Christian Standard Bible
2 Kings 3:14
14Elisha responded, “By the life of the Lord of Armies, before whom I stand: If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah, I wouldn’t look at you; I would not take notice of you.
2 Kings 3:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
- New International Version (NIV)Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Elisha said, "As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you.
Context of 2 Kings 3:14
12Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to him. 13However, Elisha said to King Joram of Israel, “What do we have in common? Go to the prophets of your father and your mother!” But the king of Israel replied, “No, because it is the Lord who has summoned these three kings to hand them over to Moab.” Elisha responded, “By the life of the Lord of Armies, before whom I stand: If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah, I wouldn’t look at you; I would not take notice of you. 15Now, bring me a musician.” While the musician played, the Lord’s hand came on Elisha. 16Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this wadi.’
Read all of 2 Kings 32 Kings 3:14 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֗ע חַי־יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָמַ֣דְתִּי לְפָנָ֔יו כִּ֗י לוּלֵ֛י פְּנֵ֛י יְהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה אֲנִ֣י נֹשֵׂ֑א אִם־אַבִּ֥יט אֵלֶ֖יךָ וְאִם־אֶרְאֶֽךָּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
- livethחַיchay · aliveH2416
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- whom I standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
- surely, were it not thatלוּלֵאlûlê' lûlêy · unlessH3884
- I regardנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: kindnessH5375
- the presenceפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440
- of Jehoshaphatיְהוֹשָׁפָטyehôshâphâţ · JehoshaphatH3092
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- of Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
- I would not lookנָבַטnâbaţ · to lookH5027
- toward thee, nor seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
Cross-references for 2 Kings 3:14
- 2 Kings 5:16But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.
- 1 Kings 17:1Now Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!”
- 1 Kings 18:15Then Elijah said, “As the Lord of Armies lives, in whose presence I stand, today I will present myself to Ahab.”
- 2 Chronicles 17:3Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his ancestor David. He did not seek the Baals
- 2 Chronicles 19:3However, some good is found in you, for you have eradicated the Asherah poles from the land and have determined in your heart to seek God.”
- Psalms 15:4who despises the one rejected by the Lord but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his word whatever the cost,
- 1 Samuel 15:26Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
- 1 Kings 14:5But the Lord had said to Ahijah, “Jeroboam’s wife is coming soon to ask you about her son, for he is sick. You are to say such and such to her. When she arrives, she will be disguised.”
- 1 Kings 21:20Ahab said to Elijah, “So, my enemy, you’ve found me, have you?” He replied, “I have found you because you devoted yourself to do what is evil in the Lord’s sight.
- Jeremiah 1:18Today, I am the one who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land — against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population.
- Daniel 5:17Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts and give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription for the king and make the interpretation known to him.
- Matthew 22:16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality.
Commentaries on 2 Kings 3:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat - He worshipped the true God; Jehoram was an idolater.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-19Verses 6-19 The king of Israel laments their distress, and the danger they were in. He called these kings together, yet he charges it upon Providence. Thus the foolishness of man perverteth his way, and then his heart fretteth against the Lord, Pr 19:3. It was well that Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord now, but it had been much better if he had done it before he engaged in this war. Good men sometimes neglect their duty, till necessity and affliction…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-14Elisha joined because Jehoshaphat was there, even though he was involved with the pagan Joram.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1413-14. What have I to do with thee? &c.--Wishing to produce a deep spirit of humility and contrition, Elisha gave a stern repulse to the king of Israel, accompanied by a sarcastic sneer, in bidding him go and consult Baal and his soothsayers. But the distressed condition, especially the imploring language, of the royal suppliants, who acknowledged the hand of the Lord in this distress, drew from the prophet the solemn assurance, that solely out of respect…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 3:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Kings 3
- 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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