Christian Standard Bible
2 Kings 2:12
12As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” When he could see him no longer, he took hold of his own clothes, tore them in two,
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
10Elijah replied, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you, you will have it. If not, you won’t.” 11As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind. As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” When he could see him no longer, he took hold of his own clothes, tore them in two, 13picked up the mantle that had fallen off Elijah, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14He took the mantle Elijah had dropped, and he struck the water. “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” he asked. He struck the water himself, and it parted to the right and the left, 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 2:10Elijah replied, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you, you will have it. If not, you won’t.”
- 2 Kings 13:14When Elisha became sick with the illness from which he died, King Jehoash of Israel went down and wept over him and said, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
- Job 22:30He will even rescue the guilty one, who will be rescued by the purity of your hands.
- Proverbs 11:11A city is built up by the blessing of the upright, but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.
- Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom makes the wise person stronger than ten rulers of a city.
- Ecclesiastes 9:16And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
- Isaiah 37:4Perhaps the Lord your God will hear all the words of the royal spokesman, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke him for the words that the Lord your God has heard. Therefore offer a prayer for the surviving remnant.’”
- Acts 27:24and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. It is necessary for you to appear before Caesar. And indeed, God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’
- Proverbs 30:4Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his hands? Who has bound up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son — if you know?
- Mark 16:19So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
- Luke 2:15When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
- Luke 24:51And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven.
- John 3:13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven — the Son of Man.
- Acts 1:9After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
- 2 Corinthians 5:2Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling,
- Ephesians 4:8For it says: When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people.
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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