Isaiah 36:17
ESV
until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
NIV
until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
NASB
until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
CSB
until I come and take you away to a land like your own land—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
NLT
Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one — a land of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards.
KJV
Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
NKJV
until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
What does Isaiah 36:17 mean?
Before investing time and effort in a siege of Jerusalem (Isaiah 36:12), Assyria's King Sennacherib wants to strike terror into the hearts of the people inside. His messenger (Isaiah 36:1–3) is speaking loudly in the language of Judah to make an offer. Those who defy their king and surrender to the Assyrians will be allowed to live in peace in their own homes. The alternative is the wrath of a nation known for its cruelty and barbarism in war.Now comes a crucial "catch" in the offer. The people who surrender will live at home, for a while, but will then be relocated. The Rabshakeh (Isaiah 36:4) claims this will be from one good land to another. Judah can skip starvation and bloodshed if they ignore Hezekiah's assurances. But one way or another, they won't be staying here forever. Relocating conquered populations provides convenient labor and makes it more difficult for the transplanted people to rebel against their captors.
Even facing the terror of siege and Assyrian violence, the people of Jerusalem seem to realize that Sennacherib could not be trusted to keep his word. He had recently demanded ransom from Hezekiah, took it, then sent his emissary to say they'd be attacking anyway (2 Kings 18:13–18).
