Isaiah 36:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: "Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!

NIV: Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, "Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!

NASB: Then Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Judean and said, 'Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!

CSB: Then the royal spokesman stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: Listen to the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!

NLT: 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!

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Hebrew, and said, “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!

Sennacherib's field commander (Isaiah 36:1) in this meeting bore the official title of Rabshaqeh (Isaiah 36:2). He has been portrayed as a master of propaganda and psychological warfare. When asked to conduct their meeting in Aramaic to keep the nearby men from understanding (Isaiah 36:11), the Rabshakeh made it clear he was there to terrify the people, not to negotiate as equals (Isaiah 36:12). He wants Jerusalem to fear the terrible Assyrian war machine so much that they will surrender without a fight.

Instead of changing languages or lowering his voice, the Rabshakeh boldly begins to shout in Hebrew directly to anyone who could hear him inside the city. Right from the start, he elevates Sennacherib as a mighty king and diminishes Hezekiah as lowly (Isaiah 36:14). He will dismiss the idea of God rescuing the people (Isaiah 36:14, 18), tempting them with promises of a happy life as conquered people (Isaiah 36:16–17).

Isaiah 36:11–22 records psychological warfare from the commander of the Assyrian army. He shouts in the local dialect so everyone can experience terror. The speech promises horrors of siege and death unless the people surrender now. The Assyrian notes that no other nation's gods have stopped this invasion. Nor has any supernatural force protected the territories of Israel and Judah. Jerusalem seems to have no earthly hope, and Hezekiah's messengers wisely say nothing before returning to the city in grief.

Sennacherib and the Assyrian army conquer all of Judah except for Jerusalem. There, a remnant of the people waits inside the walls. Sennacherib sends a messenger to meet with Hezekiah's officials. The messenger taunts Hezekiah, mocking their attempts at alliances as well as their faith in God. This commander, also called "the Rabshakeh" calls out in the local Hebrew language so everyone will understand. He offers life and prosperity to those who surrender now. In his opinion, none of the gods of any of the nations the Assyrians have defeated were able to stop them. So why will the Lord God of Israel be any different?

Isaiah 36 shifts from poetic prophecies to the historical account of an Assyrian army's threats against Judah. Sennacherib's army conquers everything in Judah other except for Jerusalem. An Assyrian messenger taunts the people and tells them that no gods have stopped Assyria yet, so they shouldn't trust in Judah's God, either. Diplomats return to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem with this news. Hezekiah will seek help from Isaiah, pray to God, and receive a spectacular miraculous rescue (Isaiah 37).

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 3/9/2026 12:17:33 PM