God’s Word Translation
2 Kings 2:12
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⌟.
2 Kings 2:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
- New International Version (NIV)Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Elisha saw it and he cried, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
Context of 2 Kings 2:12
10Elijah said, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me taken from you, it will be yours. Otherwise, it will not.” 11As they continued walking and talking, a fiery chariot with fiery horses separated the two of them, and Elijah went to heaven in a windstorm. When 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. 14He took the coat and struck the water with it. He asked, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” As he struck the water, it divided to his left and his right, and Elisha crossed ⌞the river⌟.
Read all of 2 Kings 22 Kings 2:12 word by word
וֶאֱלִישָׁ֣ע רֹאֶ֗ה וְה֤וּא מְצַעֵק֙ אָבִ֣י׀ אָבִ֗י רֶ֤כֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וּפָ֣רָשָׁ֔יו וְלֹ֥א רָאָ֖הוּ ע֑וֹד וַֽיַּחֲזֵק֙ בִּבְגָדָ֔יו וַיִּקְרָעֵ֖ם לִשְׁנַ֥יִם קְרָעִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
- sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- and he criedצָעַקtsâ‛aq · to cryH6817
- My fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- the chariotרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- and the horsemenפָּרָשׁpârâsh · horsemanH6571
- him no more: and he took holdחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
- of his own clothesבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
- and rentקָרַעqâra‛ · to tearH7167
- them in twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- piecesקֶ֫רַעqera‛ · ragsH7168
Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:12
- 2 Kings 2:10Elijah said, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me taken from you, it will be yours. Otherwise, it will not.”
- 2 Kings 13:14Elisha became fatally ill. King Jehoash of Israel visited him, cried over him, and said, “Master! Master! Israel’s chariot and horses!”
- Job 22:30He will rescue one who is not innocent. That person will be rescued by your purity.”
- Proverbs 11:11With the blessing of decent people a city is raised up, but by the words of wicked people, it is torn down.
- Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom will help a wise person more than ten rulers can help a city.
- Ecclesiastes 9:16So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength,” even though that poor person’s wisdom was despised, and no one listened to what he said.
- Isaiah 37:4The Lord your God may have heard the words of the field commander. His master, the king of Assyria, sent him to defy the living God. The Lord your God may punish him because of the message that the Lord your God heard. Pray for the few people who are left.”
- Acts 27:24The angel told me, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul! You must present your case to the emperor. God has granted safety to everyone who is sailing with you.’
- Proverbs 30:4“Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the palm of his hand? Who has wrapped water in a garment? Who has set up the earth from one end to the other? What is his name or the name of his son? Certainly, you must know!
- 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.
- Luke 2:15The angels left them and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.”
- Luke 24:51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken to heaven.
- John 3:13No one has gone to heaven except the Son of Man, who came from heaven.
- Acts 1:9After he had said this, he was taken to heaven. A cloud hid him so that they could no longer see him.
- 2 Corinthians 5:2In our present tent-like existence we sigh, since we long to put on the house we will have in heaven.
- Ephesians 4:8That’s why the Scriptures say: “When he went to the highest place, he took captive those who had captured us and gave gifts to people.”
Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12The chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof - The Chaldee translates these words thus: "My master, my master! who, by thy intercession, wast of more use to Israel than horses and chariots." This is probably the sense. In the Book of Ecclesiasticus 48:1, etc., the fiery horses and chariot are considered as an emblem of that burning zeal which Elijah manifested in the whole of his ministry: "Then stood up Elijah the prophet as fire, and his word burned…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof - These difficult words are probably said of Elijah, whom Elisha addresses as “the true defense of Israel, better than either the chariots or horsemen” which he saw. Hence, his rending his clothes in token of his grief.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. 12Elijah was Elisha’s spiritual father and personal mentor. Compare the tribute given to him at his death in 2 Kings 13:14.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father--that is, spiritual father, as the pupils of the prophets are called their sons. the chariot of Israel, and the horseman thereof--that is, that as earthly kingdoms are dependent for their defense and glory upon warlike preparations, there a single prophet had done more for the preservation and prosperity of Israel than all her chariots and horsemen. took hold of his own clothes and rent them--in token of his…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 2:12
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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