Original Word: רַבְשָׁקֵה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: Rabshaqeh
Pronunciation: rab-shaw-KAY
Phonetic Spelling: (rab-shaw-kay')
KJV: Rabshakeh
NASB: Rabshakeh
Word Origin: [from H7227 (רַב - Many) and H8248 (שָׁקָה - drink)]

1. chief butler
2. Rabshakeh, a Bab. official

Rabshakeh

From rab and shaqah; chief butler; Rabshakeh, a Bab. Official -- Rabshakeh.

see HEBREW rab

see HEBREW shaqah

Word Origin
from rab and shaqah
Definition
perhaps "chief of the officers," an Assyr. military leader
NASB Translation
Rabshakeh (16).

Identity and Role

Rabshakeh is the official title of the principal spokesman and field commander dispatched by Sennacherib of Assyria during the 701 BC campaign against Judah. Acting as the visible face of the Assyrian high command, he combines political envoy, military officer, and psychological–warfare specialist, standing on Jerusalem’s wall to address King Hezekiah’s leaders and the listening populace.

Occurrences in Scripture

The title appears sixteen times, exclusively within the twin narratives of 2 Kings 18–19 and Isaiah 36–37. The duplication underscores the event’s importance and provides two inspired witnesses to the same historical episode.

Historical Background

After reducing the fortified cities of Judah (2 Kings 18:13), Sennacherib advanced toward Jerusalem. From the Assyrian base at Lachish he sent three senior officers—the Tartan, the Rab‐saris, and the Rabshakeh—with a “great army” (2 Kings 18:17). Their aim was to secure Jerusalem’s surrender without costly siege warfare, bolstering imperial prestige while demoralizing any remaining resistance throughout the Levant.

Narrative Outline

1. Arrival at the Aqueduct (2 Kings 18:17; Isaiah 36:2).
2. First public address (2 Kings 18:19–25; Isaiah 36:4–10), questioning Judah’s alliances, military capacity, and faith in the LORD.
3. Demand to speak Aramaic refused (2 Kings 18:26–27; Isaiah 36:11–12); Rabshakeh intentionally uses Hebrew to intimidate the populace.
4. Second proclamation (2 Kings 18:28–35; Isaiah 36:13–20) promising prosperity under Assyrian rule and equating the LORD with other conquered gods.
5. Report to Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:37; Isaiah 36:22), prompting intercession at the Temple.
6. Divine response through Isaiah, culminating in the overnight destruction of 185,000 Assyrian troops (2 Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:36).
7. Rabshakeh’s withdrawal to rejoin Sennacherib at Libnah (2 Kings 19:8; Isaiah 37:8).

Theological Themes

Trust in God versus Human Might

Rabshakeh personifies the arrogance of nations that exalt military power over the sovereignty of the LORD. His taunt, “On what do you rest this confidence of yours?” (2 Kings 18:19), forces Judah to choose between reliance on alliances with Egypt or unwavering faith in God’s covenant promises.

Blasphemy and Divine Vindication

By equating the living God with idols (Isaiah 36:18–20), Rabshakeh crosses from political intimidation into theological defiance. Isaiah interprets this as a direct challenge to God’s honor (Isaiah 37:4), setting the stage for miraculous deliverance and demonstrating that “the zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this” (Isaiah 37:32).

The Power of the Spoken Word

Rabshakeh’s speeches illustrate how words can function as weapons. He manipulates language (Hebrew in the people’s hearing) to spread fear, yet his attacks are overturned by Isaiah’s prophetic word and Hezekiah’s prayer—reminding believers that the Word of God is the ultimate authority.

Lessons for Faith and Ministry

1. Spiritual warfare often takes the form of persuasive speech designed to erode faith; believers must answer with Scripture and prayer.
2. Leadership under pressure is tested by whose counsel is heeded—human strategy or prophetic revelation.
3. Public proclamation of truth, even when unpopular, is essential; Isaiah’s message contradicted Assyrian propaganda yet proved trustworthy.
4. God defends His own name; insults against Him will not stand unanswered (cf. Acts 12:23 for a New Testament parallel).

Intertextual and Prophetic Echoes

• The setting at “the conduit of the upper pool” (Isaiah 36:2) matches the location where Isaiah earlier confronted Ahaz (Isaiah 7:3), linking two crises separated by a generation and highlighting God’s consistent call to faith.
• Rabshakeh’s boast that Egypt is “a splintered reed of a staff” (Isaiah 36:6) recalls Pharaoh as a broken reed in Ezekiel 29:6–7, reinforcing the futility of trusting in human empires.
• The overnight annihilation of Assyrian forces foreshadows God’s eschatological victory over hostile powers (Revelation 19:11–21).

Conclusion

Rabshakeh’s brief appearance in Scripture magnifies the timeless contest between worldly arrogance and humble trust in the LORD. His confident rhetoric vanishes before a single angelic act, demonstrating that “salvation is from the LORD” (Jonah 2:9). For the Church today, the episode reinforces confidence that God remains sovereign over nations, attentive to prayer, and faithful to defend His name and people.

שָׁקֵ֔ה שָׁקֵ֗ה שָׁקֵ֨ה שָׁקֵֽה׃ שקה שקה׃ šā·qêh šāqêh shaKehInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts