2 Kings 2:11

2 Kings 2:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
• New International Version (NIV)As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Context of 2 Kings 2:11

9After they had crossed the river, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘The Lord will soon take me away from you. What do you want me to do for you before that happens?’ Elisha replied, ‘Please let me have twice as much of your spirit.’ 10Elijah said, ‘You have asked a difficult thing. But watch carefully when God takes me from you. If you see it happen, you will receive that spirit. If you do not see me, you will not receive it.’ So they walked along and they talked together. Suddenly a chariot that was burning with fire appeared. The horses that pulled it were also burning with fire. The chariot went between Elijah and Elisha. Elijah went up to heaven in a storm of wind. 12When Elisha saw this, he shouted, ‘My father! My father! You are riding in Israel's chariot! Israel's men are riding on the horses!’ After that, Elisha could not see Elijah again. He took hold of his own clothes and he tore them into pieces because he was very upset. 13He picked up Elijah's coat that had fallen off. He went and he stood on the shore of the Jordan River.

2 Kings 2:11 word by word

וַיְהִ֗י הֵ֣מָּה הֹלְכִ֤ים הָלוֹךְ֙ וְדַבֵּ֔ר וְהִנֵּ֤ה רֶֽכֶב־אֵשׁ֙ וְס֣וּסֵי אֵ֔שׁ וַיַּפְרִ֖דוּ בֵּ֣ין שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיַּ֙עַל֙ אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ בַּֽסְעָרָ֖ה הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, as they stillהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• and talkedדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• a chariotרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393
• of fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
• and horsesסוּסsûs sûs · horseH5483
• and partedפָּרַדpârad · to separateH6504
• them bothשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• asunderבַּ֫יִןbêyn · betweenH996
• and Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
• went upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• by a whirlwindסְעָרָהsa‛ar se‛ârâh · tempestH5591
• into heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064

Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:11

• 2 Kings 6:17Then Elisha prayed, ‘Lord, please open my servant's eyes so that he can see clearly.’ The Lord opened the servant's eyes. Now he could see lots of horses and chariots that burned with fire. They were on the hill all around Elisha.
• Psalms 68:17God has millions of chariots. The Lord has come from Sinai mountain to his own holy place.
• Psalms 104:3You have built the beams of your home on the clouds of rain. The clouds carry you as you travel, and you ride on the wind.
• Ezekiel 1:4As I looked, I saw a great storm that was coming from the north. It was a large cloud, with bright lightning. Light shone all around the cloud. It was like a fire that had bright metal in the centre of it.
• Ezekiel 10:9In the vision, I saw four wheels beside the cherubs. There was one wheel at the side of each cherub. The wheels shone like bright jewels.
• Habakkuk 3:8Was it the rivers that made you angry, Lord? Did the sea make you so angry? You rode on your chariots as horses pulled them! You rode into battle to win against your enemies.
• Zechariah 3:8Listen, Joshua, most important priest of the Lord. Listen you priests that sit with Joshua. You are like a sign. People can look at you. And they can know that good things will happen in future years. See! I will bring to you my servant who is called The Branch.
• Zechariah 6:1Again I looked up and I saw four chariots! They came out from between two mountains and the mountains were mountains of shining metal!
• Hebrews 1:14So we see that all the angels are spirits who serve God. God sends them as his servants to help the people that he will save.
• 2 Kings 2:1The Lord was now ready to take Elijah up to heaven in a storm of wind. At this time, Elijah and Elisha were travelling from Gilgal.
• Mark 16:19So, after the Lord Jesus had spoken to the disciples, God took him up into heaven. There he sat down at the right side of God.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Elijah went up - into heaven - He was truly translated; and the words here leave us no room to indulge the conjecture of Dr. Priestley, who supposes that as "Enoch, (probably Moses), Elijah, and Christ, had no relation to any other world or planet, they are no doubt in this;" for we are told that Elijah went up into heaven; and we know, from the sure testimony of the Scripture, that our blessed Lord is at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ever living…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Elijah went up … - No honest exegesis can explain this passage in any other sense than as teaching the translation of Elijah, who was taken from the earth, like Enoch Genesis 5:24, without dying. Compare Sirach 48:9.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. 11chariot of fire … horses of fire … whirlwind: These symbolize God's powerful presence (see Isaiah 66:15). Elijah was taken into heaven, like Enoch (Genesis 5:24), without dying. Some believe Enoch and Elijah will return at the end times (see study note on Revelation 11:1–13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire--some bright effulgence, which, in the eyes of the spectators, resembled those objects. went up by a whirlwind--a tempest or storm wind accompanied with vivid flashes of fire, figuratively used for the divine judgments (Is 29:6).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 2:11

• Ascension
• Elijah
• Elisha
• Fire
• Heaven
• Immortality
• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena
• Miracles
• Prophecy
• Prophets
• Translation
• Vision
• Whirlwind

In the dictionaries

• Elijah
• Chariot
• Double
• Fire
• Heal
• Lord
• Mock
• Rest
• Asunder
• Death

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