Isaiah 37:26
ESV
"‘Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should make fortified cities crash into heaps of ruins,
NIV
"Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass, that you have turned fortified cities into piles of stone.
NASB
Have you not heard? Long ago I did it, From ancient times I planned it. Now I have brought it about That you would turn fortified cities into ruined heaps.
CSB
Have you not heard? I designed it long ago; I planned it in days gone by. I have now brought it to pass, and you have crushed fortified cities into piles of rubble.
NLT
'But have you not heard? I decided this long ago. Long ago I planned it, and now I am making it happen. I planned for you to crush fortified cities into heaps of rubble.
KJV
Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps.
NKJV
“Did you not hear long ago How I made it, From ancient times that I formed it? Now I have brought it to pass, That you should be For crushing fortified cities into heaps of ruins.
What does Isaiah 37:26 mean?
The Lord is reflecting Sennacherib's self-glorifying boasting back to him. The Assyrian king sees himself as unstoppable and invincible (Isaiah 37:22–25). Here, God reveals how incredibly foolish Sennacherib is. The very accomplishments he brags about are part of God's plan. None of those things happened apart from the Lord's influence. The question here is sarcastic: "don't you know?"God planned to use Assyria as part of His work in judging both Israel and the other nations of earth. The Lord ordained Assyrian conquest. What Sennacherib takes credit for is not the result of his own greatness, but the sovereignty of the Creator (Daniel 4:17; Isaiah 46:8–11. The king of Assyria is trying to take glory that rightfully belongs to the Lord alone.
Yet God's plan also includes punishing the very nations He uses for His purposes. That includes Assyria (Isaiah 10:5–19; 37:36–38).
