What Does Isaiah 37:1 Mean in the King James?
And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.
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 king whose name means “the LORD strengthens” does not hide the blow: he tears his clothes and carries his grief into the LORD’s house.
THE MEANING
When a threat lands, grief can be visible in the body rather than disguised as calm. Hezekiah enters the LORD’s house while the threat remains unresolved, holding distress and turning toward God in the same moment.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Strength requires staying composed and hiding distress before approaching God.
THE ROOT
חִזְקִיָּהוּ
Ḥizqiyyāhû
GROWS FROM
חזק
Be strong or firm; strengthen.
“Hezekiah” in this verse is Ḥizqiyyāhû. The name carries the sense “the LORD strengthens.” Here, strength exists alongside torn clothes, sackcloth, and a turn toward the LORD; it does not require an untouched appearance.
ALSO GROWS
ḥāzaq: Be strong; grow firm.
חָזַק
This verb is the seed within Hezekiah’s name, giving his response a deeper resonance.
ḥizzēq: Strengthen; make firm.
חִזֵּק
This form shows strength as something imparted, fitting the name’s link between strengthening and the LORD.
שָׁמַע
shāmaʿ
GROWS FROM
שמע
Hear, listen, heed.
“heard” in this verse is shāmaʿ. The Hebrew hearing-root can hold listening that receives and responds. Hezekiah’s hearing is followed by bodily action: he rends his clothes, covers himself, and goes to the LORD’s house.
ALSO GROWS
shemaʿ: Hear and respond.
שְׁמַע
This familiar imperative carries hearing toward a response, as Hezekiah’s hearing leads into movement.
shemuʿah: Report; news.
שְׁמוּעָה
The threat is a report received through the same root that can also imply attentive listening.
THE PATTERN
Distress can remain visible as a person turns toward the LORD.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.THE THREAD
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.The Hebrew root שמע (shamaʿ, “hear, listen”) appears in both verses. Hezekiah hears a threat and turns toward the LORD; in Exodus, God hears the people’s groaning, showing the same root at both ends of distress and response.
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