2 Kings 2:4

2 Kings 2:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.

Context of 2 Kings 2:4

2Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here because the Lord is sending me to Bethel.” Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Bethel. 3Some of the disciples of the prophets at Bethel came to Elisha. They asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.” Elijah said, “Elisha, please stay here because the Lord is sending me to Jericho.” Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Jericho. 5Then some of the disciples of the prophets who were in Jericho approached Elisha. They asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.” 6Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here because the Lord is sending me to the Jordan River.” Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.”

2 Kings 2:4 word by word

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ ל֨וֹ אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ אֱלִישָׁ֣ע׀ שֵֽׁב־נָ֣א פֹ֗ה כִּ֤י יְהוָה֙ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי יְרִיח֔וֹ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר חַי־יְהוָ֥ה וְחֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ אִם־אֶעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ יְרִיחֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto him, Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• tarryיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• here, I pray thee; for the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• hath sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• me to Jerichoיְרִיחוֹyerîychô yerêchô yerîychôh · JerichoH3405
• livethחַיchay · aliveH2416
• thy soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: myselfH5315
• I will not leaveעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800
• thee. So they cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935

Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:4

• Joshua 6:26At that time Joshua pronounced this curse: “The Lord will curse whoever comes to rebuild the city of Jericho. It will cost him his firstborn son to lay the foundation. It will cost him his youngest son to set up the city doors.”
• 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.
• Luke 19:1Jesus was passing through Jericho.
• 2 Kings 2:2Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here because the Lord is sending me to Bethel.” Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Bethel.
• 2 Kings 4:30The boy’s mother said, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord and you live, I will not leave without you.” So Elisha got up and followed her.
• Acts 2:42The disciples were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
• Acts 11:23When he arrived there, he was pleased to see what God had done for them out of kindness. So he encouraged all the people to remain solidly committed to the Lord.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:4

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-6stay here: Elijah asked Elisha three times to stay behind while he traveled. Each time, Elisha refused and promised to stay with his master until the end.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-102Ki 2:1-10. Elijah Divines Jordan. 1-7. when the Lord would take up Elijah--A revelation of this event had been made to the prophet; but, unknown to him, it had also been revealed to his disciples, and to Elisha in particular, who kept constantly beside him. Gilgal--This Gilgal (Jiljil) was near Ebal and Gerizim; a school of the prophets was established there. At Beth-el there was also a school of the prophets, which Elijah had founded, notwithstanding…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 2:4

• Ascension
• Elisha
• Jericho
• Prophecy
• Prophets
• Servant
• Translation

In the dictionaries

• Elijah
• Elisha
• Jericho
• Double
• Heal
• Lord
• Mock
• Rest
• Friend; Friendship
• Jehoram; Joram

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