What Does Isaiah 37:17 Mean in the King James?
Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.
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 prayer brings the threat fully before the living God by naming both the words to be heard and the act to be seen.
THE MEANING
The verse gives the reader language for a present threat: its words and the act behind them are brought before the living God in hearing and sight. Repeating “hear” after “open your eyes” presents divine attention as fully engaged with what has been said.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A threat does not become the final word because it is spoken with authority; the verse addresses the living God as hearer and witness of the words themselves.
THE ROOT
שְׁמַע
shema
GROWS FROM
שמע
Hear, listen, heed, and respond.
English “hear” can sound like passive sound registration, but this Hebrew verb can carry attentive listening and response. Its repetition alongside “open your eyes” joins hearing with full perception: both the words and the act behind them are brought before God.
ALSO GROWS
shemuah: A report or piece of news; something heard.
שְׁמוּעָה
The reproach is sent as words that can be received and recognized, not as an unseen force.
shomea: One who hears or listens.
שֹׁמֵעַ
The repeated appeal presents God as the listener asked to attend to the whole message.
שָׁלַח
shalach
GROWS FROM
שלח
Send forth, release, or let go.
The reproach is described as something dispatched outward, an act with an aim. The same root also names שִׁלֹחַ (Shiloach, “sent”), behind Siloam, where a blind man washes and comes away seeing.
ALSO GROWS
Shiloach: Shiloah; “sent” or “sent forth,” the name behind Siloam.
שִׁלֹחַ
John 9 connects Siloam with “Sent” and with restored sight, placing that sending beside the reproach sent in Isaiah.
shaluaḥ: Sent or dispatched; one who is sent.
שָׁלוּחַ
This branch makes the movement concrete: what is sent goes out from a sender, as Sennacherib’s words do here.
THE PATTERN
The living God is portrayed as taking in both the words spoken and the reality those words touch.
And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.THE THREAD
And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.The Hebrew word שָׁלַח (shalach, “send forth” or “release”) in Isaiah shares its root with שִׁלֹחַ (Shiloach, “sent”), behind Siloam. Isaiah names words sent to reproach the living God; in John, what is sent leads a blind man to wash and come away seeing.
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