Christian Standard Bible
2 Kings 6:18
18When the Arameans came against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Please strike this nation with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, according to Elisha’s word.
2 Kings 6:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
- New International Version (NIV)As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
Context of 2 Kings 6:18
16Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.” 17Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. When the Arameans came against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Please strike this nation with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, according to Elisha’s word. 19Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you’re looking for.” And he led them to Samaria. 20When they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open these men’s eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria.
Read all of 2 Kings 62 Kings 6:18 word by word
וַיֵּרְדוּ֮ אֵלָיו֒ וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֨ל אֱלִישָׁ֤ע אֶל־יְהוָה֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר הַךְ־נָ֥א אֶת־הַגּוֹי־הַזֶּ֖ה בַּסַּנְוֵרִ֑ים וַיַּכֵּ֥ם בַּסַּנְוֵרִ֖ים כִּדְבַ֥ר אֱלִישָֽׁע׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when they came downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- to him, Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
- prayedפָּלַלpâlal · to prayH6419
- unto the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Smiteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
- this peopleגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
- I pray thee, with blindnessסַנְוֵרִיםsanvêr · blindnessH5575
- according to the wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
Cross-references for 2 Kings 6:18
- Genesis 19:11They struck the men who were at the entrance of the house, both young and old, with blindness so that they were unable to find the entrance.
- Deuteronomy 28:28The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness, and mental confusion,
- Job 5:14They encounter darkness by day, and they grope at noon as if it were night.
- Zechariah 12:4On that day” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness. I will keep a watchful eye on the house of Judah but strike all the horses of the nations with blindness.
- John 9:39Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.”
- John 12:40He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they would not see with their eyes or understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.
- Acts 13:11Now, look, the Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
- Romans 11:7What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,
Commentaries on 2 Kings 6:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Smite this people - with blindness - Confound their sight so that they may not know what they see, and so mistake one place for another.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18They came down to him - The Syrians, who had been encamped on rising ground opposite the hill of Dothan, now descended and drew near to the city. The blindness with which they were smitten was not real - blindness actual loss of sight - but a state of illusion in which a man sees things otherwise than as they are (compare 2 Kings 6:20).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-23Verses 13-23 What Elisha said to his servant is spoken to all the faithful servants of God, when without are fightings, and within are fears. Fear not, with that fear which has torment and amazement; for they that are with us, to protect us, are more than they that are against us, to destroy us. The eyes of his body were open, and with them he saw the danger. Lord, open the eyes of our faith, that with them we may see thy protecting hand. The clearer…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness--not a total and material blindness, for then they could not have followed him, but a mental hallucination (see Ge 19:11) so that they did not perceive or recognize him to be the object of their search.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 6:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Kings 6
- 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
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries