2 Kings 18:28
New International Version
Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!

New Living Translation
Then the chief of staff stood and shouted in Hebrew to the people on the wall, “Listen to this message from the great king of Assyria!

English Standard Version
Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!

Berean Standard Bible
Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!

King James Bible
Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:

New King James Version
Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Hebrew, and spoke, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!

New American Standard Bible
Then Rabshakeh stood up and shouted with a loud voice in Judean, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!

NASB 1995
Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in Judean, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

NASB 1977
Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in Judean, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in Judean, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

Amplified Bible
Then the Rabshakeh stood and shouted out with a loud voice in Judean (Hebrew), “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

Christian Standard Bible
The royal spokesman stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew. Then he spoke: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

American Standard Version
Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear ye the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

Contemporary English Version
Then, in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, he shouted in Hebrew: Listen to what the great king of Assyria says!

English Revised Version
Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear ye the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the field commander stood and shouted loudly in the Judean language, "Listen to the great king, the king of Assyria.

Good News Translation
Then the official stood up and shouted in Hebrew, "Listen to what the emperor of Assyria is telling you!

International Standard Version
Then Rab-shakeh stood up and cried out loud, "Listen to what the great king, the king of Assyria has to say.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: ?Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!

NET Bible
The chief adviser then stood there and called out loudly in the Judahite dialect, "Listen to the message of the great king, the king of Assyria.

New Heart English Bible
Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Judean language, and spoke, saying, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Rab-shakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews language, and spoke, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:

World English Bible
Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spoke, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the chief of the butlers stands and calls with a great voice [in] Jewish, and speaks and says, “Hear a word of the great king, the king of Asshur—

Young's Literal Translation
And the chief of the butlers standeth and calleth with a great voice in Jewish, and speaketh and saith, 'Hear ye a word of the great king, the king of Asshur:

Smith's Literal Translation
And Rabshakeh will stand and call with a great voice in Judaic, and speak and say, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assur:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Rabsaces stood, and cried out with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said: Hear the words of the great king, the king of the Assyrians.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so, Rabshakeh stood up, and he exclaimed in a great voice, in the Jews’ language, and he said: “Listen to the words of the great king, the king of the Assyrians.

New American Bible
Then the commander stepped forward and cried out in a loud voice in the language of Judah, “Listen to the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the Rab-shakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spoke, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Rab Shakeh stood and he called in a loud voice in Judean, and he said: ”Hear the statement of the great King, the King of Assyria.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Rab-shakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spoke, saying: 'Hear ye the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Rapsakes stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jewish language, and spoke, and said, Hear the words of the great king of the Assyrians:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
27But 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?” 28 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you; he cannot deliver you from my hand.…

Cross References
Isaiah 36:13
Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!

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 36:11-12
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.” / But 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?”

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? ...

2 Kings 19:10-13
“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 36:4-5
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? / You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?

2 Kings 19:6-7
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 36:18-20
Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? / Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? / Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

2 Kings 19:22-23
Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! / Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest outposts, the densest of its forests.

Isaiah 37:23-24
Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! / Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest heights, the densest of its forests.

2 Kings 19:32-34
So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it. / He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city, declares the LORD. / I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”

Isaiah 37:33-35
So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it. / He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city,’ declares the LORD. / ‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”

2 Kings 19:35-37
And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. / One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Isaiah 37:36-38
Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. / One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.


Treasury of Scripture

Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spoke, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:

Rab-shakeh.

2 Chronicles 32:18
Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.

Isaiah 36:13-18
Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria…

the king of Assyria.

2 Kings 18:19
And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

Ezra 7:12
Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

Psalm 47:2
For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

Jump to Previous
Asshur Assyria Butlers Chief Commander Cried Ear Great Hear Hebrew Jewish Jews Judah Judean Loud Rabshakeh Rab'shakeh Rab-Shakeh Speaketh Standeth Stood Voice Word Words
Jump to Next
Asshur Assyria Butlers Chief Commander Cried Ear Great Hear Hebrew Jewish Jews Judah Judean Loud Rabshakeh Rab'shakeh Rab-Shakeh Speaketh Standeth Stood Voice Word Words
2 Kings 18
1. Hezekiah's good reign
4. He destroys idolatry, and prospers
9. The inhabitants of Samaria are carried captive for their sins
13. Sennacherib invading Judah, is pacified by a tribute
17. Rabshakeh, by blasphemous persuasions, solicits the people to revolt














Then the Rabshakeh stood
The term "Rabshakeh" refers to a high-ranking Assyrian military official or chief cupbearer, a position of significant authority and influence. Historically, the Assyrian Empire was known for its military prowess and administrative efficiency. The Rabshakeh's standing indicates a position of power and readiness to deliver an important message. This moment is a pivotal confrontation between the Assyrian Empire and the Kingdom of Judah, highlighting the tension and impending threat faced by God's people.

and called out loudly in Hebrew
The choice to speak in Hebrew is strategic, aiming to instill fear and demoralize the people of Jerusalem by addressing them directly in their own language. This tactic underscores the psychological warfare employed by the Assyrians. The use of Hebrew also signifies the Rabshakeh's intent to bypass the Judean officials and speak directly to the common people, sowing seeds of doubt and fear. It is a reminder of the spiritual battle faced by believers, where the enemy often seeks to undermine faith through intimidation and deceit.

Hear the word
The phrase "Hear the word" is a call to attention, demanding that the audience listen carefully to the message being delivered. In the biblical context, "hearing" often implies obedience or response. However, in this scenario, it is a counterfeit call to heed the words of a foreign king rather than the Word of God. This serves as a cautionary reminder for believers to discern the voices they listen to and to remain steadfast in their faith, prioritizing God's Word above all.

of the great king
The title "great king" is a self-proclaimed assertion of the Assyrian king's power and dominance. Historically, Assyrian rulers were known for their grandiose titles and claims of supremacy. This phrase is intended to elevate the Assyrian king's status and intimidate the people of Judah. For believers, it is a reminder of the ultimate sovereignty of God, who is the true "Great King" above all earthly powers. It challenges Christians to place their trust in God's authority rather than in human rulers.

the king of Assyria
The "king of Assyria" during this time was Sennacherib, known for his military campaigns and conquests. Assyria was a dominant empire, feared for its brutality and strength. This reference serves to highlight the formidable threat facing Judah. Yet, it also sets the stage for God's deliverance, as the narrative unfolds to demonstrate that no earthly king can thwart God's plans for His people. It encourages believers to trust in God's protection and deliverance, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

(28) Stood.--Came forward, i.e., nearer to the wall. (Comp. 1Kings 8:22.)

The word.--LXX. and Vulg., words; so Isaiah.

Verse 28. - Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with aloud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying. Rabshakeh had probably been sitting before. He now stood up to attract attention, and raised his voice to be the better heard. Still speaking Hebrew, and not Aramaic, he addressed himself directly to the people on the wall, soldiers and others, doing the very opposite to what he had been requested to do, and outraging all propriety. History scarcely presents any other instance of such coarse and barefaced effrontery, unless the affronts put upon a Danubian principality by the envoy of a "great Power" may be regarded as constituting a parallel. Hear the word of the great king, the King of Assyria. It is scarcely likely that Sennacherib had anticipated his envoy's action, much less directed it, and told him exactly what he was to say. But Rabshakeh thinks his words will have more effect if he represents them as those of his master.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the Rab-shakeh
שָׁקֵ֔ה (šā·qêh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7262: Rabshakeh -- perhaps 'chief of the officers', an Assyrian military leader

stood
וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ (way·ya·‘ă·mōḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

and called out
וַיִּקְרָ֥א (way·yiq·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

loudly
בְקוֹל־ (ḇə·qō·wl-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

in Hebrew:
יְהוּדִ֑ית (yə·hū·ḏîṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3066: The Jewish -- language

“Hear
שִׁמְע֛וּ (šim·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the word
דְּבַר־ (də·ḇar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the great
הַגָּד֖וֹל (hag·gā·ḏō·wl)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

king,
הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

the king
מֶ֥לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Assyria!
אַשּֽׁוּר׃ (’aš·šūr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 804: Ashshur


Links
2 Kings 18:28 NIV
2 Kings 18:28 NLT
2 Kings 18:28 ESV
2 Kings 18:28 NASB
2 Kings 18:28 KJV

2 Kings 18:28 BibleApps.com
2 Kings 18:28 Biblia Paralela
2 Kings 18:28 Chinese Bible
2 Kings 18:28 French Bible
2 Kings 18:28 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Kings 18:28 Then Rabshakeh stood and cried (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 18:27
Top of Page
Top of Page