God’s Word Translation
2 Kings 18:26
26Then Eliakim (son of Hilkiah), Shebnah, 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.”
2 Kings 18:26 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rab–shakeh, 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.
- New International Version (NIV)Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and 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.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, 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."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 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.”
Context of 2 Kings 18:26
24How can you defeat my master’s lowest-ranking officers when you trust Egypt for chariots and horses? 25“Have I come to destroy this place without the Lord on my side? The Lord said to me, ‘Attack this country, and destroy it.’ ” Then Eliakim (son of Hilkiah), Shebnah, 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.” 27But the field commander asked them, “Did my master send me to tell these things only to you and your master? Didn’t he send me to the men sitting on the wall who will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine with you?” 28Then the field commander stood and shouted loudly in the Judean language, “Listen to the great king, the king of Assyria.
Read all of 2 Kings 182 Kings 18:26 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־חִ֠לְקִיָּהוּ וְשֶׁבְנָ֨ה וְיוֹאָ֜ח אֶל־רַב־שָׁקֵ֗ה דַּבֶּר־נָ֤א אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲרָמִ֔ית כִּ֥י שֹׁמְעִ֖ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ וְאַל־תְּדַבֵּ֤ר עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ יְהוּדִ֔ית בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַחֹמָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Eliakimאֶלְיָקִים'elyâqîym · EliakimH471
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Hilkiahחִלְקִיָּהוּchilqîyâh chilqîyâhû · HilkiahH2518
- and Shebnaשֶׁבְנָאshebnâ' shebnâh · ShebnaH7644
- and Joahיוֹאָחyô'âch · JoahH3098
- unto Rab–shakehרַבְשָׁקֵהrabshâqêh · RabshakehH7262
- Speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- I pray thee, to thy servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- in the Syrian languageאֲרָמִית'ărâmîyth · AramaicH762
- for we understandשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: understandH8085
- not with us in the Jews’ languageיְהוּדִיתyehûdîyth · JewishH3066
- in the earsאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · ear: hearingH241
- of the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- on the wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
Cross-references for 2 Kings 18:26
- Ezra 4:7Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their group wrote to him when Artaxerxes was king of Persia. The letter was written with the Aramaic script and translated into the Aramaic language.
- Isaiah 36:11Then 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.”
- Daniel 2:4The astrologers spoke to the king in Aramaic, “Your Majesty, may you live forever! Tell us the dream, and we’ll interpret it for you.”
Commentaries on 2 Kings 18:26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Talk not with us in the Jews' language - The object of this blasphemous caitiff was to stir up the people to sedition, that the city and the king might be delivered into his hand.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26The Syrian language - i. e., Aramaic; probably the dialect of Damascus, a Semitic language nearly akin to their own, but suffciently different to be unintelligible to ordinary Jews The people that are on the wall - The conference must have been held immediately outside the wall for the words of the speakers to have been audible.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-37Verses 17-37 Rabshakeh tries to convince the Jews, that it was to no purpose for them to stand it out. What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? It were well if sinners would submit to the force of this argument, in seeking peace with God. It is, therefore, our wisdom to yield to him, because it is in vain to contend with him: what confidence is that which those trust in who stand out against him? A great deal of art there is in this speech of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26Please speak to your servants in Aramaic: Hezekiah’s officials asked the Assyrian delegation to speak in Aramaic, which was the language of diplomacy. They did not want the people listening to understand and become discouraged or afraid.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 18:26
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Kings 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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