New International Version
2 Kings 3:22
22When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked red—like blood.
2 Kings 3:22 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when they rose early in the morning and the sun shone on the water, the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then they rose up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But when they got up the next morning, the sun was shining across the water, making it appear red to the Moabites—like blood.
Context of 2 Kings 3:22
20The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was—water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water. 21Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come to fight against them; so every man, young and old, who could bear arms was called up and stationed on the border. When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked red—like blood. 23“That’s blood!” they said. “Those kings must have fought and slaughtered each other. Now to the plunder, Moab!” 24But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and fought them until they fled. And the Israelites invaded the land and slaughtered the Moabites.
Read all of 2 Kings 32 Kings 3:22 word by word
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ זָרְחָ֣ה עַל־הַמָּ֑יִם וַיִּרְא֨וּ מוֹאָ֥ב מִנֶּ֛גֶד אֶת־הַמַּ֖יִם אֲדֻמִּ֥ים כַּדָּֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And they rose up earlyשָׁכַםshâkam · to riseH7925
- in the morningבֹּ֫קֶרbôqer · morningH1242
- and the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
- shoneזָרַחzârach · to riseH2224
- upon the waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
- and the Moabitesמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
- sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- on the other sideנֶ֫גֶדneged · beforeH5048
- redאָדֹם'âdôm · redH122
- as bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
Cross-references for 2 Kings 3:22
- 2 Kings 6:18As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
- 2 Kings 7:6for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!”
- Exodus 15:9The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’
- Judges 5:30‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: a woman or two for each man, colorful garments as plunder for Sisera, colorful garments embroidered, highly embroidered garments for my neck— all this as plunder?’
- 2 Chronicles 20:25So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.
- Isaiah 10:14As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations; as people gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.’ ”
Commentaries on 2 Kings 3:22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Saw the water on the other side as red as blood - This might have been an optical deception; I have seen the like sight when there was no reason to suspect supernatural agency. The Moabites had never seen that valley full of water, and therefore did not suspect that their eyes deceived them, but took it for the blood of the confederate hosts, who they thought might have fallen into confusion in the darkness of night and destroyed each other, as the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-27Verses 20-27 It is a blessing to be favoured with the company of those who have power with God, and can prevail by their prayers. A kingdom may be upheld and prosper, in consequence of the fervent prayers of those who are dear to God. May we place our highest regard upon such as are most precious in his account. When sinners are saying Peace, peace, destruction comes upon them: despair will follow their mad presumption. In Satan's service and at his…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. 20-2420-24. when the meat offering was offered--that is, at the time of the morning sacrifice, accompanied, doubtless, with solemn prayers; and these led, it may be, by Elisha on this occasion, as on a similar one by Elijah (1Ki 18:36). behold, there came water by the way of Edom--Far from the Israelitish camp, in the eastern mountains of Edom, a great fall of rain, a kind of cloudburst, took place, by which the wady was at once filled, but they saw neither…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 3:22
In the dictionaries
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
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