2 Kings 2:11

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of 2 Kings 2:11

9While they were crossing, Elijah asked Elisha, “What should I do for you before I’m taken from you?” Elisha answered, “Let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10Elijah said, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me taken from you, it will be yours. Otherwise, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a fiery chariot with fiery horses separated the two of them, and Elijah went to heaven in a windstorm. 12When Elisha saw this, he cried out, “Master! Master! Israel’s chariot and horses!” When he couldn’t see Elijah anymore, he grabbed his own garment and tore it in two ⌞to show his grief⌟. 13Then he picked up Elijah’s coat (which had fallen off Elijah), went back, and stood on the bank of the Jordan River.

2 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, “Lord, please open his eyes so that he may see.” The Lord opened the servant’s eyes and let him see. The mountain around Elisha was full of fiery horses and chariots.
• Psalms 68:17The chariots of God are twenty thousand in number, thousands upon thousands. The Lord is among them. ⌞The God of⌟ Sinai is in his holy place.
• Psalms 104:3You lay the beams of your home in the water. You use the clouds for your chariot. You move on the wings of the wind.
• Ezekiel 1:4As I looked, I saw a storm coming from the north. There was an immense cloud with flashing lightning surrounded by a bright light. The middle of the lightning looked like glowing metal.
• Ezekiel 10:9As I looked, I saw four wheels beside the angels, one wheel beside each of the angels. The wheels looked like beryl.
• Habakkuk 3:8The Lord is not angry with the rivers, is he? If you are angry with the rivers, if you are furious with the sea, ⌞why⌟ do you ride your horses, your chariots of salvation?
• Zechariah 3:8“Listen, Chief Priest Joshua and your friends sitting with you. These men are a sign of things to come: I’m going to bring my servant, the Branch.
• Zechariah 6:1I looked up again and saw four chariots going out from between the two mountains. They were mountains of bronze.
• Hebrews 1:14What are all the angels? They are spirits sent to serve those who are going to receive salvation.
• 2 Kings 2:1When the Lord was going to take Elijah to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha left Gilgal.
• Mark 16:19After talking with the apostles, the Lord was taken to heaven, where he received the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the throne.

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

• Ascension
• Elijah
• Elisha
• Fire
• Heaven
• Immortality
• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena
• Miracles
• Prophecy
• Prophets
• Translation
• Vision
• Whirlwind

In the dictionaries

• Elijah
• Chariot
• Double
• Fire
• Heal
• Lord
• Mock
• Rest
• Asunder
• Death

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