English Standard Version
2 Kings 2:11
11And 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.
Context of 2 Kings 2:11
9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me." 10And he said, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so." 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. 12And Elisha saw it and he cried, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.
Read all of 2 Kings 22 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 and said, "O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see." So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
- Psalms 68:17The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
- Psalms 104:3He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;
- Ezekiel 1:4As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.
- Ezekiel 10:9And I looked, and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub, and the appearance of the wheels was like sparkling beryl.
- Habakkuk 3:8Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord? Was your anger against the rivers, or your indignation against the sea, when you rode on your horses, on your chariot of salvation?
- Zechariah 3:8Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch.
- Zechariah 6:1Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze.
- Hebrews 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
- 2 Kings 2:1Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
- Mark 16:19So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand 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
In the dictionaries
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
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