Isaiah 36:7

Authorized King James Version

But if thou say to me, We trust in the LORD our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְכִי
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#2
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר
But if thou say
to say (used with great latitude)
#3
אֵלַ֔י
near, with or among; often in general, to
#4
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#5
יְהוָ֥ה
in the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#6
אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ
our God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#7
בָּטָ֑חְנוּ
to me We trust
properly, to hie for refuge (but not so precipitately as h2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure
#8
הֲלוֹא
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#9
ה֗וּא
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
#10
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#11
הֵסִ֤יר
hath taken away
to turn off (literally or figuratively)
#12
חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙
Hezekiah
chizkijah, a king of judah, also the name of two other israelites
#13
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#14
בָּמֹתָ֣יו
is it not he whose high places
an elevation
#15
וְאֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#16
הַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַ
and whose altars
an altar
#17
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר
But if thou say
to say (used with great latitude)
#18
לִֽיהוּדָה֙
to Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
#19
וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
and to Jerusalem
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
#20
לִפְנֵ֛י
before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#21
הַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַ
and whose altars
an altar
#22
הַזֶּ֖ה
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
#23
תִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃
Ye shall worship
to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Isaiah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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