Isaiah 36 · Verse 21

Isaiah 36:21

But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
Isaiah 36:21, King James Version

Isaiah 36:21 in other translations

BSBBut the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”
WEBBut they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king’s commandment was, “Don’t answer him.”
ASVBut they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
YLTAnd they keep silent, and have not answered him a word, for a command of the king is, saying, ‘Do not answer him.'
DARBYAnd they were silent, and answered him not a word; for the king's command was, saying, Answer him not.
BBEBut they kept quiet and gave him no answer: for the king's order was, Give him no answer.
WebsterBut they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

What does Isaiah 36:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. not a word--so as not to enter into a war of words with the blasphemer (Ex 14:14; Jude 9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 But they held their peace "But the people held their peace" - The word העם haam, the people, is supplied from the other copy, and is authorized by a MS. which inserts it after אתו otho.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Isaiah 36:21 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּvai.ya.cha.Ri.shuand they kept silentH2790
וְלֹֽא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
עָנ֥וּ'a.Nuthey answeredH6030
אֹת֖וֹ'o.To<obj.> himH853
דָּבָ֑רda.VaranythingH1697
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
מִצְוַ֨תmitz.Vat[was] [the] commandment ofH4687
הַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
הִ֛יאhi'itH1931
לֵאמֹ֖רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
תַעֲנֻֽהוּ\׃ta.'a.Nu.huyou must answer himH6030

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 36:21

  • Proverbs 26:4

    Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

  • Matthew 7:6

    Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

  • Psalms 39:1

    To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

  • 2 Kings 18:26

    Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rab–shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews’ language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.

  • Psalms 38:13-15

    But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

  • Amos 5:13

    Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

  • Proverbs 9:7-8

    He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

  • 2 Kings 18:37

    Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rab–shakeh.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 18:26,37; Ps 38:13-15; 39:1; Pr 9:7; 26:4; Am 5:13; Mt 7:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 36:20

    Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

  • Isaiah 36:21

    But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

  • Isaiah 36:22

    Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

Read all of Isaiah 36

Isaiah 36:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Mas callaron, y no le respondieron palabra; porque el rey así lo había mandado, diciendo: No le respondáis.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et ils se turent, et ne lui répondirent pas un mot; car c’était là le commandement du roi, disant: Vous ne lui répondrez pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und sie schwiegen still und antworteten ihm kein Wort; denn es war das Gebot des Königs, der gesagt hatte: Ihr sollt ihm nicht antworten. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et siluerunt, et non responderunt ei verbum. Mandaverat enim rex, dicens: Ne respondeatis ei.