Isaiah 37:18
ESV
Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands,
NIV
"It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands.
NASB
Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the countries and their lands,
CSB
Lord, it is true that the kings of Assyria have devastated all these countries and their lands.
NLT
It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations.
KJV
Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,
NKJV
Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands,
What does Isaiah 37:18 mean?
Hezekiah, king of Judah, is presenting a solemn request to the Lord God of Israel at the temple in Jerusalem (Isaiah 37:14). He has spread out before the Lord a letter from Sennacherib, king of Assyria (Isaiah 37:8–13). In that letter, Sennacherib has counseled Hezekiah not to trust the Lord to save Judah. Sennacherib points to the vast number of peoples and places the Assyrians have conquered despite the gods those people trusted to save them.However, Hezekiah acknowledges that Sennacherib is not wrong. The kings of Assyria, stretching back several generations, have in fact conquered a wide territory. With their well-ordered and ruthless war machine, they have defeated every nation they have challenged. Even those who have dared to rebel and challenge Assyria's rule have been beaten down. None of the deities claimed by the conquered people had ever stopped the Assyrian war machine. Sennacherib was not lying about that.
But Sennacherib fails to see the distinction between the idols of conquered nations and the One True God of Israel (Isaiah 37:19–20).
