Isaiah 36:11
ESV
Then Eliakim, Shebna, 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."
NIV
Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall."
NASB
Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to Rabshakeh, 'Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Judean so that the people who are on the wall hear you.'
CSB
Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the royal spokesman, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew within earshot of the people who are on the wall."
NLT
Then Eliakim, 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.'
KJV
Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
NKJV
Then Eliakim, 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 in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”
What does Isaiah 36:11 mean?
The exchange between representatives of Assyria and Judah (Isaiah 36:1–3) demonstrates how skilled the Assyrians were in psychological warfare. The Assyrian empire deliberately cultivated a reputation for vicious brutality and cruel violence. Enemies saw them as not only powerful, but horrible and terrifying. The Assyrian spokesman has already proven that he's investigated his enemy. He knows about Hezekiah's religious reforms (2 Kings 18:4; Isaiah 36:7). Apparently, he has been speaking in the local dialect, just to be sure everyone understands their impending doom.Hezekiah's diplomats ask the Assyrian commander to stick to Aramaic, instead. At the time, Aramaic was the shared language of commerce and diplomacy. The envoys admit they don't want anyone in or near Jerusalem to hear these things. Of course, the Rabshakeh (Isaiah 36:4) simply shouts louder (Isaiah 36:12). Hezekiah's officials may only now realize that this meeting was never about negotiation. It was a deliberate tactic to inspire panic in the city.
