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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.

Context of 2 Kings 2:11

9When 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. 10“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” 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. 12Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. 13Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, as they stillהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• and talkedדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• a chariotרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393
• of fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
• and horsesסוּסsûs sûs · horseH5483
• and partedפָּרַדpârad · to separateH6504
• them bothשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• asunderבַּ֫יִןbêyn · betweenH996
• and Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
• went upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• by a whirlwindסְעָרָהsa‛ar se‛ârâh · tempestH5591
• into heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064

Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:11

• 2 Kings 6:17And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
• Psalms 68:17The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.
• Psalms 104:3and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
• Ezekiel 1:4I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,
• Ezekiel 10:9I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz.
• Habakkuk 3:8Were you angry with the rivers, Lord? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea when you rode your horses and your chariots to victory?
• Zechariah 3:8“ ‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.
• Zechariah 6:1I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze.
• Hebrews 1:14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
• 2 Kings 2:1When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
• Mark 16:19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat 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