2 Kings 3:16

2 Kings 3:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.
• New International Version (NIV)and he said, “This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, "Thus says the Lord, 'I will make this dry streambed full of pools.'
• New King James Version (NKJV)And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’

Context of 2 Kings 3:16

14Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord of armies lives, before whom I stand, if I did not respect Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you. 15But now bring me a musician.” And it came about, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’ 17For the Lord says this: ‘You will not see wind, nor will you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you will drink, you, your livestock, and your other animals. 18And this is an insignificant thing in the sight of the Lord; He will also give the Moabites into your hand.

2 Kings 3:16 word by word

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה עָשֹׂ֛ה הַנַּ֥חַל הַזֶּ֖ה גֵּבִ֥ים׀ גֵּבִֽים׃Read the interlinear

• And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Thisכֹּהkôh · thusH3541
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Makeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
• thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• valleyנַ֫חַלnachal nachlâh nachălâh · torrent: valleyH5158
• fullגֵּבgêb · cisternH1356

Cross-references for 2 Kings 3:16

• 2 Kings 4:3Then he said, “Go, borrow containers elsewhere for yourself, empty containers from all your neighbors--do not get too few.
• Numbers 2:18“On the west side shall be the flag of the camp of Ephraim by their armies; and the leader of the sons of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud,

Commentaries on 2 Kings 3:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Make this valley full of ditches - The word נחל nachal may be translated brook, as it is by the Vulgate and Septuagint. There probably was a river here, but it was now dry; and the prophet desires that they would enlarge the channel, and cut out various canals from it, and reservoirs, where water might be collected for the refreshment of the army and of the cattle; and these were to be made so wide that the reflection of the sun's rays from this water…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Ditches - Or “pits” Jeremiah 14:3. They were to dig pits in the broad valley or wady, wherein the water might remain, instead of flowing off down the torrent course.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. 4-27One of Elisha's miracles took place during the war between Israel, Judah, and Moab.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Make this valley full of ditches--capable of holding water.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 3:16

• Armies
• Moabites
• Water

In the dictionaries

• Colour
• Compass
• Elisha
• Indignation
• Jehoram
• Jehoshaphat
• Moabite Stone
• Regard
• Stop
• Zoar

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