Isaiah 36:8

Assyria

⁶ Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.

⁷ 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?

Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

⁹ How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

¹⁰ And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Now, therefore, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them!
KJV: Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
WEB: Now therefore, please make a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.
ASV: Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
DARBY: And now engage, I pray thee, with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
BLB: And now, make a wager, please, with my lord the king of Assyria, and I will give to you two thousand horses—if you are able to set for you riders on them.

ÅB: Men gjør nå et veddemål med min herre, kongen i Assyria: Jeg vil gi deg to tusen hester om du kan få deg folk til å ride på dem.
OTB: ‘Nå, inngå en avtale med min herre, kongen av Assyria: Jeg vil gi deg to tusen hester, hvis du kan skaffe ryttere til dem!
B1930: Men gjør nu et veddemål med min herre, kongen i Assyria: Jeg vil gi dig to tusen hester om du kan få dig folk til å ride på dem.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 17:40–43
And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
Read in context
Psalms 20:7–8
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Read in context
2 Kings 18:23
Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
Read in context
1 Kings 20:10
And Ben-hadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.
Read in context
Nehemiah 4:2–5
And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
Read in context
2 Kings 14:14
And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
Read in context
1 Kings 20:18
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
Read in context
Psalms 123:3–4
Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Read in context