2 Kings 18:26 net — Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the chief adviser,“Speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understan…

NET Bible

"Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the chief adviser,“Speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don’t speak with us in the Judahite dialect in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”"

— 2 Kings 18:26, NET Bible

Read in Another Translation

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2 Kings 18:26 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rab–shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews’ language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.”

  • ASV

    “Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not with us in the Jews’ language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall. ”

  • WEB

    “Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it. Don't speak with us in the Jews' language, in the hearing of the people who are on the wall."”

  • DRB

    “Then Eliacim, the son of Helcias, and Sobna, and Joahe, said to Rabsaces: We pray thee, speak to us, thy servants, in Syriac: for we understand that tongue: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the hearing of the people that are upon the wall.”

  • BBE

    “Then Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the Rab-shakeh, Will you kindly make use of the Aramaean language in talking to your servants, for we are used to it, and do not make use of the Jews' language in the hearing of the people on the wall.”

  • KJVA

    “Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rab–shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews’ language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.”

2 Kings 18 — Context

23

Now make a deal with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, provided you can find enough riders for them.

24

Certainly you will not refuse one of my master’s minor officials and trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen.

25

Furthermore it was by the command of the LORD that I marched up against this place to destroy it. The LORD told me,‘March up against this land and destroy it.’”’”

26

Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the chief adviser,“Speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don’t speak with us in the Judahite dialect in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”

27

But the chief adviser said to them,“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.”

28

The chief adviser then stood there and called out loudly in the Judahite dialect,“Listen to the message of the great king, the king of Assyria.

29

This is what the king says:‘Don’t let Hezekiah mislead you, for he is not able to rescue you from my hand!

2 Kings 18:26 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Kings 18:26 say?
2 Kings 18:26 in the NET Bible reads: “Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the chief adviser,“Speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don’t speak with us in the Judahite dialect in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.””
Where is 2 Kings 18:26 in the Bible?
2 Kings 18:26 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Kings, chapter 18, verse 26.
Who wrote 2 Kings?
2 Kings is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Jeremiah). It was written c. 561–538 BC.
What is the book of 2 Kings about?
2 Kings carries the divided kingdom from Elijah and Elisha through the fall of both Israel and Judah. Despite the prophets' warnings, both kingdoms decline through idolatry — the north into Assyrian captivity, the south into Babylonian exile — fulfilling the covenant curses.
What are the major themes of 2 Kings?
2 Kings explores themes including Judgment, Exile, Prophets, Covenant Curses, Remnant. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Kings 18:26.
What translation should I read 2 Kings 18:26 in?
2 Kings 18:26 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Kings 18:26?
2 Kings 18:26 reads (NET): “Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the chief adviser,“Speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don’t speak with us in the Judahite dialect in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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