Isaiah 36:4
2 And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh, with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And he stopped by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.
3 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, went out to him.
The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours?
5 You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?
6 Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours?
- KJV
- 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?
- WEB
- Rabshakeh said to them, “Now tell Hezekiah, ‘The great king, the king of Assyria, says, “What confidence is this in which you trust?
- ASV
- 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?
- DARBY
- And Rab-shakeh said to them, Say now to Hezekiah, Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: What confidence is this in which thou trustest?
- BLB
- And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say, please, to Hezekiah, thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: ‘What [is] this confidence [with] which you are confident?
- ÅB
- Og Rabsake sa til dem: Si til Hiskia: Så sier den store konge, kongen i Assyria: Hva er det for en trygghet som er kommet over deg?
- OTB
- Overkommandanten sa til dem: «Si til Hiskia: ‘Dette sier den store kongen, kongen av Assyria: Hva er dette for en tillit du har?
- B1930
- Og Rabsake sa til dem: Si til Esekias: Så sier den store konge, kongen i Assyria: Hvad er det for en trygghet som er kommet over dig?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Kings 18:19–37
The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours?
Read in contextPsalms 42:10
Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Read in contextIsaiah 37:11–15
Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries, devoting them to destruction. Will you then be spared?
Read in contextPsalms 42:3
My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Read in context2 Kings 19:10
“Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Read in context2 Kings 18:5
Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. No king of Judah was like him, either before him or after him.
Read in contextJude 1:16
These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.
Read in context2 Chronicles 32:14–16
Who among all the gods of these nations that my fathers devoted to destruction has been able to deliver his people from my hand? How then can your God deliver you from my hand?
Read in context