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!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Rabshakeh deliberately chooses to speak in the "Jews' language" and with a "loud voice" not just to be heard, but to directly intimidate and sow discord among the people. He pointedly withholds any royal title from King Hezekiah, emphasizing his own master's supreme authority while belittling Jerusalem's leader.
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!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Assyrian commander Rabshakeh has been sent by his king, Sennacherib, to demand Jerusalem's surrender. After Hezekiah's officials, Eliakim and Shebna, ask him to speak in Aramaic so the common people on the wall don't understand his taunts, Rabshakeh defiantly refuses and instead shouts his message in Hebrew to the entire city. He then begins his verbal assault, directly addressing the people and disparaging their king, Hezekiah, and their trust in God.
Rabshakeh didn't just speak; he 'cried with a loud voice.' Why the theatrics? What was he trying to achieve?
Rabshakeh's decision to stand and shout in the common language of Judah wasn't accidental. It was a calculated psychological tactic.
A Performance for the People
His 'loud voice' was meant to carry, not just to the diplomats on the wall, but to every person within earshot. This wasn't a negotiation; it was a public announcement designed to intimidate and sow discord.
Undermining Leadership
By speaking directly to the people, bypassing their leaders (Hezekiah's officials), Rabshakeh aimed to create a rift. He wanted the citizens to hear his words, to feel the pressure, and perhaps to turn against their king and government. This is a classic tactic: make the populace doubt their leaders by speaking directly to them with a message of doom or false hope.
The Language of Conquest
Speaking in 'the language of Judah' (Hebrew) made his threats personal and undeniable. It wasn't an outsider speaking a foreign tongue; it was an enemy speaking their language, making their potential downfall feel more immediate and real.
Rabshakeh proudly proclaimed 'the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.' But who is the truly great King in this story?
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Rabshakeh's repeated emphasis on 'the great king, the king of Assyria' was designed to diminish any other authority, especially that of Hezekiah and, more importantly, God.
Exalting Earthly Power
The title 'great king' was a deliberate boast, meant to impress upon the Judeans the overwhelming might and reach of Assyria. The commentaries highlight that Rabshakeh consistently withheld the title of 'king' from Hezekiah, subtly positioning Assyria's ruler as the supreme power.
Challenging Divine Authority
This earthly 'great king' was presented as the ultimate authority. Rabshakeh's entire speech (detailed in later verses) aims to dismantle any trust the people have in Hezekiah's leadership or, crucially, in their reliance on God. He explicitly contrasts the Assyrian king's power with the perceived ineffectiveness of Judah's God.
The True Sovereign
Isaiah's prophecy, however, is framed within God's sovereign plan. While Assyria acts as a powerful, often brutal, instrument, the ultimate King is the LORD. Rabshakeh's pronouncements are filled with human arrogance, attempting to eclipse divine sovereignty, but ultimately falling short.
This dramatic confrontation occurred during a critical moment when the mighty Assyrian Empire was at Judah's doorstep, amplifying the psychological warfare employed by the Assyrian general.
c. 705 BC
Assyrian King Sargon II assassinated
The assassination of Sargon II plunged the Assyrian Empire into a period of instability, which his successor, Sennacherib, had to manage. This event may have emboldened some subject nations to consider rebellion.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's campaign in the Levant
King Sennacherib of Assyria launched a major military campaign against rebellious states in the Levant, including Judah. His forces besieged many fortified cities.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian forces surround Jerusalem
After conquering surrounding cities, the Assyrian army, led by Sennacherib's general Rabshakeh, arrives at Jerusalem and prepares to besiege it.
c. 701 BC
Rabshakeh's taunting speech to Jerusalem
Rabshakeh stands before the walls of Jerusalem and, in a loud voice, taunts King Hezekiah and the people, attempting to demoralize them and incite surrender.
c. 701 BC
Divine intervention saves Jerusalem
According to the biblical account, an angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers overnight, forcing Sennacherib to withdraw his army and return to Nineveh.
c. 681 BC
Sennacherib assassinated
King Sennacherib was assassinated by his own sons in Nineveh, a significant event that marked the end of his reign and further political upheaval in the Assyrian Empire.
This passage shows the Assyrian Rabshakeh attempting to intimidate Jerusalem's leaders by speaking in their language, directly paralleling his actions in Isaiah 36:13 as he addresses the people on the wall.
Nehemiah 8:8This verse describes Ezra and the Levites reading and explaining the Law to the people in their language, highlighting the importance of clear communication of God's words, in contrast to Rabshakeh's manipulative use of language.
Jeremiah 38:14Similar to Isaiah's account, Jeremiah stands before the people to speak God's words, demonstrating obedience and reliance on God despite potential danger, a stark contrast to the Assyrian's boastful pronouncements.
Daniel 3:4This verse shows a royal proclamation being made in a loud voice in a specific language to all the peoples, showcasing a similar public declaration of a king's authority, though in this case, it's a decree from Nebuchadnezzar, not a taunt from an invading general.
barnesIsaiah 36:13: "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."
Then Rabshakeh stood - Indicating the posture of a man who intends to speak to them at a distance. And cried with a loud voice - So that those on the wall could bear. The words of the king ... - (See the note at Isaiah 36:4)
cambridgeIsaiah 36:13: "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."
13 . the great king ] It is to be observed that the speaker consistently withholds the title of king from Hezekiah. 13–20 . The Rabshakeh’s appeal to the people.
The Rabshakeh deliberately chooses to speak in the "Jews' language" and with a "loud voice" not just to be heard, but to directly intimidate and sow discord among the people. He pointedly withholds any royal title from King Hezekiah, emphasizing his own master's supreme authority while belittling Jerusalem's leader.
The Assyrian commander Rabshakeh has been sent by his king, Sennacherib, to demand Jerusalem's surrender. After Hezekiah's officials, Eliakim and Shebna, ask him to speak in Aramaic so the common people on the wall don't understand his taunts, Rabshakeh defiantly refuses and instead shouts his message in Hebrew to the entire city. He then begins his verbal assault, directly addressing the people and disparaging their king, Hezekiah, and their trust in God.
The Assyrian commander Rabshakeh has been sent by his king, Sennacherib, to demand Jerusalem's surrender. After Hezekiah's officials, Eliakim and Shebna, ask him to speak in Aramaic so the common people on the wall don't understand his taunts, Rabshakeh defiantly refuses and instead shouts his message in Hebrew to the entire city. He then begins his verbal assault, directly addressing the people and disparaging their king, Hezekiah, and their trust in God.
"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!" — The Rabshakeh deliberately chooses to speak in the "Jews' language" and with a "loud voice" not just to be heard, but to directly intimidate and sow discord among the people. He pointedly withholds a…
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Last reviewed October 2026