2 Kings 2:11

2 Kings 2:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
• New International Version (NIV)As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Context of 2 Kings 2:11

9When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. 12Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

2 Kings 2:11 word by word

וַיְהִ֗י הֵ֣מָּה הֹלְכִ֤ים הָלוֹךְ֙ וְדַבֵּ֔ר וְהִנֵּ֤ה רֶֽכֶב־אֵשׁ֙ וְס֣וּסֵי אֵ֔שׁ וַיַּפְרִ֖דוּ בֵּ֣ין שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיַּ֙עַל֙ אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ בַּֽסְעָרָ֖ה הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear

• As they were goingהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• along and talkingדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• beholdהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• a chariotרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393
• of fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
• and horsesסוּסsûs sûs · horseH5483
• which separatedפָּרַדpârad · to separateH6504
• the twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• of them. And Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
• wentעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• whirlwindסְעָרָהsa‛ar se‛ârâh · tempestH5591
• to heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064

Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:11

• 2 Kings 6:17Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
• Psalms 68:17The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.
• Psalms 104:3He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind;
• Ezekiel 1:4As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire.
• Ezekiel 10:9Then I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of a Tarshish stone.
• Habakkuk 3:8Did the Lord rage against the rivers, Or was Your anger against the rivers, Or was Your wrath against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, On Your chariots of salvation?
• Zechariah 3:8Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you--indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch.
• Zechariah 6:1Now I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming forth from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains.
• Hebrews 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
• 2 Kings 2:1And it came about when the Lord was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
• Mark 16:19So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Elijah went up - into heaven - He was truly translated; and the words here leave us no room to indulge the conjecture of Dr. Priestley, who supposes that as "Enoch, (probably Moses), Elijah, and Christ, had no relation to any other world or planet, they are no doubt in this;" for we are told that Elijah went up into heaven; and we know, from the sure testimony of the Scripture, that our blessed Lord is at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ever living…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Elijah went up … - No honest exegesis can explain this passage in any other sense than as teaching the translation of Elijah, who was taken from the earth, like Enoch Genesis 5:24, without dying. Compare Sirach 48:9.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. 11chariot of fire … horses of fire … whirlwind: These symbolize God's powerful presence (see Isaiah 66:15). Elijah was taken into heaven, like Enoch (Genesis 5:24), without dying. Some believe Enoch and Elijah will return at the end times (see study note on Revelation 11:1–13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire--some bright effulgence, which, in the eyes of the spectators, resembled those objects. went up by a whirlwind--a tempest or storm wind accompanied with vivid flashes of fire, figuratively used for the divine judgments (Is 29:6).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 2:11

• Ascension
• Elijah
• Elisha
• Fire
• Heaven
• Immortality
• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena
• Miracles
• Prophecy
• Prophets
• Translation
• Vision
• Whirlwind

In the dictionaries

• Elijah
• Chariot
• Double
• Fire
• Heal
• Lord
• Mock
• Rest
• Asunder
• Death

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