2 Kings 2:9

2 Kings 2:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
• New International Version (NIV)When 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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

Context of 2 Kings 2:9

7Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. 8Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground! When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” 10“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.” 11As 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.

2 Kings 2:9 word by word

וַיְהִ֣י כְעָבְרָ֗ם וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּ אָמַ֤ר אֶל־אֱלִישָׁע֙ שְׁאַל֙ מָ֣ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֔ךְ בְּטֶ֖רֶם אֶלָּקַ֣ח מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֔ע וִֽיהִי־נָ֛א פִּֽי־שְׁנַ֥יִם בְּרוּחֲךָ֖ אֵלָֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, when they were gone overעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• that Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• Askשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• what I shall doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• for thee, before I be taken awayלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• I pray thee, let a doubleשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• portionפֶּהpeh · lip: accordingH6310
• of thy spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307

Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:9

• 2 Kings 13:14When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” he cried.
• Numbers 27:16“O Lord, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community.
• Deuteronomy 34:9Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him, doing just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
• 1 Chronicles 29:18“O Lord, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make your people always want to obey you. See to it that their love for you never changes.
• Psalms 72:1Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son.
• Luke 24:45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
• John 17:9“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.
• Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
• Acts 8:17Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
• Acts 20:25“And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again.
• Numbers 11:17I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.
• 1 Kings 3:9Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
• 2 Chronicles 1:9O Lord God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth!
• John 14:12“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
• John 16:7But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.
• 1 Corinthians 12:31So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9A double portion of thy spirit be upon me - This in reference to the law, Deuteronomy 21:17; : He shall acknowledge the first-born, by giving him a Double Portion of all that he hath-the right of the first-born is his. Elisha considered himself the only child or first-born of Elijah, as the disciples of eminent teachers were called their children; so here he claims a double portion of his spiritual influence, any other disciples coming in for a single…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me - Like Solomon, Elisha asks for no worldly advantage, but for spiritual power to discharge his office aright. The “double portion” is that which denotes the proportion of a father‘s property which was the right of an eldest son Deuteronomy 21:17. Elisha therefore asked for twice as much of Elijah‘s spirit as should be inherited by any other of the “sons of the prophets.” He simply claimed, i. e., to be…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. 9-10The firstborn son was the main heir. So, he received twice as much of his father's estate (Deuteronomy 21:17). Elisha asked for Elijah's spiritual gifts and privileges from God to continue through him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee--trusting either that it would be in his power to bequeath it, or that God, at his entreaty, would grant it. let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me--This request was not, as is commonly supposed, for the power of working miracles exceeding the magnitude and number of his master's, nor does it mean a higher endowment of the prophetic spirit; for Elisha was neither superior to, nor perhaps…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 2:9

• Ascension
• Elisha
• Prophecy
• Prophets
• Translation

In the dictionaries

• Elijah
• Elisha
• Double
• Heal
• Lord
• Mock
• Rest
• Friend; Friendship
• Jehoram; Joram
• Kings, Books of

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