2 Kings 6 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
2 Kings 6 (WEBP)
[1] The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we live and meet with you is too small for us.
[2] Please let us go to the Jordan, and each man take a beam from there, and let’s make us a place there, where we may live.” He answered, “Go!”
[3] One said, “Please be pleased to go with your servants.” He answered, “I will go.”
[4] So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood.
[5] But as one was cutting down a tree, the ax head fell into the water. Then he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.”
[6] The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” He showed him the place. He cut down a stick, threw it in there, and made the iron float.
[7] He said, “Take it.” So he put out his hand and took it.
[8] Now the king of Syria was at war against Israel; and he took counsel with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.”
[9] The man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.”
[10] The king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of; and he saved himself there, not once or twice.
[11] The king of Syria’s heart was very troubled about this. He called his servants, and said to them, “Won’t you show me which of us is for the king of Israel?”
[12] One of his servants said, “No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”
[13] He said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” He was told, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”
[14] Therefore he sent horses, chariots, and a great army there. They came by night and surrounded the city.
[15] When the servant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was around the city. His servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
[16] He answered, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
[17] Elisha prayed, and said, “Yahweh, please open his eyes, that he may see.” Yahweh opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.
[18] When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” He struck them with blindness according to Elisha’s word.
[19] Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” He led them to Samaria.
[20] When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “Yahweh, open these men’s eyes, that they may see.” Yahweh opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the middle of Samaria.
[21] The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, “My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?”
[22] He answered, “You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, then go to their master.”
[23] He prepared a great feast for them. After they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel.
[24] After this, Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria.
[25] There was a great famine in Samaria. Behold, they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab° of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.
[26] As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!”
[27] He said, “If Yahweh doesn’t help you, where could I get help for you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?”
[28] Then the king asked her, “What is your problem?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’
[29] So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him;’ and she has hidden her son.”
[30] When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. Now he was passing by on the wall, and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth underneath on his body.
[31] Then he said, “God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat stays on him today.”
[32] But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Then the king sent a man from before him; but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, “Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Behold, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold the door shut against him. Isn’t the sound of his master’s feet behind him?”
[33] While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him. Then he said, “Behold, this evil is from Yahweh. Why should I wait for Yahweh any longer?”
2 Kings 6:25 A kab was about 2 liters, so a fourth of a kab would be about 500 milliliters or about a pint
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
2 Kings 6 (KJVS)
[1] And the sons H1121 of the prophets H5030 said H559 (8799) unto H6440 Elisha H477, Behold now, the place H4725 where we dwell H3427 (8802) with thee is too strait H6862 for us.
[2] Let us go H3212 (8799), we pray thee, unto Jordan H3383, and take H3947 (8799) thence every man H376 a H259 beam H6982, and let us make H6213 (8799) us a place H4725 there, where we may dwell H3427 (8800). And he answered H559 (8799), Go H3212 (8798) ye.
[3] And one H259 said H559 (8799), Be content H2974 (8685), I pray thee, and go H3212 (8798) with thy servants H5650. And he answered H559 (8799), I will go H3212 (8799).
[4] So he went H3212 (8799) with them. And when they came H935 (8799) to Jordan H3383, they cut down H1504 (8799) wood H6086.
[5] But as one H259 was felling H5307 (8688) a beam H6982, the axe head H1270 fell H5307 (8804) into the water H4325: and he cried H6817 (8799), and said H559 (8799), Alas H162, master H113! for it was borrowed H7592 (8803).
[6] And the man H376 of God H430 said H559 (8799), Where H575 fell H5307 (8804) it? And he shewed H7200 (8686) him the place H4725. And he cut down H7094 (8799) a stick H6086, and cast H7993 (8686) [it] in thither; and the iron H1270 did swim H6687 (8686).
[7] Therefore said H559 (8799) he, Take [it] up H7311 (8685) to thee. And he put out H7971 (8799) his hand H3027, and took H3947 (8799) it.
[8] Then the king H4428 of Syria H758 warred H3898 (8737) against Israel H3478, and took counsel H3289 (8735) with his servants H5650, saying H559 (8800), In such H6423 and such H492 a place H4725 [shall be] my camp H8466.
[9] And the man H376 of God H430 sent H7971 (8799) unto the king H4428 of Israel H3478, saying H559 (8800), Beware H8104 (8734) that thou pass H5674 (8800) not such H2088 a place H4725; for thither the Syrians H758 are come down H5185.
[10] And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 (8799) to the place H4725 which the man H376 of God H430 told H559 (8804) him and warned H2094 (8689) him of, and saved H8104 (8738) himself there, not once H259 nor twice H8147.
[11] Therefore the heart H3820 of the king H4428 of Syria H758 was sore troubled H5590 (8735) for this thing H1697; and he called H7121 (8799) his servants H5650, and said H559 (8799) unto them, Will ye not shew H5046 (8686) me which of us [is] for the king H4428 of Israel H3478?
[12] And one H259 of his servants H5650 said H559 (8799), None, my lord H113, O king H4428: but Elisha H477, the prophet H5030 that [is] in Israel H3478, telleth H5046 (8686) the king H4428 of Israel H3478 the words H1697 that thou speakest H1696 (8762) in thy bedchamber H2315 H4904.
[13] And he said H559 (8799), Go H3212 (8798) and spy H7200 (8798) where H351 he [is], that I may send H7971 (8799) and fetch H3947 (8799) him. And it was told H5046 (8714) him, saying H559 (8800), Behold, [he is] in Dothan H1886.
[14] Therefore sent H7971 (8799) he thither horses H5483, and chariots H7393, and a great H3515 host H2428: and they came H935 (8799) by night H3915, and compassed H5362 the city H5892 about H5362 (8686).
[15] And when the servant H8334 (8764) of the man H376 of God H430 was risen H6965 (8800) early H7925 (8686), and gone forth H3318 (8799), behold, an host H2428 compassed H5437 (8802) the city H5892 both with horses H5483 and chariots H7393. And his servant H5288 said H559 (8799) unto him, Alas H162, my master H113! how shall we do H6213 (8799)?
[16] And he answered H559 (8799), Fear H3372 (8799) not: for they that [be] with us [are] more H7227 than they that [be] with them.
[17] And Elisha H477 prayed H6419 (8691), and said H559 (8799), LORD H3068, I pray thee, open H6491 (8798) his eyes H5869, that he may see H7200 (8799). And the LORD H3068 opened H6491 (8799) the eyes H5869 of the young man H5288; and he saw H7200 (8799): and, behold, the mountain H2022 [was] full H4390 (8804) of horses H5483 and chariots H7393 of fire H784 round about H5439 Elisha H477.
[18] And when they came down H3381 (8799) to him, Elisha H477 prayed H6419 (8691) unto the LORD H3068, and said H559 (8799), Smite H5221 (8685) this people H1471, I pray thee, with blindness H5575. And he smote H5221 (8686) them with blindness H5575 according to the word H1697 of Elisha H477.
[19] And Elisha H477 said H559 (8799) unto them, This [is] not the way H1870, neither [is] this H2090 the city H5892: follow H3212 (8798) H310 me, and I will bring H3212 (8686) you to the man H376 whom ye seek H1245 (8762). But he led H3212 (8686) them to Samaria H8111.
[20] And it came to pass, when they were come H935 (8800) into Samaria H8111, that Elisha H477 said H559 (8799), LORD H3068, open H6491 (8798) the eyes H5869 of these [men], that they may see H7200 (8799). And the LORD H3068 opened H6491 (8799) their eyes H5869, and they saw H7200 (8799); and, behold, [they were] in the midst H8432 of Samaria H8111.
[21] And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 said H559 (8799) unto Elisha H477, when he saw H7200 (8800) them, My father H1, shall I smite H5221 (8686) [them]? shall I smite H5221 (8686) [them]?
[22] And he answered H559 (8799), Thou shalt not smite H5221 (8686) [them]: wouldest thou smite H5221 (8688) those whom thou hast taken captive H7617 (8804) with thy sword H2719 and with thy bow H7198? set H7760 (8798) bread H3899 and water H4325 before H6440 them, that they may eat H398 (8799) and drink H8354 (8799), and go H3212 (8799) to their master H113.
[23] And he prepared H3739 (8799) great H1419 provision H3740 for them: and when they had eaten H398 (8799) and drunk H8354 (8799), he sent them away H7971 (8762), and they went H3212 (8799) to their master H113. So the bands H1416 of Syria H758 came H935 (8800) no more H3254 (8804) into the land H776 of Israel H3478.
[24] And it came to pass after this H310, that Benhadad H1130 king H4428 of Syria H758 gathered H6908 (8799) all his host H4264, and went up H5927 (8799), and besieged H6696 (8799) Samaria H8111.
[25] And there was a great H1419 famine H7458 in Samaria H8111: and, behold, they besieged H6696 (8802) it, until an ass’s H2543 head H7218 was [sold] for fourscore H8084 [pieces] of silver H3701, and the fourth part H7255 of a cab H6894 of dove’s dung H1686 (8675) H3123 H2755 for five H2568 [pieces] of silver H3701.
[26] And as the king H4428 of Israel H3478 was passing by H5674 (8802) upon the wall H2346, there cried H6817 (8804) a woman H802 unto him, saying H559 (8800), Help H3467 (8685), my lord H113, O king H4428.
[27] And he said H559 (8799), If the LORD H3068 do not help H3467 (8686) thee, whence H370 shall I help H3467 (8686) thee? out of the barnfloor H1637, or out of the winepress H3342?
[28] And the king H4428 said H559 (8799) unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered H559 (8799), This woman H802 said H559 (8804) unto me, Give H5414 (8798) thy son H1121, that we may eat H398 (8799) him to day H3117, and we will eat H398 (8799) my son H1121 to morrow H4279.
[29] So we boiled H1310 (8762) my son H1121, and did eat H398 (8799) him: and I said H559 (8799) unto her on the next H312 day H3117, Give H5414 (8798) thy son H1121, that we may eat H398 (8799) him: and she hath hid H2244 (8686) her son H1121.
[30] And it came to pass, when the king H4428 heard H8085 (8800) the words H1697 of the woman H802, that he rent H7167 (8799) his clothes H899; and he passed by H5674 (8802) upon the wall H2346, and the people H5971 looked H7200 (8799), and, behold, [he had] sackcloth H8242 within H1004 upon his flesh H1320.
[31] Then he said H559 (8799), God H430 do H6213 (8799) so and more H3254 (8686) also to me, if the head H7218 of Elisha H477 the son H1121 of Shaphat H8202 shall stand H5975 (8799) on him this day H3117.
[32] But Elisha H477 sat H3427 (8802) in his house H1004, and the elders H2205 sat H3427 (8802) with him; and [the king] sent H7971 (8799) a man H376 from before H6440 him: but ere the messenger H4397 came H935 (8799) to him, he said H559 (8804) to the elders H2205, See H7200 (8804) ye how this son H1121 of a murderer H7523 (8764) hath sent H7971 (8804) to take away H5493 (8687) mine head H7218? look H7200 (8798), when the messenger H4397 cometh H935 (8800), shut H5462 (8798) the door H1817, and hold him fast H3905 (8804) at the door H1817: [is] not the sound H6963 of his master’s H113 feet H7272 behind H310 him?
[33] And while he yet talked H1696 (8764) with them, behold, the messenger H4397 came down H3381 (8802) unto him: and he said H559 (8799), Behold, this evil H7451 [is] of the LORD H3068; what should I wait H3176 (8686) for the LORD H3068 any longer?
Young’s Literal Translation
2 Kings 6 (YLT)
[1] And sons of the prophet say unto Elisha, ‘Lo, we pray thee, the place where we are dwelling before thee is too strait for us;
[2] let us go, we pray thee, unto the Jordan, and we take thence each one beam, and we make for ourselves there a place to dwell there;’ and he saith, ‘Go.’
[3] And the one saith, ‘Be pleased, I pray thee, and go with thy servants;’ and he saith, ‘I-I go.’
[4] And he goeth with them, and they come in to the Jordan, and cut down the trees,
[5] and it cometh to pass, the one is felling the beam, and the iron hath fallen into the water, and he crieth and saith, ‘Alas! my lord, and it asked!’
[6] And the man of God saith, ‘Whither hath it fallen?’ and he sheweth him the place, and he cutteth a stick, and casteth thither, and causeth the iron to swim,
[7] and saith, ‘Raise to thee;’ and he putteth forth his hand and taketh it.
[8] And the king of Aram hath been fighting against Israel, and taketh counsel with his servants, saying, ‘At such and such a place is my encamping.’
[9] And the man of God sendeth unto the king of Israel, saying, ‘Take heed of passing by this place, for thither are the Aramaeans coming down;
[10] and the king of Israel sendeth unto the place of which the man of God spake to him, and warned him, and he is preserved there not once nor twice.
[11] And the heart of the king of Aram is tossed about concerning this thing, and he calleth unto his servants, and saith unto them, ‘Do ye not declare to me who of us is for the king of Israel?’
[12] And one of his servants saith, ‘Nay, my lord, O king, for Elisha the prophet, who is in Israel, declareth to the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in the inner part of thy bed-chamber.’
[13] And he saith, ‘Go ye and see where he is, and I send and take him;’ and it is declared to him, saying, ‘Lo-in Dothan.’
[14] And he sendeth thither horses and chariot, and a heavy force, and they come in by night, and go round against the city.
[15] And the servant of the man of God riseth early, and goeth out, and lo, a force is surrounding the city, and horse and chariot, and his young man saith unto him, ‘Alas! my lord, how do we do?’
[16] And he saith, ‘Fear not, for more are they who are with us than they who are with them.’
[17] And Elisha prayeth, and saith, ‘Jehovah, open, I pray Thee, his eyes, and he doth see;’ and Jehovah openeth the eyes of the young man, and he seeth, and lo, the hill is full of horses and chariots of fire, round about Elisha.
[18] And they come down unto it, and Elisha prayeth unto Jehovah, and saith, ‘Smite, I pray Thee, this nation with blindness;’ and He smiteth them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha.
[19] And Elisha saith unto them, ‘This is not the way, nor is this the city; come after me, and I lead you unto the man whom ye seek;’ and he leadeth them to Samaria.
[20] And it cometh to pass, at their coming in to Samaria, that Elisha saith, ‘Jehovah, open the eyes of these, and they see;’ and Jehovah openeth their eyes, and they see, and lo, in the midst of Samaria!
[21] And the king of Israel saith unto Elisha, at his seeing them, ‘Do I smite-do I smite-my father?’
[22] And he saith, ‘Thou dost not smite; those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow art thou smiting? set bread and water before them, and they eat, and drink, and go unto their lord.’
[23] And he prepareth for them great provision, and they eat and drink, and he sendeth them away, and they go unto their lord: and troops of Aram have not added any more to come in to the land of Israel.
[24] And it cometh to pass afterwards, that Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathereth all his camp, and goeth up, and layeth siege to Samaria,
[25] and there is a great famine in Samaria, and lo, they are laying siege to it, till the head of an ass is at eighty silverlings, and a forth of the cab of dovesdung at five silverlings.
[26] And it cometh to pass, the king of Israel is passing by on the wall, and a woman hath cried unto him, saying, ‘Save, my lord, O king.’
[27] And he saith, ‘Jehovah doth not save thee-whence do I save thee? out of the threshing-floor, or out of the wine-vat?’
[28] And the king saith to her, ‘What-to thee?’ and she saith, ‘This woman said unto me, Give thy son, and we eat him to-day, and my son we eat to-morrow;
[29] and we boil my son and eat him, and I say unto her on the next day, Give thy son, and we eat him; and she hideth her son.’
[30] And it cometh to pass, at the king’s hearing the words of the woman, that he rendeth his garments, and he is passing by on the wall, and the people see, and lo, the sackcloth is on his flesh within.
[31] And he saith, ‘Thus doth God do to me, and thus He doth add-if it remain-the head of Elisha son of Shaphat-upon him this day.’
[32] And Elisha is sitting in his house, and the elders are sitting with him, and the king sendeth a man from before him; before the messenger doth come unto him, even he himself said unto the elders, ‘Have ye seen that this son of the murderer hath sent to turn aside my head? see, at the coming in of the messenger, shut the door, and ye have held him fast at the door, is not the sound of the feet of his lord behind him?’
[33] He is yet speaking with them, and lo, the messenger is coming down unto him, and he saith, ‘Lo, this is the evil from Jehovah: what-do I wait for Jehovah any more?’