Isaiah 36:13 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

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.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

Then the Assyrian commander stood up and shouted loudly in Hebrew so all the Jewish people could understand him, saying, 'Listen to the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The Assyrian military commander is making sure everyone in Jerusalem can hear his threatening message by speaking their own language loudly.

📚 Historical Context

In the 8th century BC, the Assyrian Empire under King Sennacherib was aggressively expanding and besieging the kingdom of Judah, seeking to conquer Jerusalem after already overwhelming much of Israel. Isaiah 36 describes a specific moment during this invasion when Assyrian officials, including Rabshakeh, approached the city walls to deliver a message of intimidation. Rabshakeh's loud speech in the Jews' language was a deliberate strategy to demoralize the people and erode their trust in King Hezekiah and their God.

Explore Similar Verses

Isaiah 36:4

And the Assyrian commander said to them, 'Go tell Hezekiah this message from the great king, the king of Assyria: What gives you such confidence? What are you trusting in?'

Isaiah 10:8

For he says, 'Aren't all my commanders like kings themselves?'

Isaiah 36:12

But the Assyrian commander replied, 'Do you think my master sent me to speak these words only to your master and to you? Hasn't he sent me to speak to the men sitting on the wall, who will have to eat their own waste and drink their own urine along with you?'

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