36.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But they kept silent; they didn&#8217t say anything, for the king&#8217s command was, &#8220Don&#8217t answer him.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/36.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/36.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/36.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They were silent and didn't say anything to him because the king commanded them not to answer him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/36.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The people kept quiet, just as King Hezekiah had told them to; they did not say a word. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/36.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But the people remained silent and didn't respond to him with so much as a single word, because the king had commanded, "Don't answer him."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/36.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, ?Do not answer him.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/36.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They were silent and did not respond, for the king had ordered, "Don't respond to him." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/36.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king's commandment was, "Do not answer him."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/36.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/36.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king’s commandment was, “Don’t answer him.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/36.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And they keep silent, and have not answered him a word, for a command of the king is, saying, “Do not answer him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/36.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And they keep silent, and have not answered him a word, for a command of the king is, saying, 'Do not answer him.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/36.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And they will be silent and not answer him a word: for this the command of the king, saying, Ye shall not answer.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/36.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And they held their peace, and answered him not a word. For the king had commanded, saying: answer him not. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/36.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And they remained silent and did not answer a word to him. For the king had commanded them, saying, “You shall not respond to him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/36.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But they remained silent and did not answer at all, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/36.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/36.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king had commanded, saying, Do not answer him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/36.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And they kept silent before them and no man gave him an answer, because the King commanded and said, "Do not give him an answer"<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/36.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />But they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying: 'Answer him not.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/36.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And they were silent, and none answered him a word; because the king had commanded that none should answer.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/36-21.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=7644" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/36.htm">Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">20</span>Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” <span class="reftext">21</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2790.htm" title="2790: way·ya·ḥă·rî·šū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To cut in, engrave, plow, devise.">But the people remained silent</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō- (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">and did not</a> <a href="/hebrew/6030.htm" title="6030: ‘ā·nū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To answer, respond.">answer a word,</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯōw (DirObjM:: 3ms) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: dā·ḇār (N-ms) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">for</a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: ham·me·leḵ (Art:: N-ms) -- King. From malak; a king.">Hezekiah</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hî (Pro-3fs) -- He, she, it. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/4687.htm" title="4687: miṣ·waṯ (N-fsc) -- Commandment. From tsavah; a command, whether human or divine.">had commanded,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">“Do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/6030.htm" title="6030: ṯa·‘ă·nu·hū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp:: 3ms) -- To answer, respond.">answer him.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">22</span>Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/18-36.htm">2 Kings 18:36</a></span><br />But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/37-1.htm">Isaiah 37:1-2</a></span><br />On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD. / And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/32-20.htm">2 Chronicles 32:20</a></span><br />In response, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out to heaven in prayer,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-15.htm">Isaiah 30:15</a></span><br />For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/7-4.htm">Isaiah 7:4</a></span><br />and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/14-14.htm">Exodus 14:14</a></span><br />The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/46-10.htm">Psalm 46:10</a></span><br />“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/26-4.htm">Proverbs 26:4</a></span><br />Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-12.htm">Matthew 27:12-14</a></span><br />And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. / Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?” / But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/15-3.htm">Mark 15:3-5</a></span><br />And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things. / Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!” / But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/23-9.htm">Luke 23:9</a></span><br />Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-23.htm">1 Peter 2:23</a></span><br />When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/53-7.htm">Isaiah 53:7</a></span><br />He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/19-9.htm">John 19:9</a></span><br />and he went back into the Praetorium. “Where are You from?” he asked. But Jesus gave no answer.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/8-32.htm">Acts 8:32-33</a></span><br />The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. / In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/18-26.htm">2 Kings 18:26,37</a></b></br> Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand <i>it</i>: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that <i>are</i> on the wall… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/38-13.htm">Psalm 38:13-15</a></b></br> But I, as a deaf <i>man</i>, heard not; and <i>I was</i> as a dumb man <i>that</i> openeth not his mouth… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/39-1.htm">Psalm 39:1</a></b></br> To the chief Musician, <i>even</i> to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/23-11.htm">Command</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-16.htm">Commanded</a> <a href="/isaiah/29-13.htm">Commandment</a> <a href="/isaiah/33-23.htm">Held</a> <a href="/isaiah/36-20.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/isaiah/23-15.htm">King's</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-16.htm">Order</a> <a href="/isaiah/36-16.htm">Peace</a> <a href="/isaiah/33-20.htm">Quiet</a> <a href="/isaiah/24-8.htm">Silent</a> <a href="/isaiah/36-5.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/45-11.htm">Command</a> <a href="/isaiah/45-12.htm">Commanded</a> <a href="/jeremiah/35-14.htm">Commandment</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-17.htm">Held</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-11.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/isaiah/62-3.htm">King's</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-1.htm">Order</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-17.htm">Peace</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-10.htm">Quiet</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-1.htm">Silent</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-9.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 36</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/36-1.htm">Sennacherib invades Judah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/36-2.htm">Rabshakeh, sent by Sennacherib, solicits the people to revolt</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/36-22.htm">His words are told to Hezekiah</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/36.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/isaiah/36.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But the people remained silent</b><br>This phrase highlights the obedience of the people to King Hezekiah's command. In the context of ancient Israel, silence in the face of provocation was a demonstration of trust in leadership and, by extension, trust in God. The people’s silence can be seen as an act of faith, reflecting the wisdom found in <a href="/proverbs/17-28.htm">Proverbs 17:28</a>, which suggests that even a fool is considered wise when he holds his peace.<p><b>and did not answer a word</b><br>The refusal to respond to the Assyrian envoy's taunts and threats is significant. It contrasts with the typical human reaction to defend oneself verbally. This restraint can be seen as a form of spiritual discipline, aligning with the biblical principle of letting God fight one's battles, as seen in <a href="/exodus/14-14.htm">Exodus 14:14</a>, where Moses tells the Israelites, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."<p><b>for Hezekiah had commanded</b><br>King Hezekiah's leadership is underscored here. His command reflects his reliance on divine guidance rather than human wisdom. Hezekiah is portrayed as a king who seeks the Lord, as evidenced by his actions throughout his reign (<a href="/2_kings/18-5.htm">2 Kings 18:5-6</a>). His command to remain silent is a strategic decision, showing his understanding of the power of words and the potential for escalation.<p><b>“Do not answer him.”</b><br>This directive from Hezekiah is a strategic move to avoid engaging with the enemy on their terms. It reflects a broader biblical theme of choosing one's battles wisely and relying on God for deliverance. This echoes the advice found in <a href="/proverbs/26-4.htm">Proverbs 26:4-5</a> about not answering a fool according to his folly. It also prefigures the silence of Jesus before His accusers (<a href="/matthew/27-12.htm">Matthew 27:12-14</a>), demonstrating a profound trust in God's ultimate justice and timing.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/h/hezekiah.htm">Hezekiah</a></b><br>The King of Judah during the time of the Assyrian invasion. He is known for his faithfulness to God and his reforms to restore proper worship in Judah.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/r/rabshakeh.htm">Rabshakeh</a></b><br>The Assyrian field commander sent by King Sennacherib to Jerusalem to intimidate and persuade the people to surrender.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The capital city of Judah, under siege by the Assyrian army. It is a central location for many significant biblical events.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/a/assyrian_siege.htm">Assyrian Siege</a></b><br>The historical event where the Assyrian army, led by King Sennacherib, besieged Jerusalem, attempting to conquer it.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/s/sennacherib.htm">Sennacherib</a></b><br>The King of Assyria, known for his military campaigns and attempts to expand his empire, including the siege of Jerusalem.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_silence.htm">The Power of Silence</a></b><br>Silence can be a powerful response in the face of intimidation and provocation. Hezekiah's command to remain silent demonstrates wisdom and trust in God's deliverance rather than human argument.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god_over_human_strength.htm">Trust in God Over Human Strength</a></b><br>Hezekiah's decision to not engage with Rabshakeh's taunts reflects a deep trust in God's power and promises, rather than relying on human negotiation or military might.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_obedience.htm">Leadership and Obedience</a></b><br>Hezekiah's leadership is marked by his ability to guide his people in faithfulness and obedience to God's direction, even in challenging circumstances.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a></b><br>The siege of Jerusalem is a reminder of the spiritual battles believers face. Silence and prayer can be effective weapons against the enemy's tactics.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_action.htm">Faith in Action</a></b><br>Hezekiah's actions encourage believers to put their faith into action by trusting God and following His guidance, even when it seems counterintuitive.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_isaiah_36.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 36</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_rabshakeh_see_reforms_as_bad.htm">Isaiah 36:7: Why is removing high places presented by the Rabshakeh as a sign of God's disfavor if Hezekiah's reforms were meant to honor God?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_god_silent_in_psalm_83_1.htm">Why does Psalm 83:1 depict God as silent in the face of a dire threat, despite other scriptures portraying Him as actively intervening?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_isaiah_33_16_align_with_righteous_suffering.htm">How does the promise of safety in Isaiah 33:16 align with observable instances of righteous people facing disaster historically?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_hephzibah_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Hephzibah in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/36.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(21) <span class= "bld">But they held their peace . . .</span>--Hezekiah seems to have commanded silence, as if distrustful either of the wisdom of the ambassadors or of the effect which any chance words might have upon the garrison and people of Jerusalem. As it was, the only words they had spoken (<a href="/isaiah/36-11.htm" title="Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray you, to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.">Isaiah 36:11</a>) had made matters infinitely worse.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/36.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 21.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">They</span> (<span class="accented">i.e.</span> the people, as in <a href="/2_kings/18-36.htm">2 Kings 18:36</a>) <span class="cmt_word">held their peace</span>. Rabshakeh's attempt to shake their fidelity had, at any rate, no manifest effect. <span class="cmt_word">For the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not</span>. Hezekiah can scarcely have anticipated that Rabshakeh would so far depart from ordinary usage as to make a speech to "the men on the wall." But he may have been in the immediate neighbourhood, and, when apprised of the envoy's proceedings, may have sent the order. We are not to suppose that the Jewish king was at a loss for an answer. He did not choose to bandy words with an envoy who had behaved himself so outrageously. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/36-21.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">But [the people] remained silent</span><br /><span class="heb">וַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·ḥă·rî·šū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2790.htm">Strong's 2790: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cut in, engrave, plow, devise</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and did not</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלֹֽא־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">answer a word,</span><br /><span class="heb">עָנ֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6030.htm">Strong's 6030: </a> </span><span class="str2">To answer, respond</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[Hezekiah]</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(ham·me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">had commanded,</span><br /><span class="heb">מִצְוַ֨ת</span> <span class="translit">(miṣ·waṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4687.htm">Strong's 4687: </a> </span><span class="str2">Commandment</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Do not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">answer him.”</span><br /><span class="heb">תַעֲנֻֽהוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(ṯa·‘ă·nu·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6030.htm">Strong's 6030: </a> </span><span class="str2">To answer, respond</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/36-21.htm">Isaiah 36:21 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/36-21.htm">Isaiah 36:21 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/36-21.htm">Isaiah 36:21 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/36-21.htm">Isaiah 36:21 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/36-21.htm">Isaiah 36:21 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/36-21.htm">Isaiah 36:21 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/36-21.htm">Isaiah 36:21 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/36-21.htm">Isaiah 36:21 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/36-21.htm">Isaiah 36:21 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/36-21.htm">Isaiah 36:21 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/36-21.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 36:21 But they remained silent and said nothing (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/36-20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 36:20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 36:20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/36-22.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 36:22"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 36:22" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>