Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.” New Living Translation Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Assyrian chief of staff, “Please speak to us in Aramaic, for we understand it well. Don’t speak in Hebrew, for the people on the wall will hear.” English Standard Version Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” Berean Standard Bible Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.” King James Bible Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall. New King James Version Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” New American Standard Bible Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Judean so that the people who are on the wall hear you.” NASB 1995 Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, “Speak now to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak with us in Judean in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” NASB 1977 Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, “Speak now to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak with us in Judean, in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” Legacy Standard Bible Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, “Speak now to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak with us in Judean in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” Amplified Bible Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please, speak to your servants in Aramaic, because we understand it; and do not speak to us in Judean (Hebrew) in the hearing of the people who are [stationed] on the wall.” Christian Standard Bible Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the royal spokesman, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew within earshot of the people who are on the wall.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew within earshot of the people who are on the wall.” American Standard Version Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall. Contemporary English Version Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said, "Sir, we don't want the people listening from the city wall to understand what you are saying. So please speak to us in Aramaic instead of Hebrew." English Revised Version Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall. GOD'S WORD® Translation Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the field commander, "Speak to us in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don't speak to us in the Judean language as long as there are people on the wall listening." Good News Translation Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah told the official, "Speak Aramaic to us. We understand it. Don't speak Hebrew; all the people on the wall are listening." International Standard Version Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah replied to him, "Please speak with your servants—with us —in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don't speak to us in Hebrew where the people sitting on the wall can hear." Majority Standard Bible Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, ?Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.? NET Bible Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the chief adviser, "Speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don't speak with us in the Judahite dialect in the hearing of the people who are on the wall." New Heart English Bible Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in the Judean language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall." Webster's Bible Translation Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jew's language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall. World English Bible Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don’t speak to us in the Jews’ language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Eliakim says—and Shebna and Joah—to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants [in] Aramaic, for we are understanding; and do not speak to us [in] Jewish, in the ears of the people who [are] on the wall.” Young's Literal Translation And Eliakim saith -- and Shebna and Joah -- unto Rabshakeh, 'Speak, we pray thee, unto thy servants in Aramaean, for we are understanding; and do not speak unto us in Jewish, in the ears of the people who are on the wall.' Smith's Literal Translation And Eliakim will say, and Shebna, and Joah, to Rabshakeh, Speak now to thy servants Aramean, for we hear; and thou shalt not speak to us Judaic in the ears of the people who are upon the wall. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Eliacim, and Sobna, and Joahe said to Rabsaces: Speak to thy servants in the Syrian tongue: for we understand it: speak not to us in the Jews' language in the hearing of the people, that are upon the wall. Catholic Public Domain Version And Eliakim, and Shebna, and Joah said to Rabshakeh: “Speak to your servants in the Syrian language. For we understand it. Do not speak to us in the Jewish language, in the hearing of the people, who are upon the wall.” New American Bible Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to the commander, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic; we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within earshot of the people who are on the wall.” New Revised Standard Version Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rab-shakeh, Speak to your servants in the Aramaic language; for we understand it; and do not speak to us in the Jews' language, in the presence of the people who are standing on the wall. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Eliakim and Shebna and Yuakh said to Rabshaqeh: “Speak Aramaic with your Servants, because we hear, and do not speak Judean with us before the people who stand on the wall!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rab-shakeh: 'Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Aramean language, for we understand it; and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.' Brenton Septuagint Translation Then Eliakim and Somnas and Joach said to him, Speak to thy servants in the Syrian tongue; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jewish tongue: and wherefore speakest thou in the ears of the men on the wall? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem…10So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’ ” 11Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.” 12But the Rabshakeh replied, “Has my master sent me to speak these words only to you and your master, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are destined with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?”… Cross References 2 Kings 18:26 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak with us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.” 2 Kings 18:17-25 Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh, along with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They advanced up to Jerusalem and stationed themselves by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. / Then they called for the king. And Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebnah the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, went out to them. / The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours? ... 2 Chronicles 32:18 Then the Assyrians called out loudly in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them in order to capture the city. Isaiah 37:4 Perhaps the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to defy the living God, and He will rebuke him for the words that the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up a prayer for the remnant that still survives.” Isaiah 37:6-7 who replied, “Tell your master that this is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid of the words you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. / Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’” Isaiah 37:10-13 “Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. / Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries, devoting them to destruction. Will you then be spared? / Did the gods of the nations destroyed by my fathers rescue those nations—the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and of the people of Eden in Telassar? ... Isaiah 33:19 You will no longer see the insolent, a people whose speech is unintelligible, who stammer in a language you cannot understand. Nehemiah 13:24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah. Jeremiah 5:15 Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand. Ezekiel 3:5-6 For you are not being sent to a people of unfamiliar speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel— / not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. Matthew 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. / Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. Matthew 15:24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” John 4:9 “You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Acts 2:6-8 And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language. / Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? / How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language? Acts 21:37-40 As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied. / “Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the Assassins into the wilderness?” / But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.” ... Treasury of Scripture Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray you, to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall. in the Syrian 2 Kings 18:26,27 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall… Ezra 4:7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. Daniel 2:4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. Jump to Previous Aramaic Ears Eliakim Eli'akim Field Hearing Jews Jew's Joah Jo'ah Judah Judean Language Please Rabshakeh Rab'shakeh Rab-Shakeh Servants Shebna Speak Syrian Understand Wall WithinJump to Next Aramaic Ears Eliakim Eli'akim Field Hearing Jews Jew's Joah Jo'ah Judah Judean Language Please Rabshakeh Rab'shakeh Rab-Shakeh Servants Shebna Speak Syrian Understand Wall WithinIsaiah 36 1. Sennacherib invades Judah2. Rabshakeh, sent by Sennacherib, solicits the people to revolt 22. His words are told to Hezekiah Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah were officials in King Hezekiah's court. Eliakim was the palace administrator, Shebna was the secretary, and Joah was the recorder. Their roles indicate they were trusted advisors and held significant authority. The Rabshakeh was a high-ranking Assyrian military officer, likely a title rather than a personal name, sent by King Sennacherib of Assyria. This encounter occurs during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, a critical moment in Judah's history, highlighting the tension between the Assyrian empire and the kingdom of Judah. “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.” Persons / Places / Events 1. EliakimHe was the son of Hilkiah and served as the palace administrator under King Hezekiah. Eliakim was a key figure in the negotiations with the Assyrian envoy. 2. Shebna Initially the royal secretary, Shebna was later demoted to a scribe. He was involved in the discussions with the Assyrian representatives. 3. Joah The son of Asaph, Joah served as the recorder. He was part of the delegation sent by King Hezekiah to meet with the Assyrian officials. 4. Rabshakeh A high-ranking Assyrian military officer and spokesman for King Sennacherib. He was sent to Jerusalem to demand its surrender. 5. Jerusalem The capital city of Judah, under siege by the Assyrian army during the reign of King Hezekiah. Teaching Points The Power of LanguageThe request to speak in Aramaic highlights the strategic use of language. Language can be a tool for unity or division. In our communication, we should be mindful of how our words affect others. Leadership and Wisdom Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah demonstrate wisdom in their request. Leaders today should seek wisdom in their decisions, especially in times of crisis. Faith in Adversity The situation in Jerusalem was dire, yet the leaders sought to protect the morale of the people. In our lives, we should trust God and seek His guidance when facing challenges. Understanding and Clarity Just as the leaders wanted clarity in communication, we should strive for understanding in our study of Scripture, seeking clarity through prayer and study.(11) Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants . . .--The king's officers, knowing the "little faith" of their people, are not, perhaps, without misgivings of their own. Might not the townsmen, listening eagerly on the wall, recognise in Rabshakeh's words an echo of Isaiah's, and lose courage, as feeling that they were fighting against the God who was chastising them? The Syrian or Aramaic was a common ground for the ambassadors on both sides, as being the language of commerce and diplomacy. Rabshakeh, it would seem, could speak three languages, Assyrian, Syrian, and Hebrew; Hezekiah's ministers the two latter; the "people on the wall" only the last. In the Jews' language.--It is uncertain whether this means simply Hebrew, which Isaiah elsewhere calls the language of Canaan (Isaiah 19:18), or a special dialect of Judah. The Moabite stone, on the one hand, shows that Hebrew was the common speech of Palestine and the border countries. On the other hand, dialects spring up quickly. Nehemiah 13:24 is the only other passage (the parallels of 2Kings 18:26 and 2Chronicles 32:18 excepted) in which the term meets us in the narrower sense, and that is after the exile. Verse 11. - Speak... unto thy servants in the Syrian language; literally, in the Aramaic language. Aramaeans were widely spread over the entire region between the Lower Tigris and the Mediterranean; and their language seems to have been in general use, as a language of commerce. "Private contract tablets in Aramaic and Assyrian have been found in the remains of ancient Nineveh" (Cheyne). Rabshakeh had, perhaps, spoken "in the Jews' language " without any ill intent, thinking that it was the only tongue which Jewish envoys would understand; but his so doing was calculated to affect the minds of the common people, and to shake their allegiance to Hezekiah. The envoys, therefore, requested him to employ a foreign tongue, and suggested Aramaic as one which was familiar to them, and which they supposed that he would understand. His employment of Hebrew had shown them that he was a linguist. In the Jews' language. There was no language peculiar to the Jews as Jews, that is to say, different from the ordinary speech of the Israelites. Both alike spoke Hebrew. In the Old Testament, however, this corn-men language is never called "Hebrew," but either "the tongue of Canaan" (Isaiah 19:18) or "the Jewish language" (2 Kings 18:26, 28; 2 Chronicles 32:18; Nehemiah 13:24). Similarly, our own tongue is called "English," though spoken also in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, America, and Australia. In the ears of the people that are on the wall; i.e. of the soldiers placed on the wall to defend it. We must suppose that the conference took place immediately outside the fortifications, so that some of those on the wall could hear.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then Eliakim,אֶלְיָקִים֩ (’el·yā·qîm) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 471: Eliakim -- 'God sets up', three Israelites Shebna, וְשֶׁבְנָ֨א (wə·šeḇ·nā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7644: Shebna -- secretary and majordomo of Hezekiah and Joah וְיוֹאָ֜ח (wə·yō·w·’āḥ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3098: Joah -- 'the LORD is brother', the name of several Israelites said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the Rab-shakeh, שָׁקֵ֗ה (šā·qêh) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7262: Rabshakeh -- perhaps 'chief of the officers', an Assyrian military leader “Please נָ֤א (nā) Interjection Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then' speak דַּבֶּר־ (dab·ber-) Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to your servants עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant in Aramaic, אֲרָמִ֔ית (’ă·rā·mîṯ) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 762: The language of Aram (Syria) since כִּ֥י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction we אֲנָ֑חְנוּ (’ă·nā·ḥə·nū) Pronoun - first person common plural Strong's 587: We understand it. שֹׁמְעִ֖ים (šō·mə·‘îm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently Do not וְאַל־ (wə·’al-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 408: Not speak תְּדַבֵּ֤ר (tə·ḏab·bêr) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue to us אֵלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (’ê·lê·nū) Preposition | first person common plural Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to in Hebrew יְהוּדִ֔ית (yə·hū·ḏîṯ) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3066: The Jewish -- language in the hearing בְּאָזְנֵ֣י (bə·’ā·zə·nê) Preposition-b | Noun - fdc Strong's 241: Broadness, the ear of the people הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the wall.? הַחוֹמָֽה׃ (ha·ḥō·w·māh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2346: A wall of protection Links Isaiah 36:11 NIVIsaiah 36:11 NLT Isaiah 36:11 ESV Isaiah 36:11 NASB Isaiah 36:11 KJV Isaiah 36:11 BibleApps.com Isaiah 36:11 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 36:11 Chinese Bible Isaiah 36:11 French Bible Isaiah 36:11 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 36:11 Then Eliakim Shebna and Joah said (Isa Isi Is) |
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