2 Kings 6:1

2 Kings 6:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
• New International Version (NIV)The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.

Context of 2 Kings 6:1

One day, the group of prophets said to Elisha, ‘The place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2We must go to the Jordan River to cut down some trees. Each one of us can bring back some wood to build a new place for us to meet in.’ Elisha agreed and he told them to go. 3One of the prophets said, ‘Please come with us, sir.’ Elisha replied, ‘I will come with you.’

2 Kings 6:1 word by word

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ בְנֵֽי־הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים אֶל־אֱלִישָׁ֑ע הִנֵּֽה־נָ֣א הַמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲנַ֜חְנוּ יֹשְׁבִ֥ים שָׁ֛ם לְפָנֶ֖יךָ צַ֥ר מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of the prophetsנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• untoפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• Behold now, the placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
• where we dwellיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• with thee is too straitצַרtsar tsâr · narrowH6862

Cross-references for 2 Kings 6:1

• 2 Kings 2:3A group of prophets lived in Bethel. They came out to Elisha and they asked him, ‘Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?’ Elisha replied, ‘Yes, I do know that, but do not talk about it now.’
• 1 Kings 20:35At this time, the Lord gave a message to a prophet who belonged to a group of prophets. He told the prophet to say to one of his friends, ‘Hit me with your stick.’ But his friend refused to do it.
• 2 Kings 4:38After that, Elisha went back to Gilgal. There was a famine in that region. The group of prophets came to meet with Elisha. He said to his servant, ‘Put the large pot over the fire. Cook some soup for the prophets.’
• 1 Samuel 19:20So Saul sent men to take hold of David. When the men arrived, they saw a group of prophets. Samuel was their leader. They were all prophesying. Then the Spirit of God came on Saul's men. They also started to prophesy.
• Joshua 17:14Joseph's descendants asked Joshua, ‘Why have you given only one part of the land for us to live in? The Lord has blessed us with many children, so there are many people in our tribe.’
• Joshua 19:47(But later, the people of Dan failed to take their land and keep it. So they went to attack Leshem. They took the town and they killed its people. Then they lived there themselves. They called the city Dan, after their ancestor.)
• Job 36:16God has called you out of your troubles, Job. He wants you to live in a safe place where you have no problems. He wants you to have a comfortable life with plenty of good food to eat.
• Isaiah 49:19Enemies have destroyed your land. Its towns have become heaps of stones. But soon your land will be too small for all your people to live in. The enemies who destroyed you will be far away from you.
• Isaiah 54:2Make your tent bigger! You need more room to live in. Yes, do it! Make the tent's ropes longer! Make the pegs that hold it stronger!

Commentaries on 2 Kings 6:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1The place - is too strait for us - Notwithstanding the general profligacy of Israel, the schools of the prophets increased. This was no doubt owing to the influence of Elisha.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The writer returns here to the series of miracles which Elisha performed for the benefit of the prophetical schools under his care. The connection, in this point of view, is with 2 Kings 4:44. The place where we dwell with thee - literally, “the place where we sit before thee,” i. e. “the place where we assemble and sit to bear thy teaching.” Elisha visited the sons of the prophets in circuit, staying a short time at each place where a “school” was…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The sons of the prophets enlarge their habitations, Iron made to swim. (1-7) Elisha discloses the counsels of the Syrians. (8-12) Syrians sent to seize Elisha. (13-23) Samaria besieged, A famine, The king sends to slay Elisha. (24-33) Verses 1-7 There is that pleasantness in the converse of servants of God, which can make those who listen to them forget the pain and the weariness of labour. Even the sons of the prophets must not be unwilling to labour…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2a log … a place to live: The forest areas of the Jordan Valley near Jericho and Gilgal offered various types of wood for building (see 2 Kings 2:1, 4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-72Ki 6:1-7. Elisha Causes Iron to Swim. 1. the place where we dwell with thee--Margin, "sit before thee." The one points to a common residence--the other to a common place of meeting. The tenor of the narrative shows the humble condition of Elisha's pupils. The place was either Beth-el or Jericho, probably the latter. The ministry and miracles of Elisha brought great accessions to his schools.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 6:1

• School

In the dictionaries

• Elisha
• Band
• Send
• Jehoahaz
• Jehoram; Joram
• Kings, Books of
• Strait; Straiten; Straitly
• Prophet

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