Isaiah 37:20
ESV
So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord."
NIV
Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God. "
NASB
But now Lord, our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God.'
CSB
Now, Lord our God, save us from his power so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are God —you alone.
NLT
Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God. '
KJV
Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord, even thou only.
NKJV
Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone.”
What does Isaiah 37:20 mean?
This request concludes Hezekiah's prayer to the Lord (Isaiah 37:14–15). He has come to the temple and unfolded Sennacherib's words before the Lord. The Assyrian king has said that Israel's God is no different from the gods of any other nation the Assyrians conquered. Sennacherib sees no reason to believe the Lord will save Judah (Isaiah 37:10–12).Hezekiah wants Sennacherib to regret those blasphemous words. He wants the Assyrians to learn that Israel's God is the only true God and all the others defeated by them were empty objects and not gods, at all (Deuteronomy 4:8; Psalm 115:4–8; Habakkuk 2:18–19). Judah's king spells out his hope very clearly: Save us from Sennacherib and Assyria! He doesn't merely express a problem but is bold enough to ask directly for a solution. The Lord commands us to do this when we are burdened and weighed down by anxiety (Philippians 4:6).
More than rescue, Hezekiah, also sees an opportunity for God to show His divine glory to the entire world. He is the only true God of all the idols that litter the world. Those gods are empty craft projects. He is the living Creator of the universe (Exodus 3:14–15). When He does for His people what no other god of any other nation has been able to do—defeat the Assyrians—everyone who learns of it will be forced to acknowledge that Israel's God is truly God.
