Christian Standard Bible
2 Kings 3:17
17For the Lord says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water, and you will drink — you and your cattle and your animals.’
2 Kings 3:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
- New International Version (NIV)For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For thus says the Lord, 'You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.'
- New King James Version (NKJV)For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’
Context of 2 Kings 3:17
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.’ For the Lord says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water, and you will drink — you and your cattle and your animals.’ 18This is easy in the Lord’s sight. He will also hand Moab over to you. 19Then you will attack every fortified city and every choice city. You will cut down every good tree and stop up every spring. You will ruin every good piece of land with stones.”
Read all of 2 Kings 32 Kings 3:17 word by word
כִּֽי־כֹ֣ה׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה לֹֽא־תִרְא֥וּ ר֙וּחַ֙ וְלֹֽא־תִרְא֣וּ גֶ֔שֶׁם וְהַנַּ֥חַל הַה֖וּא יִמָּ֣לֵא מָ֑יִם וּשְׁתִיתֶ֛ם אַתֶּ֥ם וּמִקְנֵיכֶ֖ם וּֽבְהֶמְתְּכֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- Ye shall not seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- windרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
- rainגֶּ֫שֶׁםgeshem · rainH1653
- yet that valleyנַ֫חַלnachal nachlâh nachălâh · torrent: valleyH5158
- shall be filledמָלֵאmâlê' mâlâ' · to fillH4390
- with waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
- that ye may drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
- both ye, and your cattleמִקְנֶהmiqneh · livestockH4735
- and your beastsבְּהֵמָהbehêmâh · animalH929
Cross-references for 2 Kings 3:17
- 1 Kings 18:36At the time for offering the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah approached the altar and said, “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things.
- Psalms 84:6As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of spring water; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings.
- Psalms 107:35He turns a desert into a pool, dry land into springs.
- Isaiah 41:17The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I will answer them. I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I will not abandon them.
- Isaiah 43:19Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.
- Isaiah 48:21They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow from the rock for them; he split the rock, and water gushed out.
- Exodus 17:6I am going to stand there in front of you on the rock at Horeb; when you hit the rock, water will come out of it and the people will drink.” Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.
- Numbers 20:8“Take the staff and assemble the community. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will yield its water. You will bring out water for them from the rock and provide drink for the community and their livestock.”
Commentaries on 2 Kings 3:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Ye shall not see wind - There shall be no wind to collect vapours, and there shall be no showers, and yet the whole bed of this river, and all the new made canals, shall be filled with water.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17No rain was to fall where the Israelites and their enemies were encamped; there was not even to be that all but universal accompaniment of rain in the East, a sudden rise of wind (compare 1 Kings 18:45; Psalm 147:18; Matthew 7:25). Cattle, and your beast - The former are the animals brought for food. The latter are the baggage animals.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. 4-27One of Elisha's miracles took place during the war between Israel, Judah, and Moab.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Ye shall not see wind--It is common in the East to speak of seeing wind, from the clouds of straw, dust, or sand, that are often whirled into the air, after a long drought.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 3:17
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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