2 Kings 2:3
in 2 Kings 2Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
KJV
And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth–el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
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This verse in 2 Kings 2
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Came forth to Elisha - It does not appear that any interchange of speech took place between “the sons of the prophets” (see the marginal reference note) and Elijah; but independent revelations had been made to the two “schools” at Bethel and Jericho 2Ki 2:5, and also to Elisha, with respect to Elijah’s coming removal. From thy head - i. e. from his position as teacher and master. The teacher sat on an elevated seat, so that his feet were level with the heads of his pupils (compare Act 22:3).
This site's exposition
As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live
on 2 Kings 2:2-3
At Bethel Elisha answers Elijah's request with an oath, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you”. He swears it again at Jericho and at the Jordan. Three times Elijah offers him a way out, and three times Elisha stays.
This site's exposition
the sons of the prophets
Where the Berean reads take your master away from you, the King James has from thy head. Albert Barnes explained the phrase from the classroom, where the teacher sat raised so his feet were level with his pupils' heads. John Wesley saw these schools supplying the temple worship Israel lacked.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Elijah, who now lived with Elisha, whom he had also consecrated as prophet according to a divine oracle, as has been said already, was with him every day, inseparably sharing with him the same way of life. When he was about to ascend into the …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
In the kingdom of Judah they had priest and Levites, and the temple service. The want of these in the kingdom of Israel, God graciously made up by these colleges, where men were trained up and employed, in the exercises of religion, and whither good people resorted, to solemnize the appointed feasts, with prayer and hearing, tho' they had not conveniencies for sacrifice.
Note, Those that are going to heaven themselves ought to be concerned for those they leave behind them on earth, and to leave with them their experiences, testimonies, counsels, and prayers, 2 Pet. i. When Christ said, with triumph, Now I am no more in the world, he added, with tenderness, But these are.
That he might try his love, and whet his desire to accompany him; it being highly convenient for God's honour, that there should be witnesses of so glorious a translation. To Beth-el - Which was truth, tho' not the whole truth: for he was to go a far longer journey.
And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The revelation of this striking event to so many was a necessary part of the dispensation; for it was designed to be under the law, like that of Enoch in the patriarchal age, a visible proof of another state, and a type of the resurrection of Christ.
Knowest thou that the Lord - Thus we see that it was a matter well known to all the sons of the prophets. This day the Lord will take thy master and instructer from thee.
The words behind it
24 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֵּצְא֨וּ | vaiyetzeu | and they came out | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| בְנֵֽי־ | venei- | [the] sons of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| הַנְּבִיאִ֥ים | haneviim | the prophets | H5030 → | 314 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| בֵּֽית־ | beit- | [were at] Beth- | H1008 → | 142 times |
| אֵל֮ | ʾel | -el | H1008 → | 142 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| אֱלִישָׁע֒ | ʾelisha' | Elisha | H477 → | 58 times |
| וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ | vaiyomeru | and they said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֵלָ֔יו | ʾelav | to him | H413 → | 5510 times |
| הֲיָדַ֕עְתָּ | hayada'ta | ¿ do you know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| כִּ֣י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| הַיּ֗וֹם | haiyom | this day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| יְהוָ֛ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| לֹקֵ֥חַ | lokeach | [is] about to take | H3947 → | 966 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| אֲדֹנֶ֖יךָ | ʾadoneikha | master<s> your | H113 → | 333 times |
| מֵעַ֣ל | meal | from over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| רֹאשֶׁ֑ךָ | roshekha | head your | H7218 → | 599 times |
| וַיֹּ֛אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| גַּם־ | gam- | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| אֲנִ֥י | ʾani | I | H589 → | 874 times |
| יָדַ֖עְתִּי | yada'ti | I know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| הֶחֱשֽׁוּ׃ | hecheshu | be silent | H2814 → | 16 times |
וַיֵּצְא֨וּand they came out
vaiyetzeuH3318 →1067 times
בְנֵֽי־[the] sons of
venei-H1121 →4930 times
הַנְּבִיאִ֥יםthe prophets
haneviimH5030 →314 times
אֲשֶׁר־who
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
בֵּֽית־[were at] Beth-
beit-H1008 →142 times
אֵל֮-el
ʾelH1008 →142 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
אֱלִישָׁע֒Elisha
ʾelisha'H477 →58 times
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּand they said
vaiyomeruH559 →5305 times
אֵלָ֔יוto him
ʾelavH413 →5510 times
הֲיָדַ֕עְתָּ¿ do you know
hayada'taH3045 →945 times
כִּ֣יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
הַיּ֗וֹםthis day
haiyomH3117 →2304 times
יְהוָ֛הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
לֹקֵ֥חַ[is] about to take
lokeachH3947 →966 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
אֲדֹנֶ֖יךָmaster<s> your
ʾadoneikhaH113 →333 times
מֵעַ֣לfrom over
mealH5921 →5755 times
רֹאשֶׁ֑ךָhead your
roshekhaH7218 →599 times
וַיֹּ֛אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
גַּם־also
gam-H1571 →769 times
אֲנִ֥יI
ʾaniH589 →874 times
יָדַ֖עְתִּיI know
yada'tiH3045 →945 times
הֶחֱשֽׁוּ׃be silent
hecheshuH2814 →16 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Kings 4:1Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor…
it leads to
- Matthew 18:25
Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.
- Nehemiah 5:2–5
Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.”
- Psalms 147:11
The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His loving devotion.
- Matthew 18:25
Through
1 Samuel 19:20he sent messengers to capture him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy.
it leads to
- Joel 2:28
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
- John 7:32
When the Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus, they and the chief priests sent officers to arrest Him.
- Joel 2:28
Through
2 Kings 9:1Now Elisha the prophet summoned one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak under your belt, take this flask of oil, and go to Ramoth-gilead.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 10:1
Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?
- 1 Samuel 10:1
Through
2 Kings 4:38When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet, he said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and…
it leads to
- 2 Kings 8:1
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed a…
- 2 Kings 2:1
Shortly before the LORD took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal,
- 2 Kings 8:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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On this verse
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About 2 Kings
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonDivided kingdomElishaElijah's successor with the firstborn's double portion; the prophet of the healed spring, the widow's oil, the Shunammite's son, N…
- PlaceCentral hill countryBethelThe house of God, where Jacob saw the ladder and heard the promise, where he returned to raise an altar, and where Jeroboam’s gold…
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Ephrem the Syrian, ON THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS 2:2-5; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.