Isaiah 37:17

ear . . . eyes--singular, plural. When we wish to hear a thing we lend one ear; when we wish to see a thing we open both eyes.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

17. open thine eyes … and see] The Hebr. has “thine eye,” which is probably a better reading than “thine eyes” in 2Ki_19:16. So “who hath sent” is more correct than “who hath sent him” (the messenger).

to reproach the living God] as in Isa_37:4.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And, have cast their gods into the fire..... And burnt them; and it may well be asked, where are they? Isa 36:19,

for they were no gods, but the works of men's hands, wood and stone; they were made of wood or of stone, and therefore could not be called gods; nor could they save the nations that worshipped them, nor themselves, from the fire:

therefore they have destroyed them; the Assyrian kings were able to do it, and did do it, because they were idols of wood or stone; but it did not therefore follow, that they were a match for the God of Israel, the true, and living God.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Incline thine ear - This is evidently language taken from what occurs among people. When they are desirous of hearing distinctly, they incline the ear or apply it close to the speaker. Similar language is not unfrequently used in the Scriptures as applicable to God 2Ki 19:16; Psa 86:1; Psa 31:2; Psa 88:2; Dan 9:18.

Open thine eyes - This is similar language applied to God, derived from the fact that when we wish to see an object, the eyes are fixed upon it (compare Job 14:3; Job 27:19).

And hear all the words - That is, attend to their words, and inflict suitable punishment. This was the burden of the prayer of Hezekiah, that God would vindicate his own honor, and save his name from reproach.

Which he hath sent - In the letters which he had sent to Hezekiah, as well as the words which he had sent to the people by Rabshakeh Isa 36:18-20.

To reproach the living God - (See the note at Isa 37:4).

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Incline thine ear... open thine eyes. This is a conscious pleading of the promise made to Solomon. (2Ch_7:15)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

“Bow thine ear, O Jehovah, and hear; open Thine eyes, O Jehovah, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he hath sent (or who hath sent) to reproach the living God.” These expressions are entirely analogous to those in many other places, where God is entreated to see and hear, (i.e., to act as if He saw and heard). The simplest version is, who has sent. To express the idea, which he has sent, usage would seem to require a personal pronoun with the verb, as in 2Ki 19:16, where the relative may refer to the plural words, or to Rabshakeh, which last is the construction given in the English Version of that passage.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Prophecies of Isaiah (1846–1847; New York: Scribner, 1870–1878) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

Hezekiah continues praying to Yahweh.

which he has sent

Hezekiah is referring to the letter from Sennacherib. The meaning of this can be made clear. AT: "in the message he has sent" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Turn your ear

"Incline your ear" or "Turn your head." This means to turn your head so that you can hear something better.

Sennacherib

See how you translated this man's name in Isaiah 36:1. (See: How to Translate Names)

all the nations and their lands

This is a generalization. The kings had destroyed many of the nearby lands, but not necessarily all lands. AT: "many of the nations and their lands" (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)

translationWords

Yahweh

word

life

God

true

king

Assyria

nation

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.