2 Kings 13 19

2 Kings 13:19 kjv

And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

2 Kings 13:19 nkjv

And the man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times."

2 Kings 13:19 niv

The man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times."

2 Kings 13:19 esv

Then the man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times."

2 Kings 13:19 nlt

But the man of God was angry with him. "You should have struck the ground five or six times!" he exclaimed. "Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times."

2 Kings 13 verses

2 Kings 13 19 Meaning

2 Kings 13:19 records the intense frustration of the prophet Elisha with King Jehoash of Israel. After Jehoash struck the ground with arrows only three times, symbolizing the limited victories he would have over Aram, Elisha was profoundly angered. His outburst reveals that had the king struck the ground more times—specifically five or six, implying complete and zealous effort—God would have granted Israel total and conclusive victory, annihilating Aram completely. The verse underscores the principle that human effort and faith, when fully extended in obedience to divine command, unlock the full measure of God's intended blessings and deliverance, contrasting it with the consequence of partial or half-hearted obedience leading to limited results.

2 Kings 13 19 Context

The events in 2 Kings 13:19 occur during the reign of King Jehoash (or Joash) over the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Jehoash was generally an evil king in the eyes of the Lord, following the sins of Jeroboam, like his predecessors. His father, Jehoahaz, had brought Israel to a desperate state, enduring severe oppression and degradation by the Arameans under Hazael and his son Ben-Hadad III. This oppression was so great that Israel was reduced to a mere fighting force of fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers.

Despite his general wickedness, Jehoash showed a brief moment of respect for the aged prophet Elisha, visiting him on his deathbed. Elisha, performing his last prophetic act, instructed Jehoash to open the east window and shoot an arrow, declaring it to be "the arrow of the Lord's deliverance from Aram." This symbolized that God would grant victory over Aram. Elisha then commanded Jehoash to take arrows and strike the ground. This physical act was a prophetic sign, mirroring the extent of Israel's future victories. When Jehoash struck the ground only three times and stopped, Elisha was infuriated, realizing the king's lack of full faith or zeal. This limited action signaled only partial victories for Israel, rather than the total triumph that God was willing to grant had Jehoash acted with complete dedication and faith. This incident thus marks Elisha's final message, highlighting the critical role of human responsiveness and obedience to divine will.

2 Kings 13 19 Word analysis

• The man of God (איש האלהים, Ish Elohim): This title, repeatedly used for Elisha and Elijah throughout Kings, signifies a person set apart, directly appointed by God, and acting under His divine authority. Elisha's anger is thus not merely personal pique but a reflection of God's righteous displeasure. His word carries divine weight and represents God's heart.
• was angry (ויקצף, va-yiktsaph): The Hebrew verb here conveys intense indignation and wrath. Elisha's anger is holy, fueled by the King's shortsightedness and lack of faith. It echoes God's own anger when His people fail to fully trust or obey, thus forfeiting greater blessings (cf. Num 14; Deut 1). This is a stark portrayal of disappointment over missed divine opportunity.
• with him: Refers to King Jehoash, highlighting the direct personal responsibility of the king in this moment of prophetic instruction. His failure directly impacted the nation's future.
• and said: Introduces the direct prophetic rebuke and explanation of the king's failure.
• You should have struck: This phrase expresses regret and a clear expectation of what ought to have been done. It reveals the divine will that was not fully apprehended or acted upon by Jehoash. It implies a condition—a choice and an action—that would have led to a different, greater outcome.
• five or six times: This specific numerical detail is crucial. It points to a more complete, persistent, or zealous effort than Jehoash exerted. While the exact numerical symbolism isn't universally agreed upon (e.g., perfection, completion), the core meaning is 'more' or 'enough' – representing a full commitment rather than a perfunctory, partial one. The contrast implies God was ready for full annihilation of Aram, and this would require corresponding human vigor and belief.
• then you would have struck Aram until you had made an end of it!: This clause highlights the direct, conditional link between the king's full obedience and God's full deliverance. "Made an end of it" (ad kallētâ) emphasizes total destruction, eradication, or consumption of the enemy. It shows God's readiness to grant absolute victory had His will been fully embraced and enacted by the king's faith-filled actions.

Words-group Analysis:

• "The man of God was angry with him": This phrase emphasizes that Jehoash's spiritual failure wasn't just a personal quirk but a transgression that evoked the righteous anger of God's representative. Elisha’s anger serves as a dramatic indicator of the divine stakes involved and God’s deep disappointment with half-hearted obedience. It contrasts the immeasurable power and promise of God with the paltry human response.
• "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Aram until you had made an end of it!": This complete sentence establishes the clear cause-and-effect relationship. It demonstrates a core biblical principle: God's power is limitless, but its manifestation often requires human faith and diligence as an obedient response. The conditional "then" underlines that divine blessing, though sovereignly given, can also be sovereignly withheld or limited based on human participation. It signifies a profound missed opportunity for comprehensive national deliverance directly attributable to the king's insufficient faith and follow-through in a divinely prescribed act.

2 Kings 13 19 Bonus section

• Prophetic Sign-Act: This episode is a powerful example of a "sign-act" common in Old Testament prophecy (cf. Isa 20; Jer 13; Eze 4-5). These were physical, often dramatic actions performed by prophets to illustrate or dramatize a divine message or future event. In this case, Jehoash's action was part of Elisha's sign-act, making the king's participation critical for the outcome.
• God's Willingness vs. Human Unwillingness: The verse implicitly presents a tension: God was willing to give total victory, as evidenced by Elisha's declaration ("until you had made an end of it!"). The limitation did not come from God's power or intent, but from Jehoash's lack of full responsiveness. This reflects a recurring biblical theme where divine blessing is limited by human unfaithfulness or disobedience (e.g., Jesus doing few mighty works in Nazareth due to their unbelief, Matt 13:58).
• The Nature of Spiritual Warfare: While specific to military conquest against Aram, the principle can be extended to spiritual warfare. It suggests that our engagement in spiritual battles, our perseverance, and our faith, influence the extent of victory God grants. A "three-strike" mentality in faith or prayer may lead to partial deliverance rather than complete triumph over spiritual enemies.

2 Kings 13 19 Commentary

2 Kings 13:19 is a poignant narrative highlighting the critical connection between human faith, obedience, and the measure of divine blessing and intervention. Elisha's righteous anger stemmed from King Jehoash's lukewarm and limited response to a divinely orchestrated prophetic act. The shooting of the first arrow was an assurance of God's initiative in granting deliverance from Aram; the striking of the ground with arrows was to symbolize the extent to which Jehoash would appropriate that victory through his faith and effort. Jehoash's three feeble strikes indicated a lack of full belief or zeal, preventing God from granting him the complete, annihilating victory He desired to give. This incident is not about a magical formula, but a profound spiritual principle: God, in His sovereignty, often works through the extent of human faith and corresponding action. When faith is half-hearted, the results, though still miraculous, may be partial. The verse serves as a sober reminder that spiritual victories, whether personal or corporate, often hinge on a courageous and unwavering commitment to fully appropriate God's promises. It is a warning against settling for "good enough" when God intends total triumph.