2 Kings 2:19

2 Kings 2:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
• New International Version (NIV)The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now the men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”

Context of 2 Kings 2:19

17But the disciples kept urging him ⌞to send the men⌟ until he was embarrassed. So he said, “Send them.” They sent 50 men who searched for three days without finding him. 18They returned to Elisha in Jericho, where he was waiting. He said, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?” The people of the city ⌞of Jericho⌟ told Elisha, “This city’s location is as good as you will ever find. But the water is bad, and the land cannot grow crops.” 20Elisha said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” They brought it to him. 21He went to the spring and threw the salt into it. Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: I have purified this water. No more deaths or crop failures will come from this water.”

2 Kings 2:19 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הָעִיר֙ אֶל־אֱלִישָׁ֔ע הִנֵּה־נָ֞א מוֹשַׁ֤ב הָעִיר֙ ט֔וֹב כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲדֹנִ֖י רֹאֶ֑ה וְהַמַּ֥יִם רָעִ֖ים וְהָאָ֥רֶץ מְשַׁכָּֽלֶת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• Behold, I pray thee, the situationמוֹשָׁבmôshâb môshâb · seatH4186
• pleasantטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• as my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• seethרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• but the waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• naughtרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
• and the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• barrenמְשַׁכֶּ֫לֶתshâkôl · barrennessH7921

Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:19

• Numbers 12:11So he said to Moses, “Please, sir, don’t punish us for this foolish sin we committed.
• 1 Kings 18:7Obadiah was on the road when he met Elijah. Obadiah recognized him and immediately bowed down to the ground. “Is it you, my master Elijah?” he asked.
• 1 Timothy 5:17Give double honor to spiritual leaders who handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching God’s word.
• Exodus 7:19The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—its rivers, canals, ponds, and all its reservoirs—so that they turn into blood. There will be blood everywhere in Egypt, even in the wooden and stone containers.’ ”
• Exodus 15:23When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink the water because it tasted bitter. That’s why the place was called Marah [Bitter Place].
• Joshua 6:17The city has been claimed by the Lord. Everything in it belongs to the Lord. Only the prostitute Rahab and all who are in the house with her will live because she hid the messengers we sent.
• 1 Kings 16:34In Ahab’s time Hiel from Bethel rebuilt Jericho. Laying the foundation cost him his firstborn son, Abiram. Setting up the city doors cost him his youngest son, Segub. The Lord had spoken this through Joshua, son of Nun.
• Exodus 23:26No woman in your land will miscarry or be unable to have children. I will let you live a normal life span.
• Deuteronomy 28:2These are all the blessings that will come to you and stay close to you because you obey the Lord your God:
• Hosea 9:14Lord, give them what they deserve. Make the women miscarry, or else make them unable to nurse their babies.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19The water is naught, and the ground barren - The barrenness of the ground was the effect of the badness of the water.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19The water is naught - i. e. “bad.” And the ground barren - Translate “and the land apt to miscarry.” The stream was thought to be the cause of untimely births, abortions, and the like, among the cattle, perhaps also among the people, that drank of it.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-25Verses 19-25 Observe the miracle of healing the waters. Prophets should make every place to which they come better for them, endeavouring to sweeten bitter spirits, and to make barren souls fruitful, by the word of God, which is like the salt cast into the water by Elisha. It was an apt emblem of the effect produced by the grace of God on the sinful heart of man. Whole families, towns, and cities, sometimes have a new appearance through the preaching of…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 2:19

• Elisha
• Jericho
• Miracles
• Water

In the dictionaries

• Elisha
• Double
• Elijah
• Heal
• Jericho
• Lord
• Mock
• Rest
• Barren; Barrenness
• Friend; Friendship

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