2 Kings 3:11

2 Kings 3:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may enquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
• New International Version (NIV)But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?" Then one of the king of Israel's servants answered, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

Context of 2 Kings 3:11

9So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom took an indirect route ⌞to Moab⌟. After seven days they ran out of water for the army and the animals. 10The king of Israel said, “Oh no! The Lord has put the three of us at the mercy of ⌞the people of⌟ Moab.” But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord whom we could ask?” One of the officials of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha, the son of Shaphat, is here. He used to be Elijah’s assistant.” 12Jehoshaphat said, “The Lord’s word is with him.” So King Jehoshaphat of Judah, the king of Israel, and the king of Edom went to Elisha. 13Elisha asked the king of Israel, “Why did you come to me? Go to your father’s prophets or your mother’s prophets.” The king of Israel answered him, “No. The Lord has called the three of us in order to put us at Moab’s mercy.”

2 Kings 3:11 word by word

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט הַאֵ֨ין פֹּ֤ה נָבִיא֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וְנִדְרְשָׁ֥ה אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה מֵאוֹת֑וֹ וַ֠יַּעַן אֶחָ֞ד מֵעַבְדֵ֤י מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר פֹּ֚ה אֱלִישָׁ֣ע בֶּן־שָׁפָ֔ט אֲשֶׁר־יָ֥צַק מַ֖יִם עַל־יְדֵ֥י אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But Jehoshaphatיְהוֹשָׁפָטyehôshâphâţ · JehoshaphatH3092
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• not here a prophetנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• that we may enquireדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• by him? And oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• of the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• of Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Shaphatשָׁפָטshâphâţ · ShaphatH8202
• which pouredיָצַקyâtsaq · to pour: pourH3332
• waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• on the handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• of Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452

Cross-references for 2 Kings 3:11

• 1 Kings 22:7But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord whom we could ask?”
• Psalms 74:9We no longer see miraculous signs. There are no prophets anymore. No one knows how long this will last.
• Amos 3:7Certainly, the Almighty Lord doesn’t do anything unless he ⌞first⌟ reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.
• 2 Kings 3:1Joram, son of Ahab, became king of Israel in Samaria during Jehoshaphat’s eighteenth year as king of Judah. He ruled for 12 years.
• Joshua 9:14The men believed the evidence they were shown, but they did not ask the Lord about it.
• Judges 20:8All the people stood united, saying, “None of us will go to his tent or return to his house.
• Judges 18:23They shouted at them. But the people of Dan turned around and said to Micah, “What’s your problem? Why did you call your neighbors together to attack us?”
• 1 Chronicles 10:13So Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to the Lord: He did not obey the Lord’s word. He asked a medium to request information ⌞from a dead person⌟.
• 1 Chronicles 14:10David asked God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord answered him, “Attack! I will hand them over to you.”
• 1 Chronicles 15:13Because you weren’t there the first time, the Lord our God struck us. We hadn’t dedicated our lives to serving him in the way ⌞he⌟ designated.”
• Genesis 18:4Why don’t we let someone bring a little water? After you wash your feet, you can stretch out and rest under the tree.
• Joshua 1:1After the death of the Lord’s servant Moses, the Lord said to Moses’ assistant Joshua, son of Nun,
• 1 Kings 19:21Elisha left him, took two oxen, and butchered them. He boiled the meat, using the oxen’s yoke ⌞for firewood⌟. He gave the meat to the people to eat. Then he left to follow and assist Elijah.
• Luke 22:26But you’re not going to be that way! Rather, the greatest among you must be like the youngest, and your leader must be like a servant.
• John 13:4So he got up from the table, removed his outer clothes, took a towel, and tied it around his waist.
• 1 Timothy 5:10People should tell about the good things she has done: raising children, being hospitable, taking care of believers’ needs, helping the suffering, or always doing good things.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 3:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Is there not here a prophet of the Lord - The kings of Judah still acknowledged the true God, and him only. Poured water on the hands of Elijah - That is, was his constant and confidential servant.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11A prophet of the Lord - i. e. of Yahweh. It was necessary to inquire thus definitely, as there were still plenty of prophets who were only prophets of Baal 2 Kings 3:13. Here is Elisha - Jehoram appears to have been ignorant of his presence with the host, and one of his “servants,” or officers, answered Jehoshaphat‘s inquiry. Which poured water - An act signifying ministration or attendance (compare John 13:5 ff).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-19Verses 6-19 The king of Israel laments their distress, and the danger they were in. He called these kings together, yet he charges it upon Providence. Thus the foolishness of man perverteth his way, and then his heart fretteth against the Lord, Pr 19:3. It was well that Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord now, but it had been much better if he had done it before he engaged in this war. Good men sometimes neglect their duty, till necessity and affliction…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-12Is there no prophet of the LORD here?: Diviners or prophets often traveled with armies to understand the divine will. Jehoshaphat wanted to hear from a true prophet to know the Lord’s plans for the battle (see 1 Kings 22:7). However, this time he waited until the campaign had started before asking the Lord.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-128-12. Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom--This was a long and circuitous route, by the southern bend of the Dead Sea. Jehoshaphat however preferred it, partly because the part of the Moabite territory at which they would arrive, was the most defenseless; and partly because he would thereby enlist, in the expedition, the forces of the king of Edom. But, in penetrating the deep, rocky valley of Ahsy, which…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 3:11

• Armies
• Elisha
• Moabites
• Prophets
• Shaphat

In the dictionaries

• Elijah
• Elisha
• Jehoshaphat
• Colour
• Compass
• Hand
• Indignation
• Jehoram
• Moabite Stone
• Regard

Commentaries on 2 Kings 3

• 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