New English Translation
2 Kings 2:19
19The men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, the city has a good location, as our master can see. But the water is bad and the land doesn’t produce crops.”
2 Kings 2:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
- New International Version (NIV)The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now the men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”
Context of 2 Kings 2:19
17But they were so insistent, he became embarrassed. So he said, “Send them out.” They sent the fifty men out and they looked for three days, but could not find Elijah. 18When they came back, Elisha was staying in Jericho. He said to them, “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t go’?” The men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, the city has a good location, as our master can see. But the water is bad and the land doesn’t produce crops.” 20Elisha said, “Get me a new jar and put some salt in it.” So they got it. 21He went out to the spring and threw the salt in. Then he said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or fail to produce crops.”
Read all of 2 Kings 22 Kings 2:19 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הָעִיר֙ אֶל־אֱלִישָׁ֔ע הִנֵּה־נָ֞א מוֹשַׁ֤ב הָעִיר֙ ט֔וֹב כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲדֹנִ֖י רֹאֶ֑ה וְהַמַּ֥יִם רָעִ֖ים וְהָאָ֥רֶץ מְשַׁכָּֽלֶת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
- Behold, I pray thee, the situationמוֹשָׁבmôshâb môshâb · seatH4186
- pleasantטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- as my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
- seethרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- but the waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
- naughtרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
- and the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- barrenמְשַׁכֶּ֫לֶתshâkôl · barrennessH7921
Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:19
- Numbers 12:11So Aaron said to Moses, “O my lord, please do not hold this sin against us, in which we have acted foolishly and have sinned!
- 1 Kings 18:7As Obadiah was traveling along, Elijah met him. When he recognized him, he fell facedown to the ground and said, “Is it really you, my master, Elijah?”
- 1 Timothy 5:17Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.
- Exodus 7:19Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over Egypt’s waters – over their rivers, over their canals, over their ponds, and over all their reservoirs – so that it becomes blood.’ There will be blood everywhere in the land of Egypt, even in wooden and stone containers.”
- Exodus 15:23Then they came to Marah, but they were not able to drink the waters of Marah, because they were bitter. (That is why its name was Marah.)
- Joshua 6:17The city and all that is in it must be set apart for the Lord, except for Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house, because she hid the spies we sent.
- 1 Kings 16:34During Ahab’s reign, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. Abiram, his firstborn son, died when he laid the foundation; Segub, his youngest son, died when he erected its gates, just as the Lord had warned through Joshua son of Nun.
- Exodus 23:26No woman will miscarry her young or be barren in your land. I will fulfill the number of your days.
- Deuteronomy 28:2All these blessings will come to you in abundance if you obey the Lord your God:
- Hosea 9:14Give them, O Lord – what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry, and breasts that cannot nurse!
Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19The water is naught, and the ground barren - The barrenness of the ground was the effect of the badness of the water.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19The water is naught - i. e. “bad.” And the ground barren - Translate “and the land apt to miscarry.” The stream was thought to be the cause of untimely births, abortions, and the like, among the cattle, perhaps also among the people, that drank of it.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-25Verses 19-25 Observe the miracle of healing the waters. Prophets should make every place to which they come better for them, endeavouring to sweeten bitter spirits, and to make barren souls fruitful, by the word of God, which is like the salt cast into the water by Elisha. It was an apt emblem of the effect produced by the grace of God on the sinful heart of man. Whole families, towns, and cities, sometimes have a new appearance through the preaching of…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 2:19
In the dictionaries
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
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