Isaiah 36:11

36:10 And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

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.

KJV

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Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and don’t speak to us in the Jews’ language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”

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.

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. ¶

36:12 But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?

What does Isaiah 36:11 mean?

Isaiah 36:11 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אָמַר (ʼâmar), אֶלְיָקִים (ʼElyâqîym), שֶׁבְנָא (Shebnâʼ).

Hebrew interlinear

Then

saidאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)

EliakimאֶלְיָקִיםʼElyâqîym/el-yaw-keem'/H471Eljakim, the name of four Israelites

and

ShebnaשֶׁבְנָאShebnâʼ/sheb-naw'/H7644Shebna or Shebnah, an Israelite

and

JoahיוֹאָחYôwʼâch/yo-awkh'/H3098Joach, the name of four Israelites

unto

Rabshakeh,רַבְשָׁקֵהRabshâqêh/rab-shaw-kay'/H7262Rabshakeh, a Babylonian official

Speak,דָבַרdâbar/daw-bar'/H1696perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

pray

thee,

unto

thy

servantsעֶבֶדʻebed/eh'-bed/H5650a servant

the

Syrian

language;אֲרָמִיתʼĂrâmîyth/ar-aw-meeth'/H762(only adverbial) in Aramean

for

understandשָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

it:

and

speakדָבַרdâbar/daw-bar'/H1696perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

not

the

Jews'

language,יְהוּדִיתYᵉhûwdîyth/yeh-hoo-deeth'/H3066the Jewish (used adverbially) language

the

earsאֹזֶןʼôzen/o'-zen/H241broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)

the

peopleעַםʻam/am/H5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

that

are

the

wall.חוֹמָהchôwmâh/kho-maw'/H2346a wall of protection

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Shebna

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 36:11.

2 Kings 18:26

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.

2 Kings 18:37

Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

Isaiah 36:22

Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

2 Kings 18:18

And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder. scribe: or, secretary

Isaiah 36:3

Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah's son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph's son, the recorder. scribe: or, secretary

2 Kings 19:2

And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

Genesis 18:5

And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. comfort: Heb. stay are: Heb. you have passed

Genesis 20:8

Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 36:11 say?

Isaiah 36:11 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is Isaiah 36:11 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 36:11 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 36:11, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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