2 Kings 2:19

2 Kings 2:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
• New International Version (NIV)The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now the men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”

Context of 2 Kings 2:19

17However, they urged him to the point of embarrassment, so he said, “Send them.” They sent fifty men, who looked for three days but did not find him. 18When they returned to him in Jericho where he was staying, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?” The men of the city said to Elisha, “My lord can see that even though the city’s location is good, the water is bad and the land unfruitful.” 20He replied, “Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it.” After they had brought him one, 21Elisha went out to the spring, threw salt in it, and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will death or unfruitfulness result from it.’”

2 Kings 2:19 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הָעִיר֙ אֶל־אֱלִישָׁ֔ע הִנֵּה־נָ֞א מוֹשַׁ֤ב הָעִיר֙ ט֔וֹב כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲדֹנִ֖י רֹאֶ֑ה וְהַמַּ֥יִם רָעִ֖ים וְהָאָ֥רֶץ מְשַׁכָּֽלֶת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• Behold, I pray thee, the situationמוֹשָׁבmôshâb môshâb · seatH4186
• pleasantטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• as my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• seethרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• but the waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• naughtרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
• and the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• barrenמְשַׁכֶּ֫לֶתshâkôl · barrennessH7921

Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:19

• Numbers 12:11and said to Moses, “My lord, please don’t hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed.
• 1 Kings 18:7While Obadiah was walking along the road, Elijah suddenly met him. When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
• 1 Timothy 5:17The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
• Exodus 7:19So the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron: Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt — over their rivers, canals, ponds, and all their water reservoirs — and they will become blood. There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in wooden and stone containers.”
• Exodus 15:23They came to Marah, but they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter — that is why it was named Marah.
• Joshua 6:17But the city and everything in it are set apart to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone with her in the house will live, because she hid the messengers we sent.
• 1 Kings 16:34During his reign, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn, he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest, he finished its gates, according to the word of the Lord he had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.
• Exodus 23:26No woman will miscarry or be childless in your land. I will give you the full number of your days.
• Deuteronomy 28:2All these blessings will come and overtake you, because you obey the Lord your God:
• Hosea 9:14Give them, Lord — What should you give? Give them a womb that miscarries and breasts that are dry!

Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19The water is naught, and the ground barren - The barrenness of the ground was the effect of the badness of the water.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19The water is naught - i. e. “bad.” And the ground barren - Translate “and the land apt to miscarry.” The stream was thought to be the cause of untimely births, abortions, and the like, among the cattle, perhaps also among the people, that drank of it.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-25Verses 19-25 Observe the miracle of healing the waters. Prophets should make every place to which they come better for them, endeavouring to sweeten bitter spirits, and to make barren souls fruitful, by the word of God, which is like the salt cast into the water by Elisha. It was an apt emblem of the effect produced by the grace of God on the sinful heart of man. Whole families, towns, and cities, sometimes have a new appearance through the preaching of…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 2:19

• Elisha
• Jericho
• Miracles
• Water

In the dictionaries

• Elisha
• Double
• Elijah
• Heal
• Jericho
• Lord
• Mock
• Rest
• Barren; Barrenness
• Friend; Friendship

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