What Does 2 Kings 18:35 Mean in the King James?
Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The taunt’s two forms of one Hebrew rescue verb make a history of captivity pose the question it cannot settle: whether the LORD can snatch Jerusalem free.
THE MEANING
The speaker tries to turn a record of conquered countries into proof that Jerusalem cannot be released. The same Hebrew verb for rescue appears first in the claim about past deliverance, then in the question about what the LORD might do, exposing that a captor’s past reach cannot answer the question of future deliverance. When a present constraint makes its grip feel conclusive, this verse names that conclusion as the claim being tested.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the claim that a captor’s record of victories proves release is impossible.
THE ROOT
הִצִּילוּ
hiṣṣîlû
GROWS FROM
נצל
n-ṣ-l
To snatch away or rescue from a hold.
“delivered / deliver” in this verse is hiṣṣîlû. Both forms of “deliver” grow from נצל (n-ṣ-l), the Hebrew root meaning “snatch away” or “rescue.” The first points to claimed past rescues; the second asks about a rescue still to come, so the speaker’s record of captivity cannot settle what the LORD can release.
ALSO GROWS
hiṣṣîlû: They rescued or delivered.
הִצִּילוּ
This past-tense form describes the deliverance the speaker claims no other god has accomplished.
yaṣṣîl: He will rescue or deliver.
יַצִּיל
This future-facing form makes the LORD’s ability to release Jerusalem the question the taunt cannot answer.
THE PATTERN
A captor’s visible record cannot set the limit of deliverance; rescue remains possible at the point of apparent defeat.
David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.THE THREAD
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.The same Hebrew root נצל (n-ṣ-l), meaning “snatch away” or “rescue,” appears in “delivered.” Here it names release from fear; in 2 Kings, it names the release the speaker says no one can achieve from his hand.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us