2 Kings 2:19

2 Kings 2:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
• New International Version (NIV)The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)One day the leaders of the town of Jericho visited Elisha. “We have a problem, my lord,” they told him. “This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.”

Context of 2 Kings 2:19

17But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, "Send." They sent therefore fifty men. And for three days they sought him but did not find him. 18And they came back to him while he was staying at Jericho, and he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?" Now the men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful." 20He said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. 21Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, "Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it."

2 Kings 2:19 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הָעִיר֙ אֶל־אֱלִישָׁ֔ע הִנֵּה־נָ֞א מוֹשַׁ֤ב הָעִיר֙ ט֔וֹב כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲדֹנִ֖י רֹאֶ֑ה וְהַמַּ֥יִם רָעִ֖ים וְהָאָ֥רֶץ מְשַׁכָּֽלֶת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• Behold, I pray thee, the situationמוֹשָׁבmôshâb môshâb · seatH4186
• pleasantטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• as my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• seethרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• but the waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• naughtרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
• and the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• barrenמְשַׁכֶּ֫לֶתshâkôl · barrennessH7921

Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:19

• Numbers 12:11And Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned.
• 1 Kings 18:7And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?"
• 1 Timothy 5:17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
• Exodus 7:19And the Lord said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'"
• Exodus 15:23When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah.
• Joshua 6:17And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
• 1 Kings 16:34In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
• Exodus 23:26None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.
• Deuteronomy 28:2And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.
• Hosea 9:14Give them, O Lord— what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19The water is naught, and the ground barren - The barrenness of the ground was the effect of the badness of the water.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19The water is naught - i. e. “bad.” And the ground barren - Translate “and the land apt to miscarry.” The stream was thought to be the cause of untimely births, abortions, and the like, among the cattle, perhaps also among the people, that drank of it.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-25Verses 19-25 Observe the miracle of healing the waters. Prophets should make every place to which they come better for them, endeavouring to sweeten bitter spirits, and to make barren souls fruitful, by the word of God, which is like the salt cast into the water by Elisha. It was an apt emblem of the effect produced by the grace of God on the sinful heart of man. Whole families, towns, and cities, sometimes have a new appearance through the preaching of…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 2:19

• Elisha
• Jericho
• Miracles
• Water

In the dictionaries

• Elisha
• Double
• Elijah
• Heal
• Jericho
• Lord
• Mock
• Rest
• Barren; Barrenness
• Friend; Friendship

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