2 Kings 1:4 kjv
Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.
2 Kings 1:4 nkjv
Now therefore, thus says the LORD: 'You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.' " So Elijah departed.
2 Kings 1:4 niv
Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!'?" So Elijah went.
2 Kings 1:4 esv
Now therefore thus says the LORD, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.'" So Elijah went.
2 Kings 1:4 nlt
Now, therefore, this is what the LORD says: You will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.'" So Elijah went to deliver the message.
2 Kings 1 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 20:3 | "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." | The First Commandment violated by Ahaziah |
| Deut 4:15-19 | "Take ye therefore good heed... lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image..." | Warning against idolatry and its forms |
| Deut 28:15 | "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken... that all these curses shall come upon thee..." | Consequences of disobedience, including affliction |
| Josh 24:14-15 | "Choose you this day whom ye will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." | Call for exclusive devotion to YHWH |
| 1 Sam 2:6 | "The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up." | God's absolute sovereignty over life and death |
| 2 Chr 16:12 | "And in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians." | Asa's failure to seek the Lord in sickness |
| Ps 68:20 | "He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death." | God controls outcomes of life and death |
| Isa 55:11 | "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void..." | Divine word's effectiveness and certainty |
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent..." | God's unchangeable word |
| Jer 1:9-10 | "Then the Lord put forth his hand... I have this day set thee over the nations... to pluck up, and to pull down..." | Prophetic authority from God |
| Ezek 14:3 | "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart..." | Idolatry originating in the heart |
| Hos 4:12 | "My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them..." | Seeking guidance from idols |
| John 11:25-26 | "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live..." | Jesus as the source of true life |
| Acts 4:11-12 | "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven... whereby we must be saved." | Exclusivity of salvation through Christ |
| Rom 1:21-23 | "When they knew God, they glorified him not as God... and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image..." | Describing the spiritual turning to idolatry |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." | Sin's consequence of death |
| Heb 9:27 | "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" | Inevitable appointment of death and judgment |
| James 5:14-15 | "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders... and let them pray over him..." | Seeking God through prayer for healing |
| 1 Cor 10:20-21 | "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God..." | Connecting idol worship to demonic forces |
| Gal 5:19-21 | "Now the works of the flesh are manifest... idolatry, witchcraft... they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." | Idolatry prevents inheriting God's kingdom |
| Rev 21:8 | "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable... and idolaters... shall have their part in the lake which burneth..." | Final judgment on idolaters and unbelievers |
| 1 Ki 21:19 | "Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed... In the place where dogs licked... shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine." | Elijah's prophecy on Ahab, demonstrating pattern |
2 Kings 1 verses
2 Kings 1 4 Meaning
This verse is a divine proclamation of unalterable judgment delivered by the prophet Elijah to King Ahaziah of Israel. Because King Ahaziah, instead of seeking the Lord God for healing from his injury, sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, the Lord declared that Ahaziah would not recover from his affliction. The decree explicitly states that Ahaziah's injury will be fatal, sealing his inevitable death as a direct consequence of his grave spiritual rebellion and idolatry.
2 Kings 1 4 Context
King Ahaziah, ruler of Israel for two years, inherited the idolatrous practices of his parents, King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, worshipping Baal and provoking the Lord (1 Ki 22:51-53). His reign was marked by continuing rebellion against the covenant God of Israel. The immediate context of 2 Kings 1 begins with Ahaziah suffering a severe fall from the lattice of his upper room (2 Ki 1:2). Instead of humbling himself and seeking YHWH, the true God who had powerfully revealed Himself through Elijah, Ahaziah demonstrated his utter contempt by dispatching messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of the Philistine city of Ekron, to inquire if he would recover. This act of seeking a pagan deity for counsel and healing was a profound transgression against God's exclusive claim on Israel's worship and loyalty. In response to this egregious apostasy, YHWH sent the prophet Elijah to intercept Ahaziah's messengers, halting their idolatrous mission, and to deliver this direct, condemning judgment against the king.
2 Kings 1 4 Word analysis
- Now therefore: This connective phrase indicates a logical consequence or a crucial turning point directly resulting from Ahaziah's recent actions, particularly his decision to consult Baal-zebub. It highlights that the divine judgment follows inevitably.
- thus saith the Lord: Hebrew: כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה (ko amár YHWH). This is the quintessential prophetic formula, underscoring that the message originates not from Elijah, but directly from the sovereign, covenant-keeping God of Israel. It conveys ultimate authority, certainty, and an unchallengeable divine decree.
- Thou shalt not come down: Hebrew: לֹא תֵרֵד (lo tered). This is a definitive, unyielding negative command. It signifies that there will be no recovery or improvement for Ahaziah. His state of being "up" (on his bed, implying helplessness) is permanent regarding his recovery.
- from that bed on which thou art gone up: Refers to the specific place where Ahaziah was lying injured after his fall and from where he dispatched his idolatrous inquiry. The "bed" here symbolizes his current confinement and terminal condition, as well as the setting for his spiritual offense. It emphasizes that his place of injury has become the place of his death sentence.
- but shalt surely die: Hebrew: מוֹת תָּמוּת (mot tamut). This powerful infinitive absolute construction is used for emphatic certainty in Hebrew, meaning "dying, you shall die." It leaves absolutely no doubt about the final outcome; Ahaziah's death is sealed, directly ordained by God as the punishment for his apostasy.
- Words-group analysis:
- "thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down... but shalt surely die": This entire phrase encapsulates the divine oracle of judgment. It highlights the absolute sovereignty of God over life and death, contrasting His power with the impotence of pagan deities. It serves as a stern declaration that rebellion against the true God leads to severe and unavoidable consequences, with His word proving undeniably true and effective.
- "from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die": This links Ahaziah's physical location (the sickbed) directly to the spiritual offense committed from that location (seeking Baal-zebub) and its predetermined, fatal outcome. The "bed" becomes a symbol of his final confinement, underscoring that there will be no physical recovery, but only a progression toward death, divinely decreed because of his choice to abandon YHWH.
2 Kings 1 4 Bonus section
- Ahaziah's persistent idolatry and reliance on Baal-zebub underscores the deep spiritual corruption prevalent in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, perpetuated by the legacy of Ahab and Jezebel, illustrating how ungodly familial patterns can profoundly influence subsequent generations.
- The naming convention of "Baal-zebub" (often interpreted as "Lord of Flies" or "Lord of Dung") is likely a derisive alteration by the Israelites from a more respectable Philistine name like "Baal-zebul" ("Prince Baal" or "Exalted Baal"). This renaming itself reflects a polemic against pagan deities, demoting them to objects of contempt and ridicule, a concept later echoed in the New Testament with "Beelzebub" referring to a demonic prince (Matt 12:24).
- Elijah's swift intervention and direct pronouncement from God demonstrate God's active involvement in human affairs and His ultimate sovereignty over all aspects of life and death, even over reigning monarchs who defy Him. This encounter further solidifies Elijah's role as God's unwavering prophet of judgment and divine authority.
2 Kings 1 4 Commentary
2 Kings 1:4 succinctly conveys God's unwavering judgment against King Ahaziah's blatant idolatry and contempt for YHWH. Ahaziah's act of consulting Baal-zebub, a false god, in his hour of need, instead of the omnipotent God of Israel, was a direct and serious act of spiritual rebellion. Through Elijah, God asserted His supreme authority over all creation, including the life and death of kings, proving that He does not tolerate the worship of idols in His land. The powerful phrase "but shalt surely die" communicates an irreversible divine decree, making it clear that Ahaziah's death was not merely an unfortunate physical consequence of his fall but a direct, righteous judgment for his spiritual treason. This verse stands as a profound testament to the serious ramifications of apostasy and the divine demand for exclusive devotion to the one true God, highlighting that defiance against His revealed will incurs certain and just punishment.