2 Kings 14:9

2 Kings 14:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
• New International Version (NIV)But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Jehoash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, "A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife,' and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife’; and a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.

Context of 2 Kings 14:9

7Amaziah killed 10,000 Edomites in the Dead Sea region and took the city of Sela in battle. He gave it the name Joktheel, which is still its name today. 8Then Amaziah sent messengers to King Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu of Israel, to declare war on Israel. King Jehoash of Israel sent this message to King Amaziah of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon. It said, ‘Let your daughter marry my son,’ but a wild animal from Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. 10You certainly defeated Edom, and now you have become arrogant. Enjoy your fame, but stay home. Why must you invite disaster and your own defeat and take Judah with you?” 11But Amaziah wouldn’t listen. So King Jehoash of Israel attacked, and King Amaziah of Judah met him in battle at Beth Shemesh in Judah.

2 Kings 14:9 word by word

וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח יְהוֹאָ֣שׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶל־אֲמַצְיָ֣הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֮ לֵאמֹר֒ הַח֜וֹחַ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּלְּבָנ֗וֹן שָׁ֠לַח אֶל־הָאֶ֜רֶז אֲשֶׁ֤ר בַּלְּבָנוֹן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר תְּנָֽה־אֶת־בִּתְּךָ֥ לִבְנִ֖י לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַֽתַּעֲבֹ֞ר חַיַּ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן וַתִּרְמֹ֖ס אֶת־הַחֽוֹחַ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jehoashיְהוֹאָשׁyehô'âsh · JehoashH3060
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• to Amaziahאֲמַצְיָ֫הוּ'ămatsyâh 'ămatsyâhû · AmaziahH558
• of Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• The thistleחוֹחַchôach · thistleH2336
• in Lebanonלְבָנוֹןlebânôn · LebanonH3844
• to the cedarאֶ֫רֶז'erez · cedarH730
• Giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: give(marriage)H5414
• thy daughterבַּתbath · daughterH1323
• to my sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• to wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• and there passedעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• by a wildשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: wildlifeH7704
• beastחַיָּהchay · living thingH2416
• and trode downרָמַסrâmas · to trampleH7429

Cross-references for 2 Kings 14:9

• Judges 9:8“The trees went to anoint someone to be king over them. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’
• 2 Samuel 12:1So the Lord sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said, “There were two men in a certain city. One was rich, and the other was poor.
• 1 Kings 4:33He described and classified trees—from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He described and classified animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.
• Ezekiel 20:49Then I said, “Oh no! Almighty Lord, no! The people already say that I’m only telling stories.”
• 2 Chronicles 25:18King Jehoash of Israel sent this message to King Amaziah of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon. It said, ‘Let your daughter marry my son,’ but a wild animal from Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.
• Job 31:18(From my youth the orphan grew up with me as though I were his father, and from my birth I treated the widow kindly.)
• 1 Samuel 13:6When the Israelites saw they were in trouble because the army was hard-pressed, they hid in caves, in thorny thickets, among rocks, in pits, and in cisterns.
• 2 Chronicles 33:11So the Lord made the army commanders of the king of Assyria invade Judah. They took Manasseh captive, put a hook in his nose, put him in bronze shackles, and brought him to Babylon.
• Proverbs 26:9⌞Like⌟ a thorn stuck in a drunk’s hand, so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
• Proverbs 2:2if you pay close attention to wisdom, and let your mind reach for understanding,
• Hosea 9:6Even if they escape without being destroyed, Egypt will capture them and Memphis will bury them. Weeds will grow over their silver treasures. Thorns will grow over their tents.
• 2 Chronicles 25:10Then Amaziah dismissed the troops that had come to him from Ephraim. But they became furious with Judah and returned home.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 14:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Jehoash - sent to Amaziah - saying - The meaning of this parable is plain. The thistle that was in Lebanon - Amaziah, king of Judah, sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon - Jehoash, king of Israel, saying, Give thy daughter - a part of thy kingdom, to my son to wife - to be united to, and possessed by the kings of Judah. And there passed by a wild beast - Jehoash and his enraged army, and trode down the thistle - utterly discomfited Amaziah and his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9The Oriental use of apologues on the most solemn and serious occasions is well known to all, and scarcely needs illustration (compare marginal reference). It is a common feature of such apologues that they are not exact parallels to the case whereto they are applied, but only general or partial resemblances. Hence, there is need of caution in applying the several points of the illustration.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-14Verses 8-14 For some time after the division of the kingdoms, Judah suffered much from the enmity of Israel. After Asa's time, it suffered more by the friendship of Israel, and by the alliance made with them. Now we meet with hostility between them again. How may a humble man smile to hear two proud and scornful men set their wits on work, to vilify and undervalue one another! Unholy success excites pride; pride excites contentions. The effects of pride…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-10Jehoash responded with a parable (see Judges 9:7–15). Basically, Amaziah had as much chance of beating Israel in war as a small thistle demanding something from a strong cedar tree. Amaziah and Judah would be defeated as easily as a random step would crush the proud thistle.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah--People in the East very often express their sentiments in a parabolic form, especially when they intend to convey unwelcome truths or a contemptuous sneer. This was the design of the admonitory fable related by Joash in his reply. The thistle, a low shrub, might be chosen to represent Amaziah, a petty prince; the cedar, the powerful sovereign of Israel, and the wild beast that trampled down the thistle the…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 14:9

• Ambition
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Jehoash
• Parables
• Pride
• Sarcasm
• Thistle

In the dictionaries

• Amaziah
• Israel
• Judah
• Lebanon
• Wild Beast
• Bramble
• Fable
• Jehoash
• Look
• Meddle

Commentaries on 2 Kings 14

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary