2 Kings 6:5
in 2 Kings 6As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water. “Oh, my master,” he cried out, “it was borrowed!”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But as one was felling a beam, the axe-head fell into the water; and he cried, and said, Alas, my master! for it was borrowed.
KJV
But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
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This verse in 2 Kings 6
Commentary
9 notes on this verseElisha, by casting a stick into the river Jordan, recovered the iron part of the axe with which the sons of the prophets had gone to cut down trees to build the house in which they wished to read and study the law and commandments of God; even as our Christ, by being crucified on the tree, and by purifying us with water, has redeemed us, though plunged in the direst offences which we have committed, and has made us a house of prayer and adoration.
This site's exposition
the iron axe head fell into the water
on 2 Kings 6:5-7
The iron axe head falls into the Jordan, and the man cries that “it was borrowed”. Elisha “cut a stick, threw it there, and made the iron float”, an act staged with nothing grand about it. The LORD who sent fire from heaven attends here to one man's borrowed tool.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
When the divine lesson was read now, dearly beloved, we heard that as blessed Elisha was going to the river Jordan with the sons of the prophets to cut some wood, an ax fell into the water, and the man from whose hand it slipped …
This is a symbol signifying the fall of Adam. For water represents the type of sin. Indeed, through water, sin was redeemed by the deluge at the time of Noah and at the fulfillment of times. It was washed in the water of holy baptism …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But as one was felling a beam,....
Note, We ought to be as careful of that which is borrowed as of that which is our own, that it receives no damage, because we must love our neighbour as ourselves and do as we would be done by. It is likely this prophet was poor, and had not wherewithal to pay for the axe, which made the loss of it so much the greater trouble.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The ax head - literally, as in the margin. The Jews used iron for the heads of axes at a very early date (see Deu 19:5). They probably acquired a knowledge of the smelting process in Egypt, where iron was employed at least from the time of the third Rameses.
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)
proposed
it was borrowed--literally, "begged." The scholar's distress arose from the consideration that it had been presented to him; and that, owing to his poverty, he could not procure another.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Alas, master! for it was borrowed - אהה אדני והוא שאול ahah adonia, vehu shaul! Ah! ah, my master; and it has been sought. It has fallen in, and I have sought it in vain. Or, it was borrowed, and therefore I am the more afflicted for its loss; and Jarchi adds, I have nothing wherewith to repay it.
The words behind it
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִ֤י | vayhi | and it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| הָֽאֶחָד֙ | haechad | the one | H259 → | 971 times |
| מַפִּ֣יל | mapil | [was] making fall | H5307 → | 435 times |
| הַקּוֹרָ֔ה | hakorah | the beam | H6982 → | |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַבַּרְזֶ֖ל | habarzel | the iron | H1270 → | |
| נָפַ֣ל | nafal | it fell | H5307 → | 435 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | into | H413 → | 5510 times |
| הַמָּ֑יִם | hamayim | the water | H4325 → | 581 times |
| וַיִּצְעַ֥ק | vaiyitzak | and he cried out | H6817 → | 55 times |
| וַיֹּ֛אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֲהָ֥הּ | ʾahah | alas! | H162 → | 15 times |
| אֲדֹנִ֖י | ʾadoni | O lord my | H113 → | 333 times |
| וְה֥וּא | vehu' | and it | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| שָׁאֽוּל׃ | shaul | [was] asked | H7592 → | 171 times |
וַיְהִ֤יand it was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
הָֽאֶחָד֙the one
haechadH259 →971 times
מַפִּ֣יל[was] making fall
mapilH5307 →435 times
הַקּוֹרָ֔הthe beam
hakorahH6982 →
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
הַבַּרְזֶ֖לthe iron
habarzelH1270 →
נָפַ֣לit fell
nafalH5307 →435 times
אֶל־into
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
הַמָּ֑יִםthe water
hamayimH4325 →581 times
וַיִּצְעַ֥קand he cried out
vaiyitzakH6817 →55 times
וַיֹּ֛אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
אֲהָ֥הּalas!
ʾahahH162 →15 times
אֲדֹנִ֖יO lord my
ʾadoniH113 →333 times
וְה֥וּאand it
vehu'H1931 →1879 times
שָׁאֽוּל׃[was] asked
shaulH7592 →171 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
Revelation 18:10In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
it leads to
- Revelation 18:19
Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her…
- Revelation 18:8
Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”
- Revelation 18:15–17
The merchants who sold these things and grew their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn,
- Revelation 18:19
Through
Ecclesiastes 10:10If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
it leads to
- James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
- Colossians 4:5
Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
- Ecclesiastes 10:15
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
- James 1:5
Through
Psalms 37:21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- Psalms 112:5
It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.
- Hebrews 13:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
On this verse
On this chapter
About 2 Kings
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); Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 130.1-3; Ephrem the Syrian, ON THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS 6:5; 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); Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter LXXXVI and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.