Isaiah 36:11

Bishop's Bible

Then sayd Eliakim, Sobna, & Ioah, vnto Rabsakeh: Speake to vs thy seruauntes we pray thee in the Syrians language, for we vnderstande it well, and speake not to vs in the Iewes tongue, lest the folke heare which lyeth vpon the wall.

Parallel Translations

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.”

Hebrew Names Version
Then said Elyakim and Shevna and Yo'ach to Ravshakeh, Please speak, to your servants in the Arammian language; for we understand it: and don't speak to us in the Yehudim' language, in the ears of the people who are on the wall.

King James 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.

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."

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."

New Century Version
Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the field commander, "Please speak to us in the Aramaic language. We understand it. Don't speak to us in Hebrew, because the people on the city wall can hear you."

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."

World English Bible
Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah to Rabshakeh, Please speak, to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and don't speak to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people who are on the wall.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then sayd Eliakim and Shebna and Ioah vnto Rabshakeh, Speake, I pray thee, to thy seruants in the Aramites language, (for we vnderstand it) & talke not with vs in the Iewes tongue, in the audience of the people that 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."

Berean Standard Bible
Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rab-shakeh, "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."

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."

Complete Jewish Bible
Elyakim, Shevnah and Yo'ach said to Rav-Shakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it; don't speak to us in Hebrew while the people on the wall are listening."

Darby Translation
And Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to Rab-shakeh, Speak, we pray thee, to thy servants in Syriac, for we understand it; and speak not to us in the Jewish [language] in the ears of the people that are upon the wall.

Easy-to-Read Version
Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the commander, "Please, speak to us in Hebrew. We understand that language. Don't speak to us in the language of Judah. If you use our language, the people on the city walls will understand you."

George Lamsa Translation
Then 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.

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."

Lexham English Bible
And Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we can understand it, and you must not speak to us in Judean in the hearing of the people who are on the wall."

Literal Translation
And Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to the chief of the cupbearers, Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we hear. But do not speak to us in Judean, in the ears of the people on the wall.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde Eliachim, Sobna & Iohah vnto Rabsaches: Speake to vs thy seruauntes (we praye the) in the Sirians language, for we vnderstonde it well: And speake not to vs in the Iewes tunge, lest the folcke heare, which lieth vpon 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.

Bible in Basic English
Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to the Rab-shakeh, Please make use of the Aramaean language in talking to your servants, for we are used to it, and do not make use of the Jews' language in the hearing of the people on the wall.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then 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.'

King James Version (1611)
Then sayd Eliakim and Shebna & Ioah vnto Rabshakeh; Speake, I pray thee, vnto thy seruants in the Syrian language; for we vnderstand it: and speake not to vs in the Iewes language, in the eares of the people that are on the wall.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
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?

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.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Eliachym, and Sobna, and Joae, seiden to Rapsaces, Speke thou to thi seruauntis bi the langage of Sirie, for we vndurstonden; speke thou not to vs bi the langage of Jewis in the eeris of the puple, which is on the wal.

Update Bible Version
Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray you, to your slaves in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and don't speak to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that 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.

New English Translation
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 King James Version
Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in the Aramaic language, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Hebrew [fn] in the hearing of the people who are 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."

New Life Bible
Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, "Speak to your servants in the Aramaic language, for we understand it. Do not speak with us in the language of Judah so the people who are on the wall will hear."

New Revised Standard
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."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said Eliakim, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh - Speak we pray thee unto thy servants in the Syrian language, for we, can, understand, it, - and do not speak unto us in the Jews language, in the ears of the people who are upon the wall.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And 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.

Revised Standard Version
Then Eli'akim, Shebna, and Jo'ah said to the Rab'shakeh, "Pray, 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."

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.'

THE MESSAGE
Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah answered the Rabshekah, "Please talk to us in Aramaic. We understand Aramaic. Don't talk to us in Hebrew within earshot of all the people gathered around."

New American Standard Bible (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."

Contextual Overview

¹¹ Then sayd Eliakim, Sobna, & Ioah, vnto Rabsakeh: Speake to vs thy seruauntes we pray thee in the Syrians language, for we vnderstande it well, and speake not to vs in the Iewes tongue, lest the folke heare which lyeth vpon the wall. ¹² Then aunswered Rabsakeh: Hath my maister sent me to speake this only to thy maister and thee? hath he not sent me to them also that lye vpon the wall? that they may be compelled to eate their owne dunge, and drinke their owne stale with you? ¹³ And Rabsakeh stoode stiffe, and cryed with a loude voyce in the Iewes tongue, and sayde: Nowe take heede howe the great kyng of the Assyrians geueth you warnyng. ¹⁴ Thus saith the kyng: Let not Hezekia deceaue you, for he shall not be able to deliuer you. ¹⁵ Moreouer, let not Hezekia comfort you in the Lorde when he saith, The Lorde without doubt shall defende vs, and shall not geue ouer this citie into the handes of the king of the Assyrians. ¹⁶ Hearken not to Hezekia, for thus saith the kyng of Assyria: Obtayne my fauour, encline to me, so may euery man enioy his vineyardes and figge trees, and drynke the water of his cesterne: ¹⁷ Unto the tyme that I come my selfe, and bryng you into a lande that is lyke your owne, wherin is wheate & wine, which is both sowen with seede and planted with vineyardes. ¹⁸ Let not Hezekia deceaue you, when he saith vnto you, the Lorde shall deliuer vs: Myght the gods of the gentiles kepe euery mans lande from the power of the kyng of the Assyrians? ¹⁹ Where is the god of Hemath and Arphad? where is the god of Sepharuaim? and who is able to defende Samaria out of my hande? ²⁰ Or which of all the gods of these landes hath deliuered their countrey out of my power? Is the Lord in deede able to deliuer Hierusalem from my hande?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in the Syrian: 2 Kings 18:26, 2 Kings 18:27, Ezra 4:7, Daniel 2:4

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 4:5 - before the builders Isaiah 22:20 - Eliakim Isaiah 36:22 - Eliakim

Cross-References

Genesis 36:15
These were dukes of the sonnes of Esau. The children of Eliphas the first borne sonne of Esau were these.

Genesis 36:16
Duke Theman, duke Omar, duke Sepho, duke Cenaz, and duke Corah, duke Gatham, & duke Amalec: these are the dukes that came of Eliphas in the lande of Edom, and these were the sonnes of Ada.

Genesis 36:35
And after the death of Husam, Hadad the sonne of Bedad, which slew the Madianites in the field of the Moabites, raigned in his steade: & the name of his citie was Auith.

Genesis 36:36
When Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrecah raigned in his steade.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then said Eliakim and Shebah and Joah unto Rabshakeh,.... That is, one of them addressed him in the name of the rest; for the verb is singular; and what follows confirms it; perhaps Eliakim was the speaker:

speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syriac language; which was somewhat different from the Hebrew, in which he spoke, and which was not understood by the common people, and for that reason desired:

for we understand it; or hear it; could hear it, so as to understand it; it being common in all courts, as the French tongue now; the Assyrian empire being very large, and so had been learned by these courtiers, for the sake of negotiation or commerce, when the common people had no concern with it:

and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall; the wall of the city, where the commissioners were, who would not venture themselves out of the city, in the hands of so perfidious an enemy: and the men on the wall were such, who either were placed there to defend the city, and so were soldiers, or people that were gathered together to see the ambassadors of the king of Assyria, and to hear, as much as they could, what passed between them and the ministers of Hezekiah; and as this speech of Eliakim's showed great submissiveness in praying and entreating Rabshakeh to speak to them in another language, and a mean abject spirit, in saying they were his servants, so a great degree of timorousness in them, and diffidence of the people, lest they should be terrified, and be for giving up the city at once into the hands of the enemy; this looks like a piece of bad policy, and some think that Shebna was the contriver of it, and the adviser to it, in order to give Rabshakeh a hint of their fears, and of the disposition of the people, and put him in higher spirits, and on railing the more, and thereby still work the more on the people's fears; however, it had this effect on him, as follows.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language - Hebrew, ארמית 'ărâmı̂yt - ‘Aramean.’ Aram, or Aramea, properly meaning a high region, or the highlands, was of wider extent than Syria Proper, and comprehended not only Syria, but Mesopotamia. It usually denotes however, Syria Proper, of which the capital was Damascus. The language of all this country was probably the same - the Syrian or Aramean, a language of the same family as the Hebrew, and having a strong resemblance to that and to the Chaldee. This was not properly the language of Assyria, where probably a dialect composed of the language of the Medes and Persians was employed. But the Syriac language was spoken in different parts of Assyria. It was spoken in Mesopotamia, and doubtless in some of the provinces of the Assyrian empire, and might be presumed to be understood by Rabshakeh, and those with him. The Jews had contact with the Syrians, and those who had been sent out by Hezekiah had learned to speak that. It is not probable that they understood the Medo-Persian tongue that was spoken by the Assyrians usually. The Syriac or Aramean was probably the most common language which was spoken in that region. Its knowledge prevailed in the time of the Saviour, and was that which he usually spoke.

In the Jews’ language - (יחוּדית y^ehûdı̂yt). The language of Judah. It is remarkable that they did not call it the Hebrew language. But there might have been some national pride in regard to this. The Hebrew language had been the common language of all the Jews, and had been spoken by those of the kingdom of Israel or Samaria, as well as by those of the kingdom of Judah. But after the revolt of the ten tribes it is possible that they might have claimed the language as their own, and regarded the Hebrew - the venerable language of their fathers - as belonging to them especially, as they claimed everything that was sacred or venerable in the nation, and hence, they spoke of it as the language of Judah. The name of Judah, or Jews, which is derived from Judah, was, after the removal of the ten tribes, given to the entire nation - a name which is retained to the present time. In Isaiah 19:18, it is called the language of Canaan (see the note on that place).

In the ears of the people that are on the wall - This conference took place evidently near the city, and within hearing distance. Doubtless the people of the city, feeling a curiosity to hear the message of the Assyrian, crowded the walls. The Jewish ambassadors were apprehensive that what was said by Rabshakeh would alienate their minds from Hezekiah, and requested that the conference might be conducted in a language which they could not understand.