2 Kings 13 16

2 Kings 13:16 kjv

And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.

2 Kings 13:16 nkjv

Then he said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow." So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands.

2 Kings 13:16 niv

"Take the bow in your hands," he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king's hands.

2 Kings 13:16 esv

Then he said to the king of Israel, "Draw the bow," and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.

2 Kings 13:16 nlt

Elisha told him, "Put your hand on the bow," and Elisha laid his own hands on the king's hands.

2 Kings 13 verses

2 Kings 13 16 Meaning

2 Kings 13:16 depicts a profound prophetic act where the dying prophet Elisha instructs King Joash to participate in a symbolic demonstration of God's coming victory over Aram. The core meaning lies in Elisha placing his hands over the king's hands on the bow, signifying divine empowerment and partnership in Israel's military endeavors. This physical contact indicates that the battles against Aram are not merely human conflicts but divinely ordained opportunities for God to grant deliverance through the king's obedience and the prophet's intercession.

2 Kings 13 16 Context

The verse is situated in 2 Kings 13, detailing the final moments and prophetic acts of Elisha. Joash, king of Israel, visits Elisha on his deathbed, acknowledging him as "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" (2 Kgs 13:14), echoing Elisha's lament at Elijah's ascension. This shows Joash's recognition of Elisha's vital spiritual and strategic importance to the kingdom, especially against their powerful enemy, Aram. The context emphasizes Israel's weakened state and Joash's mixed spiritual record – he "did evil in the sight of the Lord" but sought Elisha in crisis. This act with the bow is a critical demonstration of God's desire to deliver Israel, setting the stage for the subsequent instruction to strike arrows on the ground, revealing the limited faith and subsequent limited victory for Joash.

2 Kings 13 16 Word analysis

• Then Elisha said: wayyō’mer ’ēlîšā‘ (וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלִישָׁע). Elisha, meaning "My God is salvation," is God's prophet, acting as a direct messenger and conduit of divine power. His words carry divine authority and revelation.
• to him: Referring to King Joash (Jehoash), who acknowledged Elisha's critical role for Israel's defense. Joash represents Israel's human leadership in need of divine intervention.
• "Put your hand on the bow.": śîm yādḵā ‘al-haqqešeṯ (שִׂים יָדְךָ עַל־הַקֶּשֶׁת).
  • "Put": A direct command, requiring active obedience from the king.
  • "your hand": yādḵā (יָדְךָ), representing human agency, strength, and will.
  • "on the bow": ‘al-haqqešeṯ (עַל־הַקֶּשֶׁת). The qešeṯ (קֶשֶׁת) is a military weapon, a symbol of human power in warfare. By touching it, Joash signifies his readiness to engage in battle. This is an act of preparation for divinely enabled warfare.
• And he put his hand on it.: wayyāśem yādô ‘al haqqešeṯ (וַיָּשֶׂם יָדוֹ עַל הַקֶּשֶׁת). Joash's immediate, albeit perhaps mechanical, obedience to the prophet's instruction. This establishes his willingness to participate in the symbolic act.
• Then Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. wayyāśem ’ēlišā‘ yādāyw ‘al yədê hammelleḵ (וַיָּשֶׂם אֵלִישָׁע יָדָיו עַל יְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ).
  • Elisha put his hands: yādāyw (יָדָיו) uses the dual form for "hands," indicating both of Elisha's hands. This emphasizes a more complete and potent transfer or association of power.
  • on the king’s hands: This is the crux of the symbolic action. Elisha’s hands placed over Joash’s hands symbolize God's spiritual power reinforcing, empowering, and directing the king's physical and military actions. It is a sign of divine endorsement and an infusion of supernatural strength into the natural realm of warfare. It signifies that the human effort, represented by the king's hands on the bow, will be overshadowed and strengthened by God's omnipotent hand working through His prophet. This is not just a gesture of blessing, but an impartation of enabling grace for specific military victory.

2 Kings 13 16 Bonus section

This prophetic enactment with the bow and hands can be understood as an "enacted prophecy" or "sympathetic action," common in ancient Near Eastern cultures but here divinely authorized, where the physical act is intrinsically linked to a future spiritual or historical reality. It ties the human act directly to God's intended outcome, requiring faith and participation from the recipient. It shows that even a dying prophet, still fully represents God's will and power for His people, bridging the gap between spiritual and temporal realities. It underscores God's willingness to grant deliverance, but often contingent upon the human instrument's full, unreserved obedience. The synergy between Elisha's hands and the king's hands teaches that true victory results from divine strength operating through consecrated human effort.

2 Kings 13 16 Commentary

This verse encapsulates a crucial principle: God's power works in partnership with human obedience and action. Elisha's dying act is a tangible representation of divine enablement for victory. By having Joash place his hand on the bow, the weapon of war, and then superimposing his own hands, Elisha dramatically illustrates that Israel's military success against Aram will not come solely from their own might, but from God's strength working through them. It signifies a divine anointing for warfare, ensuring that the King's battles are under God's ultimate authority and provision. This act served as an initial step to activate divine power and a call to a faith-filled engagement for King Joash.