2 Kings 2:8

2 Kings 2:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
• New International Version (NIV)Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

Context of 2 Kings 2:8

6Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here please, for Adonai has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As Adonai lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So both of them went on. 7Then 50 of the sons of the prophets went and stood aside at a distance from them, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Elijah then took his mantle, wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9Now as they were crossing over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I will do for you before I am taken from you.” So Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10He replied, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be so to you; but if not, it will not be so.”

2 Kings 2:8 word by word

וַיִּקַּח֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ אֶת־אַדַּרְתּ֤וֹ וַיִּגְלֹם֙ וַיַּכֶּ֣ה אֶת־הַמַּ֔יִם וַיֵּחָצ֖וּ הֵ֣נָּה וָהֵ֑נָּה וַיַּעַבְר֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם בֶּחָרָבָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
• tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• his mantleאַדֶּ֫רֶת'addereth · clothingH155
• togetherגָּלַםgâlam · to foldH1563
• and smoteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
• and they were dividedחָצָהchâtsâh · to divideH2673
• hither and thither, so that they twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• went overעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• on dryחָֽרָבָהchârâbâh · dry groundH2724

Cross-references for 2 Kings 2:8

• 1 Kings 19:13As soon as Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then all of a sudden, a voice addressed him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
• 2 Kings 2:14he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen off him, struck the waters and said, “Where is Adonai, the God of Elijah?” As he indeed struck the waters, they parted here then there. Then Elisha crossed over.
• Exodus 14:21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. Adonai drove the sea back with a strong east wind throughout the night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided.
• Joshua 3:14So it came to pass. When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the kohanim were carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of the people.
• Psalms 114:5Why was it, O sea, that you fled? O Jordan, that you turned back?
• Isaiah 11:15Then Adonai will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea. He will wave His hand over the River with His scorching wind, and will strike it into seven streams, and let men walk over in sandals.
• Hebrews 11:29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as if on dry ground. When the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up.
• Revelation 16:12The sixth angel poured out his bowl over the great river Euphrates; and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 2:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Took his mantle - , his sheep-skin, says the Septuagint. The skins of beasts, dressed with the hair on, were formerly worn by prophets and priests as the simple insignia of their office. As the civil authority was often lodged in the hands of such persons, particularly among the Jews, mantles of this kind were used by kings and high civil officers when they bore no sacred character. The custom continues to the present day; a lamb's skin hood or cloak is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8They were divided … - The attestation to the divine mission of Elijah furnished by this miracle would tend to place him upon a par in the thoughts of men with the two great leaders of the nation named in the marginal references.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8Elijah folded his cloak and hit the water with it. These symbolic actions showed God's power (see Exodus 14:16, 21, 26–27; 17:8–13; 1 Kings 11:30–31; Ezekiel 4; 5:1–4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters--Like the rod of Moses, it had the divinely operating power of the Spirit.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 2:8

• Ascension
• Elisha
• Jordan
• Mantle
• Miracles
• Prophecy
• Prophets
• Translation
• Water

In the dictionaries

• Elijah
• Double
• Heal
• Jordan
• Lord
• Mantle
• Mock
• Rest
• Friend; Friendship
• Jehoram; Joram

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