2 Kings 3:22

2 Kings 3:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
• New International Version (NIV)When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked red—like blood.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And when they rose early in the morning and the sun shone on the water, the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then they rose up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood.

Context of 2 Kings 3:22

20The next morning, at the time when they offered the morning sacrifice, the water appeared! It came from the direction of Edom so that the land was full of water! 21All the people in Moab had heard that the kings had come to attack them. So the leaders of Moab brought together every man who was old enough to fight. They put these men on Moab's border. When the Moabites woke up early the next morning, the sun was shining on the water. When they looked at the water from where they were, it looked like blood! 23They said to each other, ‘That is blood! The armies of those kings have fought against each other. Now they are all dead! We must go and take all their valuable things!’ 24So the Moabites arrived at the camp of the Israelite army. Then Israel's soldiers attacked the Moabites. The Moabites ran away back to their own land. The Israelites chased them and they completely destroyed them.

2 Kings 3:22 word by word

וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ זָרְחָ֣ה עַל־הַמָּ֑יִם וַיִּרְא֨וּ מוֹאָ֥ב מִנֶּ֛גֶד אֶת־הַמַּ֖יִם אֲדֻמִּ֥ים כַּדָּֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they rose up earlyשָׁכַםshâkam · to riseH7925
• in the morningבֹּ֫קֶרbôqer · morningH1242
• and the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
• shoneזָרַחzârach · to riseH2224
• upon the waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• and the Moabitesמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
• sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• on the other sideנֶ֫גֶדneged · beforeH5048
• redאָדֹם'âdôm · redH122
• as bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818

Cross-references for 2 Kings 3:22

• 2 Kings 6:18When the enemy soldiers came towards Elisha, he prayed, ‘Lord, please make these people become blind.’ The Lord did what Elisha had asked. He made the enemy soldiers become blind.
• 2 Kings 7:6The Lord God had caused the Syrian soldiers to hear the sound of horses, chariots and a very big army. So they said among themselves, ‘Listen! The king of Israel has paid the king of the Hittites and the king of Egypt to come here and attack us!’
• Exodus 15:9The enemy said, “We will go after them. We will catch them. We will destroy them with our swords. We will do whatever we want to them. We will take all their valuable things for ourselves.”
• Judges 5:30“They are taking valuable things from their enemies. They are sharing the things between them. Each soldier will bring one or two women for himself. Sisera's share will be some beautiful cloth. Yes, he is bringing pieces of valuable cloth, and a beautiful necklace for me! That is why he is so late to return home.”
• 2 Chronicles 20:25So Jehoshaphat and his men went to take things from the dead soldiers. They found a lot of weapons, clothes and other valuable things. They took as many things as they could carry. There were so many things that it took them three days to take them all away.
• Isaiah 10:14I robbed them of their riches, like a person who takes eggs from a bird's nest. I was able to bring all the nations under my power. None of them could stop me. No bird could shake its wing at me, or open its mouth to cry at me!’

Commentaries on 2 Kings 3:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Saw the water on the other side as red as blood - This might have been an optical deception; I have seen the like sight when there was no reason to suspect supernatural agency. The Moabites had never seen that valley full of water, and therefore did not suspect that their eyes deceived them, but took it for the blood of the confederate hosts, who they thought might have fallen into confusion in the darkness of night and destroyed each other, as the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-27Verses 20-27 It is a blessing to be favoured with the company of those who have power with God, and can prevail by their prayers. A kingdom may be upheld and prosper, in consequence of the fervent prayers of those who are dear to God. May we place our highest regard upon such as are most precious in his account. When sinners are saying Peace, peace, destruction comes upon them: despair will follow their mad presumption. In Satan's service and at his…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. 20-2420-24. when the meat offering was offered--that is, at the time of the morning sacrifice, accompanied, doubtless, with solemn prayers; and these led, it may be, by Elisha on this occasion, as on a similar one by Elijah (1Ki 18:36). behold, there came water by the way of Edom--Far from the Israelitish camp, in the eastern mountains of Edom, a great fall of rain, a kind of cloudburst, took place, by which the wady was at once filled, but they saw neither…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 3:22

• Miracles
• Moabites

In the dictionaries

• Colour
• Compass
• Indignation
• Jehoshaphat
• Kirharaseth
• Moabite Stone
• Regard
• Stop
• Zoar
• Arnon

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