English Standard Version
2 Kings 2:9
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."
2 Kings 2:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
- New International Version (NIV)When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”
Context of 2 Kings 2:9
7Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground. When 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." 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.
Read all of 2 Kings 22 Kings 2:9 word by word
וַיְהִ֣י כְעָבְרָ֗ם וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּ אָמַ֤ר אֶל־אֱלִישָׁע֙ שְׁאַל֙ מָ֣ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֔ךְ בְּטֶ֖רֶם אֶלָּקַ֣ח מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֔ע וִֽיהִי־נָ֛א פִּֽי־שְׁנַ֥יִם בְּרוּחֲךָ֖ אֵלָֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass, when they were gone overעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
- that Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
- Askשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
- what I shall doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- for thee, before I be taken awayלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- I pray thee, let a doubleשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- portionפֶּהpeh · lip: accordingH6310
- of thy spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:9
- 2 Kings 13:14Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!"
- Numbers 27:16"Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation
- Deuteronomy 34:9And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.
- 1 Chronicles 29:18O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.
- Psalms 72:1Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!
- Luke 24:45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
- John 17:9I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
- Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
- Acts 8:17Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 20:25And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
- Numbers 11:17And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.
- 1 Kings 3:9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"
- 2 Chronicles 1:9O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
- John 14:12"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
- John 16:7Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
- 1 Corinthians 12:31But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9A double portion of thy spirit be upon me - This in reference to the law, Deuteronomy 21:17; : He shall acknowledge the first-born, by giving him a Double Portion of all that he hath-the right of the first-born is his. Elisha considered himself the only child or first-born of Elijah, as the disciples of eminent teachers were called their children; so here he claims a double portion of his spiritual influence, any other disciples coming in for a single…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me - Like Solomon, Elisha asks for no worldly advantage, but for spiritual power to discharge his office aright. The “double portion” is that which denotes the proportion of a father‘s property which was the right of an eldest son Deuteronomy 21:17. Elisha therefore asked for twice as much of Elijah‘s spirit as should be inherited by any other of the “sons of the prophets.” He simply claimed, i. e., to be…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. 9-10The firstborn son was the main heir. So, he received twice as much of his father's estate (Deuteronomy 21:17). Elisha asked for Elijah's spiritual gifts and privileges from God to continue through him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee--trusting either that it would be in his power to bequeath it, or that God, at his entreaty, would grant it. let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me--This request was not, as is commonly supposed, for the power of working miracles exceeding the magnitude and number of his master's, nor does it mean a higher endowment of the prophetic spirit; for Elisha was neither superior to, nor perhaps…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 2:9
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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