Isaiah 37:22
ESV
this is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him: "‘She despises you, she scorns you — the virgin daughter of Zion; she wags her head behind you — the daughter of Jerusalem.
NIV
this is the word the Lord has spoken against him: "Virgin Daughter Zion despises and mocks you. Daughter Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee.
NASB
this is the word that the Lord has spoken against him: 'She has shown contempt for you and derided you, The virgin daughter of Zion; The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head behind you!
CSB
this is the word the Lord has spoken against him: Virgin Daughter Zion despises you and scorns you; Daughter Jerusalem shakes her head behind your back.
NLT
the Lord has spoken this word against him: 'The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and laughs at you. The daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head in derision as you flee.
KJV
This is the word which the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
NKJV
this is the word which the Lord has spoken concerning him: “The virgin, the daughter of Zion, Has despised you, laughed you to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem Has shaken her head behind your back!
What does Isaiah 37:22 mean?
Hezekiah has physically laid out a letter from Assyria's king Sennacherib in the temple (Isaiah 37:14–15), He presents what the king of Assyria has said about the Lord (Isaiah 37:10–12) and asks God to save Judah (Isaiah 37:20). Here, the Lord begins to respond to Hezekiah's prayer through the faithful prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 37:21).What follows (Isaiah 37:23–29) is the word of the Lord. This is direct prophecy—it is God's final word. What the Lord says here is what the Lord will surely do. The lyrical promise is addressed from the Lord to Sennacherib and Assyria. Although it is given in response to Hezekiah's prayer, the content is God's rebuttal of Sennacherib's boasting and mocking that against the Lord and His people.
God begins with a picture of a young girl mocking a much larger and more powerful attacker. An Assyrian messenger threatened Jerusalem in earshot of the city (Isaiah 36:12–15). Now, in ironic symbolism, a helpless child of Jerusalem openly mocks the Assyrian king. In a stunning reversal, the powerful invaders will be turned back (Isaiah 37:29).
