God’s Word Translation
2 Kings 13:23
23But the Lord was kind and merciful to the Israelites because of his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He didn’t want to destroy the Israelites, and even now he hasn’t turned away from them.
2 Kings 13:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Lord was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.
- New International Version (NIV)But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But the Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence.
Context of 2 Kings 13:23
21One day some people who were burying a man saw one of these raiding parties. So they quickly put the man into Elisha’s tomb. But when the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came back to life and stood up. 22King Hazael of Aram oppressed Israel as long as Jehoahaz ruled. But the Lord was kind and merciful to the Israelites because of his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He didn’t want to destroy the Israelites, and even now he hasn’t turned away from them. 24King Hazael of Aram died, and his son Benhadad succeeded him as king. 25Then Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz, reconquered the cities that Benhadad had taken from his father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Benhadad three times and recovered those cities of Israel.
Read all of 2 Kings 132 Kings 13:23 word by word
וַיָּחָן֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֹתָ֤ם וַֽיְרַחֲמֵם֙ וַיִּ֣פֶן אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם לְמַ֣עַן בְּרִית֔וֹ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם יִצְחָ֣ק וְיַֽעֲקֹ֑ב וְלֹ֤א אָבָה֙ הַשְׁחִיתָ֔ם וְלֹֽא־הִשְׁלִיכָ֥ם מֵֽעַל־פָּנָ֖יו עַד־עָֽתָּה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- was graciousחָנַןchânan · be graciousH2603
- unto them, and had compassionרָחַםrâcham · to have compassionH7355
- on them, and had respectפָּנָהpânâh · to turnH6437
- unto them, because ofמַ֫עַןma‛an · becauseH4616
- his covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
- with Abrahamאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
- Isaacיִצְחָקyitschâq · IsaacH3327
- and Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- and wouldאָבָה'âbâh · be willingH14
- not destroyשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
- them, neither castשָׁלַךְshâlak · to throwH7993
- he them from his presenceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- as yetעַד‛ad · tillH5704
Cross-references for 2 Kings 13:23
- 2 Kings 14:27Since the Lord had said he was not going to wipe out Israel’s name completely, he saved them through Jeroboam, son of Jehoash.
- Exodus 33:19The Lord said, “I will let all my goodness pass in front of you, and there I will call out my name ‘the Lord.’ I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.
- Exodus 34:6Then he passed in front of Moses, calling out, “The Lord, the Lord, a compassionate and merciful God, patient, always faithful and ready to forgive.
- Judges 10:16Then they got rid of the foreign gods they had and served the Lord. So the Lord could not bear to have Israel suffer any longer.
- Nehemiah 9:31But your compassion is endless. You didn’t destroy them or abandon them. You are a merciful and compassionate God.
- Psalms 86:15But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God. You are patient, always faithful and ready to forgive.
- Isaiah 30:18The Lord is waiting to be kind to you. He rises to have compassion on you. The Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him.
- Jeremiah 12:15After I’ve uprooted them, I will have compassion on them again. I will return them to their inheritance and to their lands.
- Lamentations 3:32Even if he makes us suffer, he will have compassion in keeping with the richness of his mercy.
- Micah 7:18Who is a God like you? You forgive sin and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people. You will not be angry forever, because you would rather show mercy.
- Exodus 2:24God heard their groaning, and he remembered his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- 1 Kings 8:28Nevertheless, my Lord God, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy. Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you today.
- Genesis 13:16I will also give you as many descendants as the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust of the earth, then he could also count your descendants.
- Genesis 17:2I will give you my promise, and I will give you very many descendants.”
- Exodus 3:6I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.
- Exodus 32:13Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. You took an oath, swearing on yourself. You told them, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. I will give to your descendants all the land I spoke of. It will be their permanent possession.’ ”
Commentaries on 2 Kings 13:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23And the Lord was gracious unto them - ויחן vaiyachon, he had tender affection for them, as a husband has for his wife, or a father for his own children. And had compassion on them - וירחמם vairachamem, his bowels yearned over them; he felt for them, he sympathized with them in all their distress: Therefore are my bowels troubled; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord, Jeremiah 31:20. And had respect unto them - ויפן vaiyiphen, he turned face…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23The writer regards the captivity of Israel as God‘s “casting them out of His sight” (see 2 Kings 17:18, 2 Kings 17:20); and notes that this extreme punishment, though deserved, was by God‘s mercy not allowed to fall on them as yet.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-25Verses 20-25 God has many ways to chastise a provoking people. Trouble comes sometimes from that point whence we least feared it. The mention of this invasion on the death of Elisha, shows that the removal of God's faithful prophets is a presage of coming judgments. His dead body was a means of giving life to another dead body. This miracle was a confirmation of his prophecies. And it may have reference to Christ, by whose death and burial, the grave is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23Even though Israel often broke its promises, God stayed true to his covenant with Abraham (Genesis01 12:1–3; 13:15–17; 15:18–20; 17:6–8). By mentioning Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the writer highlights Israel’s spiritual connection with the Lord and its right to the promised land (see Genesis 50:24; Exodus 3:6, 15–16; 6:3, 6–8; Deuteronomy 6:10; 9:5; 34:4).Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 13:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Kings 13
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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