2 Kings 2:9

2 Kings 2:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
• New International Version (NIV)When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

Context of 2 Kings 2:9

7Fifty disciples of the prophets stood at a distance as Elijah and Elisha stood by the Jordan River. 8Elijah took his coat, rolled it up, and struck the water with it. The water divided to their left and their right, and the two men crossed ⌞the river⌟ on dry ground. While 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.” 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.

2 Kings 2:9 word by word

וַיְהִ֣י כְעָבְרָ֗ם וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּ אָמַ֤ר אֶל־אֱלִישָׁע֙ שְׁאַל֙ מָ֣ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֔ךְ בְּטֶ֖רֶם אֶלָּקַ֣ח מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֔ע וִֽיהִי־נָ֛א פִּֽי־שְׁנַ֥יִם בְּרוּחֲךָ֖ אֵלָֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, when they were gone overעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• that Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• Askשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• what I shall doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• for thee, before I be taken awayלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• I pray thee, let a doubleשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• portionפֶּהpeh · lip: accordingH6310
• of thy spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307

Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:9

• 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!”
• Numbers 27:16“Lord, you are the God who gives the breath of life to everyone. Please appoint someone over the community
• Deuteronomy 34:9Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the Spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him. The Israelites obeyed him and did what the Lord had commanded through Moses.
• 1 Chronicles 29:18Lord God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, always watch over your people’s deepest thoughts. Keep their hearts directed toward you.
• Psalms 72:1O God, give the king your justice and the king’s son your righteousness
• Luke 24:45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
• John 17:9“I pray for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours.
• Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you. Then you will be my witnesses to testify about me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
• Acts 8:17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit.
• Acts 20:25“Now I know that none of you whom I told about God’s kingdom will see me again.
• Numbers 11:17I’ll come down and speak with you there. I’ll take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will help you take care of the people. You won’t have to take care of the people alone.
• 1 Kings 3:9Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
• 2 Chronicles 1:9Now, Lord God, you’ve kept the promise you made to my father David. You’ve made me king of people who are as numerous as specks of dust on the ground.
• John 14:12“I can guarantee this truth: Those who believe in me will do the things that I am doing. They will do even greater things because I am going to the Father.
• John 16:7However, I am telling you the truth: It’s good for you that I’m going away. If I don’t go away, the helper won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
• 1 Corinthians 12:31You ⌞only⌟ want the better gifts, but I will show you the best thing to do.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9A double portion of thy spirit be upon me - This in reference to the law, Deuteronomy 21:17; : He shall acknowledge the first-born, by giving him a Double Portion of all that he hath-the right of the first-born is his. Elisha considered himself the only child or first-born of Elijah, as the disciples of eminent teachers were called their children; so here he claims a double portion of his spiritual influence, any other disciples coming in for a single…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me - Like Solomon, Elisha asks for no worldly advantage, but for spiritual power to discharge his office aright. The “double portion” is that which denotes the proportion of a father‘s property which was the right of an eldest son Deuteronomy 21:17. Elisha therefore asked for twice as much of Elijah‘s spirit as should be inherited by any other of the “sons of the prophets.” He simply claimed, i. e., to be…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. 9-10The firstborn son was the main heir. So, he received twice as much of his father's estate (Deuteronomy 21:17). Elisha asked for Elijah's spiritual gifts and privileges from God to continue through him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee--trusting either that it would be in his power to bequeath it, or that God, at his entreaty, would grant it. let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me--This request was not, as is commonly supposed, for the power of working miracles exceeding the magnitude and number of his master's, nor does it mean a higher endowment of the prophetic spirit; for Elisha was neither superior to, nor perhaps…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 2:9

• Ascension
• Elisha
• Prophecy
• Prophets
• Translation

In the dictionaries

• Elijah
• Elisha
• Double
• Heal
• Lord
• Mock
• Rest
• Friend; Friendship
• Jehoram; Joram
• Kings, Books of

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