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New Life Version

2 Kings 18:26

Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, 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. The people on the wall might hear it."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Diplomacy;   Hilkiah;   Hypocrisy;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Jerusalem;   Joah;   Language;   Rab-Shakeh (Rabshakeh);   Sennacherib;   Shebna (Shebnah);   War;   Thompson Chain Reference - Hebrew;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Assyria;   Language;   Sieges;   Syria;   Walls;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Temple;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Aram;   Assyria;   Hezekiah;   Nahum;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Chaldee Language;   Hebrew Language;   Hilkiah;   Joah;   Rabshakeh;   Scribes;   Shebna;   Syriac;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Arabia;   Aram;   Hebrew Language;   Hezekiah;   Jew;   Sennacherib;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Aramaic;   Assyria, History and Religion of;   Cupbearer;   Rabshakeh;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Hezekiah;   Isaiah, Book of;   Israel;   Joah;   King;   Philistines;   Rab-Shakeh;   Shebna;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Aramaic;   Eliakim ;   Hilkiah ;   Joah ;   Rabshakeh ;   Sennacherib ;   Shebna ;   Syriac, Syrian Tongue;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hezekiah;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Eliakim;   Fullers;   Hezekiah;   Rabshakeh;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Eli'akim;   Fuller's Field, the,;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Aramaic Language;   Assyria;   Babylonia;   Eliakim;   Jew;   Joah;   Languages of the Old Testament;   Rabshakeh;   Shebna;   Text of the Old Testament;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Assyria;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Alphabet, the Hebrew;   Aram;   Hebrew Language;   Shebna;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah said to the royal spokesman, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak with us in Hebrew within earshot of the people on the wall.”
Hebrew Names Version
Then said Elyakim the son of Hilkiyah, and Shebnah, and Yo'ach, to Ravshakeh, Please speak to your servants in the Arammian language; for we understand it: and don't speak with us in the Yehudim' language, in the ears of the people who are on the wall.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
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 Century Version
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, 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."
New English Translation
Eliakim son of Hilkiah, 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."
Amplified Bible
Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in the Aramaic (Syrian) language, because we understand it; and do not speak with us in the Judean (Hebrew) language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall."
New American Standard Bible
Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, "Speak now to your servants in Aramaic, because we understand it; and do not speak with us in Judean so that the people who are on the wall hear you."
World English Bible
Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, to Rabshakeh, Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and don't speak with us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people who are on the wall.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Ioah said vnto Rabshakeh, Speake I pray thee, to thy seruants in the Aramites language, for we vnderstand it, and talke not with vs in the Iewes tongue, in the audience of the people that are on the wall.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah 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 son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah 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 the son of Hilkiyahu, Shevnah and Yo'ach said to Rav-Shakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it; don't speak with us in Hebrew while the people on the wall are listening."
Darby Translation
And Eliakim the son of Hilkijah, and Shebnah and Joah said to Rab-shakeh, Speak, we pray thee, to thy servants in Syriac, for we understand it, and talk not with us in the Jewish [language] in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the commander, "Please speak to us in Aramaic. We understand that language. Don't speak to us in the language of Judah because the people on the wall will understand you."
George Lamsa Translation
Then said Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah to Rab-shakeh, Speak to your servants in the Aramaic; for we understand it; and do not speak to us in the Jews language in the presence of the people who are on the wall.
Good News Translation
Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah told the official, "Speak Aramaic to us, sir. We understand it. Don't speak Hebrew; all the people on the wall are listening."
Lexham English Bible
Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah and Shebna and Joah said to the chief commander, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we are understanding, but you must not speak Judean with us in the ears of the people who are on the wall."
Literal Translation
And Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah said to the chief of the cupbearers, Please speak Aramaic to your servants, for we understand; and do not speak with us in Jewish, in the ears of the people on the wall.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde Eliachim the sonne of Helchia & Sobna and Ioah vnto the chefe butler: Speake to thy seruauntes in the Syrias language, for we vnderstonde it, and speake not vnto vs in the Iewes speche before the eares of the people that are vpon the wall.
American Standard Version
Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not with us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
Bible in Basic English
Then Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the Rab-shakeh, Will you kindly 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.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Eliakim the sonne of Helkia, and Sobna, & Ioah, sayde vnto Rabsakeh: Speake I pray thee to thy seruauntes in the Syrians language (for we vnderstande it) and talke not with vs in the Iewes tongue in the eares of this people that are on the wall.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, unto Rab-shakeh: 'Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Aramean language; for we understand it; and speak not with us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.'
King James Version (1611)
Then said Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Ioah, vnto Rabshakeh, Speake, I pray thee, to thy seruants in the Syrian language, (for wee vnderstand it) and talke not with vs in the Iewes language, in the eares of the people that are on the wall.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Heliakim the son of Chelkias, and Somnas, and Joas, said to Rapsakes, Speak now to thy servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it; and speak not with us in the Jewish language: and why dost thou speak in the ears of the people that are on the wall?
English Revised Version
Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not with us in the Jews’ language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe Eliachym, sone of Elchie, and Sobna, and Joahe, seiden to Rabsaces, We preien, that thou speke bi the langage of Sirie to vs, thi seruauntis; for we vndirstondun this langage; and that thou speke not to vs bi the langage of Juwis, while the puple herith, which is on the wal.
Young's Literal Translation
And Eliakim son of Hilkiah saith -- and Shebna, and Joah -- to the chief of the butlers, `Speak, we pray thee, unto thy servants [in] Aramaean, for we are understanding, and do not speak with us [in] Jewish, in the ears of the people who [are] on the wall.'
Update Bible Version
Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray you, to your slaves in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and don't speak with us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah, to 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 King James Version
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 [fn] in the hearing of the people who are on the wall."
New Living Translation
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, 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 Revised Standard
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in the Aramaic language, 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 son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, unto Rab-shakeh: Speak, we pray thee, unto thy servants in the, Syrian, language, for, we, can, understand, it, - and do not speak with us in, the Jews', language, in the ears of the people who are upon the wall.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Eliacim, the son of Helcias, and Sobna, and Joahe, said to Rabsaces: We pray thee, speak to us, thy servants, in Syriac: for we understand that tongue: and 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 the son of Hilki'ah, and Shebnah, and Jo'ah, said to the Rab'shakeh, "Pray, speak to your servants in the Aramaic language, 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."
THE MESSAGE
Eliakim son of Hilkiah and Shebna and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, "Please, speak to us in the Aramaic language. We understand Aramaic. Don't speak in Hebrew—everyone crowded on the city wall can hear you."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah 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

17 Then the king of Assyria sent Tartan, Rab-saris and Rabshakeh with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. So they went up and came to Jerusalem. They came and stood by the ditch of the upper pool, which is on the road to the fuller's field. 18 When they called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah the son of Asaph came out to them. Eliakim was the head of the house. Shebnah was the writer, and Joah wrote down the things of the nation. 19 Rabshakeh said to them, "Say to Hezekiah, ‘This is what the great king of Assyria says. "What is this strength of heart that you have? 20 You say with empty words, ‘I have wisdom and strength for war.' On whom do you trust, that you have turned against me? 21 Look, you are trusting now in Egypt. It is a walking stick like a piece of broken river-grass. It will cut into a man's hand if he rests on it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 22 You might tell me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God.' But is it not He Whose high places and altars Hezekiah has taken away? And has he not said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship in front of this altar in Jerusalem'? 23 Come now, make an agreement with my ruler the king of Assyria. And I will give you 2,000 horses, if you are able to put horsemen on them. 24 How can you fight back one captain among the least of my ruler's servants, when you trust Egypt for war-wagons and horsemen? 25 Have I come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.'" 26 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, 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. The people on the wall might hear it."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Speak: Perceiving that the object of this blasphemous caitiff was to stir up the people to sedition, they mildly and reasonably required him to make his proposals in the Syrian language.

in the Syrian language: Ezra 4:7, Isaiah 36:11, Isaiah 36:12, Daniel 2:4

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 32:18 - they cried Nehemiah 6:5 - with an open letter Esther 8:9 - and according Isaiah 36:21 - General 1 Corinthians 14:2 - he that

Cross-References

Isaiah 6:13
Yet one tenth part of the people will stay in it. But it will be burned again, like an oak tree whose roots are still there when it is cut down. The holy seed is all that will be left (of Israel)."
Isaiah 10:22
Even if there are as many Jews as the sand by the sea, only a few of them will return. The plan is to destroy them and it will be right and complete.
Isaiah 19:24
In that day Israel will be the third country with Egypt and Assyria, a good and respected nation on the earth,
Isaiah 65:8
The Lord says, "New wine is found in the grapes, and one says, ‘Do not destroy them, for there is still some good in them.' I will act in the same way for My servants, and not destroy them all.
Jeremiah 5:1
"Go up and down through the streets of Jerusalem, and look and learn. Look in her open places to see if you can find just one man who does what is right and looks for the truth. Then I will forgive this city.
Ezekiel 22:30
I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before Me in the place where it is broken, to stop Me from destroying the land, but I found no one.
Matthew 24:22
If the time had not been made short, no life would have been saved. Because of God's people, the time will be made short.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

:-

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The 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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 26. Talk 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.


 
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