And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Rabshakeh pointedly asks "On what do you rest this trust of yours?" not just about Hezekiah's confidence, but specifically calling it "this trust of yours," subtly implying Hezekiah's reliance is personal and perhaps misplaced, rather than a general question about his strategy. This phrasing challenges Hezekiah directly, trying to isolate and undermine his source of strength before even knowing what it is.
And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Assyrian army, led by Sennacherib, has invaded Judah, capturing many fortified cities. Rabshakeh, a high-ranking Assyrian official, stands before Jerusalem's walls and demands to speak with King Hezekiah's representatives. He haughtily challenges Hezekiah's refusal to surrender, questioning the basis of his trust and seeking to demoralize the people by mocking their faith and any hope of aid from Egypt.
The Assyrian envoy Rabshakeh doesn't just deliver a threat; he launches a pointed question. What was he really trying to uncover, and why was it so dangerous?
Rabshakeh, speaking for the Assyrian king Sennacherib, uses the title "the great king" to project immense power and authority. This wasn't just a name; it was a declaration meant to intimidate. Hezekiah had clearly refused to surrender, and Rabshakeh's question, 'On what do you rest this trust of yours?' cuts to the heart of it.
He's not asking about military strength or political alliances. He's probing the foundation of Hezekiah's defiance. Rabshakeh’s mission, as we see later in the chapter, is to dismantle any hope Hezekiah might have, whether it’s in Egypt, in his own strength, or, most critically, in God. This question is designed to sow doubt and make Hezekiah question his own resolve and the source of his courage.
Rabshakeh’s goal wasn't just to ask about Hezekiah's trust; it was to destroy it by offering false alternatives and outright mockery.
The arrogance of the Assyrian king is on full display. Rabshakeh isn't just asking a neutral question; he's laying a trap. He aims to disqualify any potential source of Hezekiah’s confidence.
He immediately begins to tear down the possibility of relying on Egypt, calling it a 'staff of a broken reed' that will pierce the hand that leans on it (Isaiah 36:6). This was a direct assault on any diplomatic or military hope Hezekiah might have had in the Egyptian empire.
Even more boldly, he anticipates and mocks the idea of Hezekiah trusting in the LORD God (Isaiah 36:7). He dismisses Hezekiah's religious reforms, twisting them into a reason why God help him. This is a calculated spiritual attack, designed to make God seem powerless or even hostile to His own people. It’s a strategy to isolate Hezekiah, leaving him with no perceived allies, human or divine.
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Understand the original words
batach · Hebrew Verb
Literally 'to lean' or 'to recline' upon something, used metaphorically to describe reliance, dependence, or placing confidence in a person, object, or God. Biblical usage frequently contrasts resting one's trust in human strength versus trusting in the Lord.
This dramatic confrontation occurred during a critical military invasion by the Assyrian Empire under King Sennacherib. The Assyrians had already conquered numerous cities in Judah and were now laying siege to Jerusalem, creating an atmosphere of intense fear and pressure on King Hezekiah and his people.
c. 705 BC
Sennacherib's Ascension
Sennacherib becomes the king of Assyria, known for his military campaigns and building projects, including the expansion of Nineveh.
701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Campaign in Judah
Sennacherib invades the Kingdom of Judah, capturing many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. This campaign is a pivotal moment in Judean history.
c. 701 BC
Rabshakeh's Confrontation
Rabshakeh, Sennacherib's envoy, confronts Hezekiah's officials outside Jerusalem, taunting them and demanding surrender.
c. 701 BC
Divine Intervention
An angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in their camp, causing Sennacherib to withdraw his army from Jerusalem.
c. 681-668 BC
Reign of Esarhaddon
Sennacherib's son, Esarhaddon, succeeds him. While his reign was generally peaceful, Assyria continued to exert influence over the region.
This passage provides the parallel account of Rabshakeh's confrontation, detailing his taunts against Hezekiah's trust in the Lord and highlighting the Assyrian's arrogant belief in his own power.
Isaiah 30:1-7This earlier prophecy from Isaiah directly addresses Judah's tendency to trust in Egypt for help, a theme that Rabshakeh exploits, showing God's displeasure with such misplaced reliance.
Psalm 20:7This psalm contrasts the fleeting nature of trust in chariots and horses with the enduring strength found in the name of the Lord, directly challenging Rabshakeh's assertion of Assyrian might.
Jeremiah 17:5-8This passage curses those who trust in humans and describes the blessings upon those who trust in the Lord, providing a clear theological framework for understanding Hezekiah's faith against Rabshakeh's defiance.
barnesIsaiah 36:4: "And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?"
What confidence - What is the ground of your confidence? on what do you trust? The appellation 'great king' was the customary title of the kings of the Persians and Assyrians.
pooleIsaiah 36:4: "And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?"
No text from Poole on this verse.
Rabshakeh pointedly asks "On what do you rest this trust of yours?" not just about Hezekiah's confidence, but specifically calling it "this trust of yours," subtly implying Hezekiah's reliance is personal and perhaps misplaced, rather than a general question about his strategy. This phrasing challenges Hezekiah directly, trying to isolate and undermine his source of strength before even knowing what it is.
The Assyrian army, led by Sennacherib, has invaded Judah, capturing many fortified cities. Rabshakeh, a high-ranking Assyrian official, stands before Jerusalem's walls and demands to speak with King Hezekiah's representatives. He haughtily challenges Hezekiah's refusal to surrender, questioning the basis of his trust and seeking to demoralize the people by mocking their faith and any hope of aid from Egypt.
The Assyrian army, led by Sennacherib, has invaded Judah, capturing many fortified cities. Rabshakeh, a high-ranking Assyrian official, stands before Jerusalem's walls and demands to speak with King Hezekiah's representatives. He haughtily challenges Hezekiah's refusal to surrender, questioning the basis of his trust and seeking to demoralize the people by mocking their faith and any hope of aid from Egypt.
"And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours?" — Rabshakeh pointedly asks "On what do you rest this trust of yours?" not just about Hezekiah's confidence, but specifically calling it "this trust of yours," subtly implying Hezekiah's reliance is per…
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Last reviewed October 2026