New King James Version
2 Kings 3:16
16And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’
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 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
14And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. 15But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ 17For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ 18And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.
Read all of 2 Kings 32 Kings 3:16 word by word
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה עָשֹׂ֛ה הַנַּ֥חַל הַזֶּ֖ה גֵּבִ֥ים׀ גֵּבִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Kings 3:16
- 2 Kings 4:3Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
- Numbers 2:18“On the west side shall be the standard of the forces with Ephraim according to their armies, and the leader of the children of Ephraim shall be 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
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries