2 Kings 1 7

2 Kings 1:7 kjv

And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?

2 Kings 1:7 nkjv

Then he said to them, "What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?"

2 Kings 1:7 niv

The king asked them, "What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?"

2 Kings 1:7 esv

He said to them, "What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?"

2 Kings 1:7 nlt

"What sort of man was he?" the king demanded. "What did he look like?"

2 Kings 1 verses

2 Kings 1 7 Meaning

This verse details King Ahaziah of Israel’s inquiry to his returning messengers concerning the identity and appearance of the man who intercepted them. The king's question, "What kind of man was he who came up to meet you and told you these words?" signifies his immediate suspicion and desire to identify the speaker, knowing the profound nature and specific content of the divine judgment delivered to them could only come from a prophet of the God of Israel, given his own seeking of foreign gods. His curiosity reveals an expectation or intuition regarding the messenger's distinctiveness.

2 Kings 1 7 Context

Following King Ahaziah's serious injury from falling through a lattice in his upper chamber, he sends messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether he will recover. This act of seeking a foreign deity for medical advice, rather than the God of Israel, immediately provokes divine intervention. As the messengers are en route, they are intercepted by "a man," later revealed to be Elijah, who delivers a scathing prophecy of Ahaziah's certain death because of his idolatry. The messengers return with this dire news, prompting Ahaziah’s query in verse 7. This inquiry signifies the king’s indirect realization or strong suspicion that such a message could only come from a distinctive, authorized messenger of YHWH, particularly one with Elijah’s known prophetic zeal and confrontational nature against idolatry. The king does not dismiss the message outright, but instead focuses on identifying its source.

2 Kings 1 7 Word analysis

• He said to them:
  • Implies the king's direct and urgent demand for information. Ahaziah's status as king gives authority to his words.
• "What kind of man":
  • Hebrew: Maish (מָה אִישׁ) – literally, "What man?" or "What kind of man?" This is a qualitative inquiry, seeking characteristics or a description rather than merely "Who was he?"
  • It expresses curiosity not just about identity, but about type – recognizing the distinctiveness of the person from the unusual message delivered.
  • This implies the messengers' report of the message alone was so impactful that Ahaziah knew the speaker must have been extraordinary.
  • The use of ish ("man") emphasizes his humanity, yet the subsequent inquiry for "kind" suggests recognition of supernatural enablement or divine authority evident in his bearing or message.
• "was he":
  • Connects the type of person with the message delivered. The king understands the man's identity is inextricably linked to the message's authority.
• "who came up":
  • Indicates Elijah met them as they were returning uphill, perhaps from the lower Plain of Sharon or Jordan Valley, on their way to the higher city of Samaria or further east. This phrasing could also imply a sudden or significant appearance.
• "to meet you":
  • Suggests the encounter was deliberate, not accidental. Elijah sought them out specifically, highlighting the divine intentionality behind the prophetic message. It emphasizes God's direct intervention in response to Ahaziah's apostasy.
• "and told you these words":
  • Links the speaker directly to the authoritative, judgmental words. The severity and specific nature of the prophecy regarding Ahaziah’s impending death by inquiring of Baal-Zebub provided a signature for the prophet's identity. The messengers reported the content of the message first (2 Ki 1:6), leading Ahaziah to infer the messenger’s distinctive nature.

2 Kings 1 7 Bonus section

This verse subtly highlights a polemic against the supposed power and clarity of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron. While Ahaziah expected a direct answer from a foreign deity through his messengers, he received an immediate, direct, and unambiguous prophecy from YHWH's servant, Elijah. Baal-Zebub remained silent; YHWH spoke definitively. This sharp contrast between the "no answer" from the idol and the "very clear answer" from YHWH’s prophet emphasizes the true and living God's sovereign involvement in human affairs, directly confronting idolatry. The recognition of Elijah based on his "kind" (appearance and direct message) suggests that God's prophets often bore physical markers (like Elijah's hairy garment and leather belt) that served as visible proclamations of their prophetic office and connection to YHWH, setting them apart from the idolatrous practices of the time. This further distinguishes the authenticity of divine revelation from deceptive cultic rituals.

2 Kings 1 7 Commentary

King Ahaziah’s question, "What kind of man was he?" serves as a critical bridge between the alarming divine message and the immediate revelation of the messenger's identity as Elijah. This is not a query of simple curiosity but a testament to the distinct and potent nature of true prophecy. The very encounter with Elijah, a lone prophet, speaking God's word against the king's impious act of consulting a false god, carried such inherent authority and singularity that it compelled Ahaziah to seek a description. He did not ask "Who?" initially, but "What kind?", suggesting an expectation of a notable figure given the confrontational and unyielding message they conveyed. This underscores that even an unrepentant king could implicitly recognize the characteristic appearance and manner of a prophet empowered by the God of Israel. The king, by not questioning the veracity of the message but rather the type of messenger, reveals his inherent awareness of YHWH’s active involvement, despite his rebellious heart.