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.
• 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.’
• New Living Translation (NLT)and he said, “This is what the Lord says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water!

Context of 2 Kings 3:16

14Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you. 15But now bring me a harpist.” While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha and he said, “This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water. 17For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. 18This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also deliver Moab into your hands.

2 Kings 3:16 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Makeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
• this valleyנַ֫חַלnachal nachlâh nachălâh · torrent: valleyH5158
• full of ditchesגֵּבgêb · cisternH1356

Cross-references for 2 Kings 3:16

• 2 Kings 4:3Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.
• Numbers 2:18On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama 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