2 Kings 1:8 kjv
And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
2 Kings 1:8 nkjv
So they answered him, "A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."
2 Kings 1:8 niv
They replied, "He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist." The king said, "That was Elijah the Tishbite."
2 Kings 1:8 esv
They answered him, "He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."
2 Kings 1:8 nlt
They replied, "He was a hairy man, and he wore a leather belt around his waist." "Elijah from Tishbe!" the king exclaimed.
2 Kings 1 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mal 4:5-6 | “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before... day of the LORD.” | Prophecy of Elijah's return before the Messiah |
| Matt 3:4 | Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist. | John the Baptist's clothing mirroring Elijah's |
| Mark 1:6 | Now John was clothed with camel's hair and had a leather belt around his waist. | Parallel description of John's attire |
| Zech 13:4 | "nor will they wear a hairy cloak in order to deceive." | False prophets imitating true prophet's garb |
| Lk 1:17 | "...go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah..." | John the Baptist's ministry as Elijah-like |
| 1 Ki 17:1 | Elijah the Tishbite... said to Ahab, "As the LORD... there shall be no dew..." | Elijah's initial appearance and prophecy |
| 1 Ki 18:18 | Elijah answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you...” | Elijah's confrontation of Ahab and Baal priests |
| Isa 20:2 | The LORD spoke by Isaiah... “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your loins..." | Isaiah walking naked and barefoot as a sign |
| 2 Ki 2:8 | Elijah took his cloak... struck the water, and the water was parted..." | Elijah's mantle as a symbol of prophetic power |
| Jer 1:17 | "But you, dress yourself for work; arise and say to them everything I command you." | Prophet girding his loins for service |
| Exo 12:11 | "In this manner you shall eat it: with your loins girded..." | Readiness for action (Passover instructions) |
| Num 16:3 | "You take too much upon yourselves, seeing all the congregation is holy..." | Moses and Aaron confronted by rebellious ones |
| 1 Sa 28:14 | He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up..." | Saul inquiring about Samuel's appearance |
| Deut 18:20-22 | "...prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name... how may we know..." | Testing of a prophet |
| 1 Ki 22:52-53 | Ahaziah served Baal and worshiped him, and provoked the LORD... | Ahaziah's idolatry, prompting God's judgment |
| 1 Ki 21:27-29 | When Ahab heard these words... he tore his clothes and put sackcloth... | Repentance expressed through attire (sackcloth) |
| Jon 3:5-8 | "...put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them." | Repentance demonstrated by city of Nineveh |
| Gen 25:25 | "The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak..." | Esau's natural hairiness, a visual contrast |
| 2 Sa 1:24 | "O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet..." | Contrast with lavish royal clothing |
| 2 Ti 3:16-17 | All Scripture is breathed out by God... for teaching, for reproof... | Bible's authority and utility (general) |
| Heb 11:37 | They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats... | Prophets suffering and living austerely |
| Jud 3:20 | Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber... | Messenger delivering God's message to a king |
2 Kings 1 verses
2 Kings 1 8 Meaning
The passage describes the immediate recognition by King Ahaziah of a prophet based solely on his appearance: a man clad in a garment made of animal hair, secured by a leather belt. This unique and ascetic attire, reported by Ahaziah's messengers, instantly identifies the prophet as Elijah the Tishbite. Ahaziah’s swift discernment signifies Elijah’s renowned public image and the striking contrast his simple, wilderness-styled dress presented against the luxurious backdrop of the royal court and the opulent garb of Baal's priests.
2 Kings 1 8 Context
This verse appears in the immediate aftermath of King Ahaziah's life-threatening fall, which prompts him to send messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, about his recovery. This act of consulting a foreign deity, rather than the Lord, provoked God's wrath. Elijah the Tishbite, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, intercepted Ahaziah's messengers and delivered a divine judgment: the king would die because he consulted Baal-Zebub instead of the God of Israel. When the messengers return to Ahaziah with this unsettling message, the king asks them for a description of the man who gave them the prophecy. Their precise, unembellished account of Elijah’s distinct attire allows Ahaziah to immediately and fearfully recognize the Lord's prophet, whose fiery ministry had confronted the idolatry of his parents, King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. This marks one of Elijah's final significant prophetic acts recorded before his ascension.
2 Kings 1 8 Word analysis
- They answered him (וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו - Vayyomru elav): Simple, direct narration indicating the messengers' response to King Ahaziah's inquiry about the prophet's identity.
- He wore a garment of hair (אִישׁ בַּעַל שֵׂעָר - Ish ba'al se'ar):
- Literally: "a man, possessor of hair" or "a hairy man."
- This refers to a cloak made from animal hair, likely rough and coarse like camel or goat hair, which served as a characteristic prophetic garment.
- Significance: It symbolized humility, self-denial, austerity, and a distinct separation from worldly luxury and the opulent, often idolatrous, courtly life. It was a visible sign of dedication to God in simplicity and opposition to material excess. It often marked true prophets from those who pursued gain or conformed to worldly norms.
- with a leather belt (וְאֵזוֹר עוֹר - Ve'ezor 'or):
אֵזוֹר ('ezor): A girdle or belt.עוֹר ('or): Skin, leather.- Significance: A simple, unadorned leather belt complemented the hair garment. It signified preparedness for action, a readiness to deliver God's word and undertake demanding tasks. This practicality also stood in sharp contrast to the elaborate, decorative belts worn by kings and noblemen. It reinforced the prophet's rugged, wilderness association.
- around his waist (בְּמָתְנָיו - Bemotnayw):
מָתְנַיִם (motnayim): Loins or waist.- This specifies the practical way the belt was worn, essential for securing the loose garment. It reinforces the idea of being "girded for action," a biblical idiom for readiness and strength.
- And he said (וַיֹּאמֶר - Vayyomer): Connects the description to Ahaziah's swift realization.
- It is Elijah the Tishbite (אֵלִיָּהוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּי הוּא - Eliyahu Hattishbi hu):
אֵלִיָּהוּ (Eliyahu): Elijah, meaning "My God is Yahweh."הַתִּשְׁבִּי (Hattishbi): The Tishbite, referring to his hometown, Tishbe in Gilead.- Significance: Ahaziah’s immediate recognition based on this simple description attests to Elijah's unique public appearance and his powerful, memorable encounters with the idolatrous royal family. The physical manifestation of Elijah's ministry, coupled with his name that directly invokes Yahweh, confirmed the divine source of the pronouncement and instilled fear in the king.
2 Kings 1 8 Bonus section
- The distinctive dress of Elijah serves as a powerful type for John the Baptist (Matt 3:4; Mark 1:6), who explicitly comes in "the spirit and power of Elijah" (Lk 1:17). This connection highlights a continuum of prophetic ministry focused on repentance and preparing the way for the Lord's direct intervention.
- The "garment of hair" (sackcloth was often made from hair) was also worn as a sign of mourning or repentance (cf. 1 Ki 21:27; Jon 3:5). When worn by a prophet, it emphasized the urgent, often dire, nature of their message, calling the nation to return to God before divine judgment.
- This physical description solidifies Elijah's image as the quintessential, unyielding prophet of God in the Old Testament, one who chose austerity and truth over comfort and popularity.
2 Kings 1 8 Commentary
King Ahaziah's swift identification of the prophet as Elijah underscores the iconic nature of Elijah's appearance and the deep impact of his ministry on the Northern Kingdom. The humble, rugged "garment of hair" and "leather belt" were not merely functional clothing but were deeply symbolic of Elijah’s role as God’s true prophet, standing in stark opposition to the luxurious idolatry that characterized the Israelite monarchy. This attire reflected his wilderness origins, his simple devotion, and his readiness to speak uncompromising truth against corruption. Unlike the lavish robes of pagan priests or royalty, Elijah’s clothes proclaimed his sole allegiance to Yahweh, distinguishing him as an authentic messenger whose life embodied the message of repentance and judgment he delivered. Ahaziah's recognition immediately links the impending doom not to a random oracle, but to the authoritative voice of God delivered through His unwavering prophet, reinforcing the king's guilt in turning away from the Lord.