Isaiah 14:32

Verse

What answer will be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, where His afflicted people will find refuge.”

American Standard Version (1901)

What then shall one answer the messengers of the nation? That Jehovah hath founded Zion, and in her shall the afflicted of his people take refuge.

Bible in Basic English

What answer, then, will my people give to the representatives of the nation? That the Lord is the builder of Zion, and she will be a safe place for the poor of his people.

Free Bible Version

What will be the answer given to the messengers from that nation? “The Lord was the one who laid the foundations of Zion, and that's where his suffering people will be kept safe.”

Geneva Bible 1599

What shall then one answere the messengers of the Gentiles? That the Lord hath stablished Zion, and the poore of his people shall trust in it.

King James (Authorized) Version

What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.

One Unity Resource Bible

What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That Adonai has founded Zion [Mountain ridge, Marking], and in her the afflicted of his people will take refuge.

Translation for Translators

If messengers from Philistia come to us Israeli people, this is what we must [RHQ] tell them: “Yahweh has established Jerusalem, not Philistia, and his people who are oppressed will be safe inside the walls of Jerusalem.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

How will they respond to the messengers of that nation? “Yahweh has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people will find refuge.”

Noah Webster Bible

What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.

World English Bible

What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That Yahweh has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people will take refuge.

Young's Literal Translation

And what doth one answer the messengers of a nation? 'That Jehovah hath founded Zion, And in it do the poor of His people trust!'

Context

Philistia Will Be Destroyed

³¹Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! For a cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there are no stragglers in its ranks. ³²What answer will be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, where His afflicted people will find refuge.”

Sermons

(Isaiah) All About Satan

David Guzik

939

Summary

This verse reassures the people of Judah that the Lord will protect them and keep them safe from the Assyrian army. It conveys the message that even though they may face threats and challenges, God is their ultimate defender and will not allow their enemies to triumph over them. The imagery of the 'rod' symbolizes God's authority and power in delivering His people from harm. Ultimately, this verse serves as a reminder of the faithfulness and protection of God towards those who trust in Him, offering hope and security in times of trouble.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

The messengers of the nation "The ambassadors of the nations" - The Septuagint read גוים goyim, εθνων, plural; and so the Chaldee, and one MS. The ambassadors of the neighboring nations, that send to congratulate Hezekiah on his success, which in his answer he will ascribe to the protection of God. See Ch2 32:23. Or, if גוי goi singular, the reading of the text, be preferred, the ambassadors sent by the Philistines to demand peace. - L. The Lord hath founded Zion - Kimchi refers this to the state of Zion under Hezekiah, when the rest of the cities of Judea had been taken, and this only was left for a hope to the poor of God's people: and God so defended it that Rabshakeh could not prevail against it. The true Church of God is a place of safety; for as all its members are devoted to God, and walk in his testimonies, so they are continually defended and supported by him. In the congregations of his people, God dispenses his light and salvation; hence his poor or humble ones expect in his ordinances the blessings they need.

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

To understand Isa 14:32, which follows here, nothing more is needed than a few simple parenthetical thoughts, which naturally suggest themselves. This one desire was the thirst for conquest, and such a desire could not possibly have only the small strip of Philistian coast for its object; but the conquest of this was intended as the means of securing possession of other countries on the right hand and on the left. The question arose, therefore, How would Judah fare with the fire which was rolling towards it from the north? For the very fact that the prophet of Judah was threatening Philistia with this fire, presupposed that Judah itself would not be consumed by it. And this is just what is expressed in Isa 14:32 : "And what answer do the messengers of the nations bring? That Jehovah hath founded Zion, and that the afflicted of His people are hidden therein." "The messengers of the nations" (maleacē goi): goi is to be taken in a distributive sense, and the messengers to be regarded either as individuals who have escaped from the Assyrian army, which was formed of contingents from many nations, or else (as we should expect pelitē in that case, instead of mal'acē) messengers from the neighbouring nations, who were sent to Jerusalem after the Assyrian army had perished in front of the city, to ascertain how the latter had fared. And they all reply as if with one mouth (yaaneh): Zion has stood unshaken, protected by its God; and the people of this God, the poor and despised congregation of Jehovah (cf., Zac 11:7), are, and know that they are, concealed in Zion. The prophecy is intentionally oracular. Prophecy does not adopt the same tone to the nations as to Israel. Its language to the former is dictatorially brief, elevated with strong self-consciousness, expressed in lofty poetic strains, and variously coloured, according to the peculiarity of the nation to which the oracle refers. The following prophecy relating to Moab shows us very clearly, that in the prophet's view the judgment executed by Asshur upon Philistia would prepare the way for the subjugation of Philistia by the sceptre of David. By the wreck of the Assyrian world-power upon Jerusalem, the house of David would recover its old supremacy over the nations round about. And this really was the case. But the fulfilment was not exhaustive. Jeremiah therefore took up the prophecy of his predecessor again at the time of the Chaldean judgment upon the nations (Jer 47:1-7), but only the second strophe. The Messianic element of the first was continued by Zechariah (Zech 9).

Isaiah 14:32

Philistia Will Be Destroyed

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

What answer will be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, where His afflicted people will find refuge.”

American Standard Version (1901)

What then shall one answer the messengers of the nation? That Jehovah hath founded Zion, and in her shall the afflicted of his people take refuge.

Bible in Basic English

What answer, then, will my people give to the representatives of the nation? That the Lord is the builder of Zion, and she will be a safe place for the poor of his people.

Free Bible Version

What will be the answer given to the messengers from that nation? “The Lord was the one who laid the foundations of Zion, and that's where his suffering people will be kept safe.”

Geneva Bible 1599

What shall then one answere the messengers of the Gentiles? That the Lord hath stablished Zion, and the poore of his people shall trust in it.

King James (Authorized) Version

What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.

One Unity Resource Bible

What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That Adonai has founded Zion [Mountain ridge, Marking], and in her the afflicted of his people will take refuge.

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

How will they respond to the messengers of that nation? “Yahweh has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people will find refuge.”

Noah Webster Bible

What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.

World English Bible

What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That Yahweh has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people will take refuge.

Young's Literal Translation

And what doth one answer the messengers of a nation? 'That Jehovah hath founded Zion, And in it do the poor of His people trust!'