2 Kings 3:11

2 Kings 3:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may enquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
• New International Version (NIV)But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?" Then one of the king of Israel's servants answered, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

Context of 2 Kings 3:11

9So the king of Israel, the king of Judah and the king of Edom joined together to attack Moab. They were travelling along the road for seven days. After that time, there was no more water for the army or for their animals. 10The king of Israel was very upset. He said, ‘What has happened? Perhaps the Lord has brought us three kings here to put us under the power of the king of Moab!’ But King Jehoshaphat asked, ‘There must surely be a prophet of the Lord here somewhere. We could ask him what the Lord wants us to do.’ An officer of the king of Israel answered him, ‘Yes, Shaphat's son Elisha is here. He was Elijah's servant.’ 12Jehoshaphat said, ‘He will tell us what the Lord is saying.’ So the king of Israel, King Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to meet Elisha. 13Elisha said to the king of Israel, ‘We have nothing to say to each other! Instead, go to the prophets that your father and your mother liked to listen to.’ The king of Israel replied, ‘No! The Lord told us three kings to come here together. Now he is putting us under Moab's power.’

2 Kings 3:11 word by word

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט הַאֵ֨ין פֹּ֤ה נָבִיא֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וְנִדְרְשָׁ֥ה אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה מֵאוֹת֑וֹ וַ֠יַּעַן אֶחָ֞ד מֵעַבְדֵ֤י מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר פֹּ֚ה אֱלִישָׁ֣ע בֶּן־שָׁפָ֔ט אֲשֶׁר־יָ֥צַק מַ֖יִם עַל־יְדֵ֥י אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But Jehoshaphatיְהוֹשָׁפָטyehôshâphâţ · JehoshaphatH3092
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• not here a prophetנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• that we may enquireדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• by him? And oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• of the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• of Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Shaphatשָׁפָטshâphâţ · ShaphatH8202
• which pouredיָצַקyâtsaq · to pour: pourH3332
• waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• on the handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• of Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452

Cross-references for 2 Kings 3:11

• 1 Kings 22:7But Jehoshaphat then asked, ‘Is there any other prophet of the Lord that we could ask?’
• Psalms 74:9We no longer see any signs that God is with us. There are no more prophets among us. Nobody can tell us how long this will continue.
• Amos 3:7Before the Lord God decides to send trouble, he first tells his prophets about it.
• 2 Kings 3:1Ahab's son Jehoram became the king of Israel in Samaria. This happened when Jehoshaphat had been the king of Judah for 18 years. Jehoram ruled Israel as king for 12 years.
• Joshua 9:14The Israelite men tasted some of the Gibeonites' food, but they did not ask the Lord what they should do.
• Judges 20:8All the people stood up together. They all promised, ‘None of us will go home. Not one of us will return to his house.
• Judges 18:23they shouted to them. The men of Dan turned around and they said to Micah, ‘What is the problem? Why have you brought all these men?’
• 1 Chronicles 10:13Saul died because he turned away from the Lord. He did not obey the Lord's commands. He even tried to get advice from the spirits of dead people.
• 1 Chronicles 14:10David asked God, ‘Should I go and attack the Philistines? Will you put them under my power?’ The Lord answered him, ‘Yes, go and attack the Philistines. I will help you to win against them.’
• 1 Chronicles 15:13The first time that we tried to bring it here, you did not carry it. Because of that, the Lord our God punished us. He did that because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.’
• Genesis 18:4Let us bring some water so that you can all wash your feet. Then you can rest under this tree.
• Joshua 1:1The Lord's servant, Moses, had died. Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, son of Nun, who had helped Moses in his work.
• 1 Kings 19:21So Elisha went back to his field. He took his pair of oxen and he killed them as a sacrifice. He burned wood from the plough to cook the meat. He gave the meat to the people who were there and they ate it. Then he left home to go with Elijah and to become his helper.
• Luke 22:26You must not be like that. The most important person among you must become like the least important person. The person who is your leader must become like your servant.
• John 13:4So, during the meal, he stood up. He took off the coat that he wore over his other clothes. He tied a piece of cloth round himself.
• 1 Timothy 5:10People should know that she has done good things. For example, she must have been a good mother to her children. She must have received visitors into her home. She must have helped God's people as their servant. She must have taken care of people who had problems. She must have continued to do all kinds of good things like that.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 3:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Is there not here a prophet of the Lord - The kings of Judah still acknowledged the true God, and him only. Poured water on the hands of Elijah - That is, was his constant and confidential servant.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11A prophet of the Lord - i. e. of Yahweh. It was necessary to inquire thus definitely, as there were still plenty of prophets who were only prophets of Baal 2 Kings 3:13. Here is Elisha - Jehoram appears to have been ignorant of his presence with the host, and one of his “servants,” or officers, answered Jehoshaphat‘s inquiry. Which poured water - An act signifying ministration or attendance (compare John 13:5 ff).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. 11-12Is there no prophet of the LORD here?: Diviners or prophets often traveled with armies to understand the divine will. Jehoshaphat wanted to hear from a true prophet to know the Lord’s plans for the battle (see 1 Kings 22:7). However, this time he waited until the campaign had started before asking the Lord.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-128-12. Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom--This was a long and circuitous route, by the southern bend of the Dead Sea. Jehoshaphat however preferred it, partly because the part of the Moabite territory at which they would arrive, was the most defenseless; and partly because he would thereby enlist, in the expedition, the forces of the king of Edom. But, in penetrating the deep, rocky valley of Ahsy, which…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 3:11

• Armies
• Elisha
• Moabites
• Prophets
• Shaphat

In the dictionaries

• Elijah
• Elisha
• Jehoshaphat
• Colour
• Compass
• Hand
• Indignation
• Jehoram
• Moabite Stone
• Regard

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