2 Kings 18:27 Meaning: The Shocking Threat of Rabshakeh
But Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me to your master and to you, to speak these words? Hasn’t he sent me to the men who sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own urine with you?”
But Rab–shakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men that sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water with you?
And the chief of the butlers saith unto them, `For thy lord, and unto thee, hath my lord sent me to speak these words? is it not for the men, those sitting on the wall to eat their own dung and to drink their own water, with you?'
And Rab-shakeh said to them, Is it to thy master and to thee that my master sent me to speak these words? Is it not to the men that sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?
Meaning in one sentence
Why does the Assyrian commander use such crude language in 2 Kings 18:27? Discover the meaning behind his threats and the spiritual test facing Jerusalem.
Context
Jerusalem is under siege. The Assyrian king Sennacherib has sent his field commander, Rabshakeh, with a massive army to demand surrender. He stands outside the walls, speaking loudly in Hebrew so every soldier and citizen can hear. His goal is not just to negotiate with King Hezekiah’s officials but to terrify the common people defending the city. In verse 27, he turns directly to the men stationed on the wall, the ones who will suffer most in a prolonged siege, and describes their fate in the crudest terms imaginable. This is psychological warfare at its rawest.
Key Words
Two Hebrew phrases carry the weight of this verse. The first is ‘al ha’anashim hayyoshevim ‘al hachomah, “the men who sit on the wall.” These are not idle spectators. They are the defenders, the ones who will bear the brunt of starvation and attack. Rabshakeh singles them out, forcing them to hear the horror they face if they resist.
The second phrase is ‘et tso’atam velishtot ‘et mimei ragleihem, “to eat their own dung and drink the water of their feet.” The Hebrew word for “feet” (raglayim) is a common euphemism for human waste. Rabshakeh is not just being vulgar; he is painting a vivid picture of the desperate famine that a siege would bring. He wants the people to feel the hopelessness before it even arrives.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian commentators across traditions see this verse as a clear example of Assyrian psychological warfare. Matthew Henry calls it Rabshakeh’s blasphemous speech, aimed at breaking the people’s trust in God. Barnes notes that the crude language was calculated to rouse the feelings of the soldiers and common people. The Geneva Bible and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown similarly emphasize that Rabshakeh deliberately describes the worst extremities of siege to pressure Jerusalem into surrender. There is no disagreement here: the verse reveals the brutal tactics of an enemy who wants to undermine faith and hope in God’s protection.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Rabshakeh’s words are just gratuitous crudeness, but they are far more strategic. In fact, he is deliberately using the most degrading imagery to terrify the people and make them doubt whether Hezekiah or God can save them. This is not empty shock value, it is a calculated attack on morale and faith.
Main takeaway: Rabshakeh’s crude threat reveals the enemy’s strategy: to break the people’s spirit and make them abandon trust in God before the siege even begins.
Questions People Ask
Why does Rabshakeh speak to the men on the wall instead of just the officials?
Rabshakeh bypasses the leaders to address the common soldiers and citizens directly. He wants to spread fear and doubt among the entire population, hoping they will pressure King Hezekiah to surrender without a fight.
Is this language really in the Bible? Why is it recorded?
Yes, this verse contains raw and explicit language. It is recorded because Scripture faithfully reports the actual words of the Assyrian commander. The Bible does not sanitize the cruelty of the enemy; it shows us the real ugliness of the spiritual and physical battle facing God’s people.
What does 'sit on the wall' mean in this context?
It refers to the defenders stationed on Jerusalem’s city wall during the siege. They are the ones who would suffer starvation and death first. Rabshakeh is telling them that if they resist, they will endure the worst horrors of famine.
How should Christians understand this verse today?
This verse reminds us that enemies of God’s people often use intimidation and fear to undermine faith. The Assyrian tactic was to make the people focus on their immediate misery rather than God’s promise of deliverance. It calls us to recognize such tactics in our own lives and to hold fast to trust in God.
Did the people of Jerusalem eventually surrender?
No. Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed, and God delivered Jerusalem in a miraculous way (2 Kings 19:35). Rabshakeh’s threats did not succeed because the people put their trust in the Lord rather than in fear.
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