2 Kings 1 10

2 Kings 1:10 kjv

And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

2 Kings 1:10 nkjv

So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

2 Kings 1:10 niv

Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.

2 Kings 1:10 esv

But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

2 Kings 1:10 nlt

But Elijah replied to the captain, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all.

2 Kings 1 verses

2 Kings 1 10 Meaning

This verse powerfully illustrates divine judgment and the validation of God's prophetic authority through Elijah. When King Ahaziah's captain disrespectfully commanded Elijah to come down, Elijah asserted his identity as "a man of God" and invoked divine judgment. Immediately, fire descended from heaven, consuming the captain and his entire unit of fifty men. This act unequivocally confirmed Elijah's status as God's true messenger and demonstrated YHWH's sovereign power and wrath against those who defy His word and His appointed servants.

2 Kings 1 10 Context

This verse occurs early in the reign of Ahaziah, King of Israel, son of Ahab and Jezebel. Ahaziah fell through a lattice in his upper room and inquired of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, concerning his recovery (2 Kgs 1:2). This act of consulting a pagan deity instead of YHWH directly violated the Mosaic covenant and exemplified the rampant idolatry prevalent in the Northern Kingdom. In response, YHWH sent Elijah to confront Ahaziah's messengers, declaring that the king would surely die because he rejected the God of Israel (2 Kgs 1:3-4). When this message reached the king, he sent a military captain and fifty men to bring Elijah to him. The captain's command to Elijah in verse 9, "Man of God, the king has commanded, 'Come down!'" was not an invitation but a dismissive, disrespectful order, akin to an arrest, ignoring Elijah's prophetic status and treating him merely as a subject of the king's authority, rather than a representative of the divine. Verse 10 is Elijah's immediate, divinely-empowered response to this affront. This incident establishes the complete authority of YHWH over human rulers and prophets alike.

2 Kings 1 10 Word analysis

• And Elijah answered: The narrative seamlessly continues, highlighting the prophet's immediate, divinely prompted reply. Elijah's response is direct, confrontational, and authoritative.
• said to him: Emphasizes a personal, direct interaction with the captain, underlining the weight of Elijah's words.
• If I am a man of God, (’Im ’îsh ’Ĕlōhîm ’ānî, Hebrew: אִם־אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים אָנִי): This is not an expression of doubt, but a conditional statement serving as an affirmation, implying: "Since I truly am a man of God..." or "Indeed, if I am truly a man of God, as my previous deeds have shown..." It sets up a divine test. ’îsh ’Ĕlōhîm (man of God) is a frequently used title for prophets (e.g., Deut 33:1, Judg 13:6, 1 Sam 2:27, 1 Kgs 13:1). It signifies someone specifically called, equipped, and sent by God to convey His message and demonstrate His power, acting on His behalf.
• then let fire come down from heaven (wattērād̄ ’ēsh min-haššāmayim, Hebrew: וְתֵרֵד אֵשׁ מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם): Elijah's declaration is not a personal curse but an invocation of God's power. "Fire from heaven" (אֵשׁ מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם) is a direct divine manifestation, used repeatedly in scripture as a symbol of God's presence, judgment, or confirmation of sacrifice (e.g., 1 Kgs 18:38). Its source, "heaven" (הַשָּׁמַיִם), points to God as the sole originator of this power, not Elijah himself.
• and consume you and your fifty: (wətō’ḵal ’ōṯəḵā wə’eṯ ḥămiššeḵā, Hebrew: וְתֹאכַל אֹתְךָ וְאֶת־חֲמִשֶּׁיךָ): "Consume" (תֹּאכַל - to’kal, meaning "devour" or "eat up") denotes total annihilation. The judgment falls not just on the captain for his audacity, but on the entire military unit. This demonstrates the totality of divine judgment on those who align themselves with disobedient authority against God's appointed messenger. It also sends a clear message to the king regarding the grave consequences of defying YHWH.
• And fire came down from heaven: (wattēred ’ēsh min-haššāmayim, Hebrew: וַתֵּרֶד אֵשׁ מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם): The immediate fulfillment. The perfect verb form indicates a completed action. God instantly validates Elijah's prophetic authority and judges the captain's arrogance.
• and consumed him and his fifty: (wattō’kal ’ōṯō wə’eṯ ḥămiššāyw, Hebrew: וַתֹּאכַל אֹתוֹ וְאֶת־חֲמִשָּׁיו): Reiterates the complete destruction, emphasizing the certainty and finality of divine judgment. This powerful event serves as a public declaration of God's unyielding sovereignty over Israel and its king.

2 Kings 1 10 Bonus section

This account is rich with theological significance. The incident with the fire from heaven not only validates Elijah but also constitutes a powerful polemic against Baal worship, whose adherents sometimes claimed control over meteorological phenomena, including fire. Here, YHWH unequivocally asserts His absolute sovereignty over such elements. Furthermore, the event reveals a boundary condition of divine patience; while God is merciful, there are limits to defiance. The swift judgment on the fifty-one men demonstrates the severity of rejecting God's direct revelation and His prophet, particularly in a context of widespread idolatry and covenant breaking. It serves as a stark warning to both the king and the nation about the consequences of persistently rebelling against the one true God. The episode also prefigures the ultimate divine judgment often depicted in Scripture with fire.

2 Kings 1 10 Commentary

2 Kings 1:10 vividly demonstrates the profound tension between divine authority and human arrogance. Ahaziah's sin was twofold: relying on a pagan deity over YHWH and disrespecting God's chosen prophet, Elijah. The captain, as an agent of the king, amplified this disrespect by commanding Elijah rather than respectfully approaching "the man of God." Elijah's response is not a personal outburst but an act of faithfulness, an invocation of divine justice that authenticates his message and warns the rebellious king. The instantaneous descent of fire from heaven is a dramatic and unmistakable sign that YHWH is the true God, distinct from impotent idols like Baal-Zebub, and that He fiercely protects His representatives. This event underscores that defying a true prophet of God is tantamount to defying God Himself, a lesson taught throughout scripture. It highlights God's consuming holiness and judgment upon deliberate disobedience, reinforcing His demand for exclusive loyalty and reverence from His people and their leaders.