Isaiah 36:12
New International Version
But the commander replied, “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the people sitting on the wall—who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?”

New Living Translation
But Sennacherib’s chief of staff replied, “Do you think my master sent this message only to you and your master? He wants all the people to hear it, for when we put this city under siege, they will suffer along with you. They will be so hungry and thirsty that they will eat their own dung and drink their own urine.”

English Standard Version
But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?”

Berean Standard Bible
But the Rabshakeh replied, “Has my master sent me to speak these words only to you and your master, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are destined with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?”

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat and drink their own waste with you?”

New American Standard Bible
But Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me only to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, doomed to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?”

NASB 1995
But Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me only to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, doomed to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?”

NASB 1977
But Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me only to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, doomed to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?”

Legacy Standard Bible
But Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me only to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, doomed to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?”

Amplified Bible
But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to speak these words only to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, doomed to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?”

Christian Standard Bible
But the royal spokesman replied, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men who are sitting on the wall, who are destined with you to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But the Rabshakeh replied, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men who are sitting on the wall, who are destined with you to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?”

American Standard Version
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, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water with you?

Contemporary English Version
The Assyrian army commander answered, "My king sent me to speak to everyone, not just to you leaders. These people will soon have to eat their own body waste and drink their own urine! And so will the three of you!"

English Revised Version
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, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water with you?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the field commander asked, "Did my master send me to tell these things only to you and your master? Didn't he send me to the men sitting on the wall who will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine with you?"

Good News Translation
He replied, "Do you think you and the king are the only ones the emperor sent me to say all these things to? No, I am also talking to the people who are sitting on the wall, who will have to eat their excrement and drink their urine, just as you will."

International Standard Version
But the field commander asked, "Was it only to all of you and to your master that my master sent me to speak these things? Wasn't it also to the men sitting on the wall—who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?"

Majority Standard Bible
But the Rabshakeh replied, ?Has my master sent me to speak these words only to you and your master, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are destined with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine??

NET Bible
But the chief adviser said, "My master did not send me to speak these words only to your master and to you. His message is also for the men who sit on the wall, for they will eat their own excrement and drink their own urine along with you!"

New Heart English Bible
But Rabshakeh said, "Has my master sent me only to your master and to you, to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?"

Webster's Bible Translation
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 devour their vilest excretions with you?

World English Bible
But Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me only to your master and to you, to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Rabshakeh says, “To your lord, and to you, has my lord sent me to speak these words? Is it not for the men—those sitting on the wall to eat their own dung and to drink their own water with you?”

Young's Literal Translation
And Rabshakeh saith, 'Unto thy lord, and unto thee, hath my lord sent me to speak these words? is it not for the men -- those sitting on the wall to eat their own dung and to drink their own water with you?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Rabshakeh will say, Did my lord send me to thy lord and to thee to speak these words? did he not to the men sitting upon the wall to eat their excrements and to drink their urine with you?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Rabsaces said to them: Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee, to speak all these words; and not rather to the men that sit on the wall; that they may eat their own dung, and drink their urine with you?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Rabshakeh said to them: “Has my lord sent me to your lord and to you in order to speak all these words, and not even more so to the men who are sitting on the wall, so that they may eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?”

New American Bible
But the commander replied, “Was it to your lord and to you that my lord sent me to speak these words? Was it not rather to those sitting on the wall, who, with you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?”

New Revised Standard Version
But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the people sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But the Rab-shakeh said to them, My master has not sent me to you and to your master to speak these words, but to the men who sit on the wall, that they may not eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Rabshaqeh said to them: “It was not to you and to your Lord my Lord has sent me saying these words, but to the men sitting on the wall, lest they would eat their dung and drink their urine with you!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But Rab-shakeh 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, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water with you?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Rabsaces said to them, Has my lord sent me to your lord or to you, to speak these words? has he not sent me to the men that sit on the wall, that they may eat dung, and drink their water together with you?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
11Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “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.” 12 But the Rabshakeh replied, “Has my master sent me to speak these words only to you and your master, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are destined with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?” 13Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!…

Cross References
2 Kings 18:27
But the Rabshakeh replied, “Has my master sent me to speak these words only to you and your master, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are destined with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?”

2 Chronicles 32:18
Then the Assyrians called out loudly in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them in order to capture the city.

Isaiah 37:4-6
Perhaps the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to defy the living God, and He will rebuke him for the words that the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up a prayer for the remnant that still survives.” / So the servants of King Hezekiah went to Isaiah, / who replied, “Tell your master that this is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid of the words you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

Isaiah 7:17-20
The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since the day Ephraim separated from Judah—He will bring the king of Assyria.” / On that day the LORD will whistle to the flies at the farthest streams of the Nile and to the bees in the land of Assyria. / And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines and clefts of the rocks, in all the thornbushes and watering holes. ...

Jeremiah 25:27-29
“Then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Drink, get drunk, and vomit. Fall down and never get up again, because of the sword I will send among you.’ / If they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink it, you are to tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘You most certainly must drink it! / For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’

Ezekiel 4:12-15
And you shall eat the food as you would a barley cake, after you bake it over dried human excrement in the sight of the people.” / Then the LORD said, “This is how the Israelites will eat their defiled bread among the nations to which I will banish them.” / “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.” ...

Deuteronomy 28:53-57
Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. / The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, / refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. ...

Lamentations 4:4-5
The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any. / Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.

Micah 7:17
They will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will come trembling from their strongholds in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of You.

Matthew 24:7
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Luke 21:23-24
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. / They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Mark 13:8
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Revelation 6:8
Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.

Revelation 11:6
These witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, and power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.

Revelation 16:21
And great hailstones weighing almost a hundred pounds each rained down on them from above. And men cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so horrendous.


Treasury of Scripture

But Rabshakeh said, Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words? has he not sent me to the men that sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own urine with you?

that they may

Isaiah 9:20
And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

Leviticus 26:29
And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

Deuteronomy 28:53-57
And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: …

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Commander Devour Doomed Drink Dung Eat Excretions Filth Food Master Piss Rabshakeh Rab'shakeh Rab-Shakeh Seated Short Shut Sit Sitting Speak Urine Vilest Wall Water Words
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Commander Devour Doomed Drink Dung Eat Excretions Filth Food Master Piss Rabshakeh Rab'shakeh Rab-Shakeh Seated Short Shut Sit Sitting Speak Urine Vilest Wall Water Words
Isaiah 36
1. Sennacherib invades Judah
2. Rabshakeh, sent by Sennacherib, solicits the people to revolt
22. His words are told to Hezekiah














But the Rabshakeh replied
The term "Rabshakeh" refers to a high-ranking Assyrian military official or chief cupbearer. In the context of ancient Near Eastern politics, the Rabshakeh was a significant figure, often entrusted with diplomatic missions. His role here is to deliver a message of intimidation and psychological warfare. Historically, the Assyrians were known for their brutal military campaigns and psychological tactics, aiming to demoralize their enemies before battle.

Has my master sent me
The "master" here refers to the Assyrian king, Sennacherib. This phrase underscores the authority and power of the Assyrian empire, which was one of the most formidable forces of the ancient world. The Rabshakeh's words are not his own but are delivered under the king's command, emphasizing the weight and seriousness of the message.

to speak these words
The "words" spoken by the Rabshakeh are intended to instill fear and doubt. In the ancient world, words were powerful tools of influence and control. The Assyrians were adept at using rhetoric to weaken the resolve of their adversaries, often preceding physical conquest with psychological manipulation.

only to your master and to you
This phrase highlights the intended audience of the message: the leaders of Judah, including King Hezekiah. The Rabshakeh's strategy is to isolate the leadership, making them feel the weight of responsibility for the impending siege. It is a tactic to sow division and fear among the ranks of Judah's defenders.

and not to the men sitting on the wall
The "men sitting on the wall" refers to the soldiers and citizens of Jerusalem who are directly involved in the city's defense. By addressing them, the Rabshakeh aims to bypass the leadership and speak directly to the people, undermining the authority of Hezekiah and spreading panic among the populace.

who, like you, will have to eat their own dung and drink their own urine
This graphic imagery is a vivid depiction of the horrors of siege warfare, where food and water become scarce, leading to desperate measures for survival. The Assyrians were known for their ruthless sieges, and this statement is designed to convey the futility of resistance and the dire consequences of defying Assyrian power. It serves as a stark warning of the suffering that awaits if Jerusalem does not surrender.

(12) Hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall . . .?--The words, which in their brutal coarseness have hardly a parallel in history, till we come to Bismarck's telling the Parisians that they may "stew in their own gravy," imply that the Assyrians were in a position to cut off the supplies both of food and water.

Verse 12. - Hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall? Rabshakeh was contravening all diplomatic usage, and no doubt was conscious of it. But the pride and arrogance of the Assyrians rendered them as careless of diplomatic etiquette as, at a later date, were the Romans (see Polybius, 29:11, § 6; Liv., 45:12). That they may eat, etc.; rather, to eat. That is, with no other result than that of being reduced, together with you, to the last extremity of famine, when the siege comes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But the Rab-shakeh
שָׁקֵ֗ה (šā·qêh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7262: Rabshakeh -- perhaps 'chief of the officers', an Assyrian military leader

replied,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Has my master
אֲדֹנֶ֤יךָ (’ă·ḏō·ne·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

sent
שְׁלָחַ֣נִי (šə·lā·ḥa·nî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

me to speak
לְדַבֵּ֖ר (lə·ḏab·bêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

these
הָאֵ֑לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

words
הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (had·də·ḇā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

only to
הַאֶ֨ל (ha·’el)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

you and
וְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ (wə·’ê·le·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

your master,
אֲדֹנִ֔י (’ă·ḏō·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

and not
הֲלֹ֣א (hă·lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the men
הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

sitting
הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ (hay·yō·šə·ḇîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the wall,
הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה (ha·ḥō·w·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2346: A wall of protection

who are destined with you
עִמָּכֶֽם׃ (‘im·mā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

to eat
לֶאֱכֹ֣ל (le·’ĕ·ḵōl)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 398: To eat

their own dung
צוֹאָתָ֗ם (ṣō·w·’ā·ṯām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2716: Excrement

and drink
וְלִשְׁתּ֛וֹת (wə·liš·tō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

their own urine??
רַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם (raḡ·lê·hem)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7890: Urine


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 36:12 But Rabshakeh said Has my master sent (Isa Isi Is)
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