Amplified Bible
2 Kings 2:12
12Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he no longer saw Elijah. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces [in grief].
2 Kings 2:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
- New International Version (NIV)Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Elisha saw it and he cried, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
Context of 2 Kings 2:12
10He said, “You have asked for a difficult thing. However, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11As they continued along and talked, behold, a chariot of fire with horses of fire [appeared suddenly and] separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he no longer saw Elijah. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces [in grief]. 13He picked up the mantle of Elijah that fell off him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he too had struck the waters, they divided this way and that, and Elisha crossed over.
Read all of 2 Kings 22 Kings 2:12 word by word
וֶאֱלִישָׁ֣ע רֹאֶ֗ה וְה֤וּא מְצַעֵק֙ אָבִ֣י׀ אָבִ֗י רֶ֤כֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וּפָ֣רָשָׁ֔יו וְלֹ֥א רָאָ֖הוּ ע֑וֹד וַֽיַּחֲזֵק֙ בִּבְגָדָ֔יו וַיִּקְרָעֵ֖ם לִשְׁנַ֥יִם קְרָעִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
- sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- and he criedצָעַקtsâ‛aq · to cryH6817
- My fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- the chariotרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- and the horsemenפָּרָשׁpârâsh · horsemanH6571
- him no more: and he took holdחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
- of his own clothesבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
- and rentקָרַעqâra‛ · to tearH7167
- them in twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- piecesקֶ֫רַעqera‛ · ragsH7168
Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:12
- 2 Kings 2:10He said, “You have asked for a difficult thing. However, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
- 2 Kings 13:14Now Elisha had become sick with the illness by which he would die. And Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over him and said, “O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!”
- Job 22:30He will even rescue the one [for whom you intercede] who is not innocent; And he will be rescued through the cleanness of your hands.”
- Proverbs 11:11By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
- Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom strengthens the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
- Ecclesiastes 9:16But I say that wisdom is better than strength, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded.
- Isaiah 37:4It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh [the commander], whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to taunt and defy the living God, and will avenge the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the remnant [of His people] that is left.’ ”
- Acts 27:24and said, ‘Stop being afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has given you [the lives of] all those who are sailing with you.’
- Proverbs 30:4Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? Certainly you know!
- Mark 16:19So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
- Luke 2:15When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying one to another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this [wonderful] thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
- Luke 24:51While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven.
- John 3:13No one has gone up into heaven, but there is One who came down from heaven, the Son of Man [Himself—whose home is in heaven].
- Acts 1:9And after He said these things, He was caught up as they looked on, and a cloud took Him up out of their sight.
- 2 Corinthians 5:2For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our [immortal, eternal] celestial dwelling,
- Ephesians 4:8Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And He bestowed gifts on men.”
Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12The chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof - The Chaldee translates these words thus: "My master, my master! who, by thy intercession, wast of more use to Israel than horses and chariots." This is probably the sense. In the Book of Ecclesiasticus 48:1, etc., the fiery horses and chariot are considered as an emblem of that burning zeal which Elijah manifested in the whole of his ministry: "Then stood up Elijah the prophet as fire, and his word burned…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof - These difficult words are probably said of Elijah, whom Elisha addresses as “the true defense of Israel, better than either the chariots or horsemen” which he saw. Hence, his rending his clothes in token of his grief.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-12Verses 9-12 That fulness, from whence prophets and apostles had all their supply, still exists as of old, and we are told to ask large supplies from it. Diligent attendance upon Elijah, particularly in his last hours, would be proper means for Elisha to obtain much of his spirit. The comforts of departing saints, and their experiences, help both to gild our comforts and to strengthen our resolutions. Elijah is carried to heaven in a fiery chariot. Many…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Elijah was Elisha’s spiritual father and personal mentor. Compare the tribute given to him at his death in 2 Kings 13:14.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father--that is, spiritual father, as the pupils of the prophets are called their sons. the chariot of Israel, and the horseman thereof--that is, that as earthly kingdoms are dependent for their defense and glory upon warlike preparations, there a single prophet had done more for the preservation and prosperity of Israel than all her chariots and horsemen. took hold of his own clothes and rent them--in token of his…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 2:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Kings 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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