Isaiah 36:21
But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”
In context
18 Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”
21 But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”
22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.
Compare in other versions
- KJV King James Version
— Isaiah 36:21 in the KJV
But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
- NIV New International Version
— Isaiah 36:21 in the NIV
But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”