2 Kings 2:15 kjv
And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
2 Kings 2:15 nkjv
Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.
2 Kings 2:15 niv
The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, "The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha." And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
2 Kings 2:15 esv
Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
2 Kings 2:15 nlt
When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, "Elijah's spirit rests upon Elisha!" And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
2 Kings 2 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit/Anointing on Prophets | ||
| Num 11:25 | "Then the LORD came down in the cloud... He took some of the Spirit who was on him and placed Him upon the seventy elders..." | Spirit of God imparted to leaders |
| Num 11:29 | "Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!" | Moses' desire for universal Spirit |
| Isa 11:2 | "The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding..." | Spirit on the Messiah |
| Ezek 2:2 | "As He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me." | Spirit empowers prophets |
| Joel 2:28 | "It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind..." | Future outpouring of Spirit |
| Acts 2:1-4 | "And when the day of Pentecost had come... and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit..." | Fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, new era |
| 1 Cor 12:7-11 | "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good... all these things are from one and the same Spirit..." | Diverse gifts of the Spirit |
| Succession/Divine Appointment | ||
| Num 27:18-20 | "So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun... and lay your hand on him... you shall invest him with some of your authority..." | Moses' transfer of authority to Joshua |
| Deut 34:9 | "Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him..." | Joshua empowered for leadership |
| 1 Sam 10:1-10 | "Then Samuel took the flask of oil... ‘The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you mightily, and you will prophesy with them...'" | Spirit for King Saul's calling |
| 1 Kgs 19:16 | "and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint as king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat... you shall anoint as prophet in your place." | God's instruction to Elijah for succession |
| 2 Kgs 2:9-10 | "And it came about when they had crossed, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” ...'a double portion of your spirit.'" | Elisha's request for prophetic anointing |
| Eph 4:7,11 | "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift... He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets..." | Christ's gifts for ministry |
| Recognition/Bowing in Homage | ||
| Gen 23:7 | "Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land..." | Respectful deference |
| Gen 33:3 | "But he himself passed on before them and bowed to the ground seven times..." | Jacob bowing to Esau, deep respect |
| 1 Sam 24:8 | "Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground..." | David's reverence for Saul's anointing |
| Ps 95:6 | "Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker." | Reverence towards God |
| Phil 2:9-10 | "For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW..." | Universal homage to Christ |
| Prophetic Authority/Validation | ||
| Deut 18:21-22 | "How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?” ... “If the prophet speaks in the name of the LORD but the thing does not take place or come true, that is the word which the LORD has not spoken..." | Test of a true prophet |
| 1 Kgs 18:36-39 | "Then at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came forward and said... “May the LORD answer with fire!”... when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.”" | God's validation of Elijah |
| Mt 7:15-20 | "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing... You will know them by their fruits." | Identifying true vs. false prophets |
| Acts 19:11-16 | "God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul... but also some of the Jewish exorcists, who were traveling from place to place, attempting to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus..." | Demonstrated power validates authority |
2 Kings 2 verses
2 Kings 2 15 Meaning
This verse describes the immediate recognition of Elisha's prophetic authority by the prophetic community at Jericho. Having witnessed Elisha miraculously part the Jordan River with Elijah's mantle, these "sons of the prophets" discerned that the same powerful anointing that had rested upon Elijah now abided firmly on Elisha. This understanding led them to come forth, meet him, and bow down in a profound gesture of respect, homage, and acknowledgement of his divinely appointed succession and spiritual leadership. It signifies a public affirmation of God's transfer of prophetic authority.
2 Kings 2 15 Context
The immediate context of 2 Kings 2:15 follows Elijah's dramatic ascent to heaven and Elisha's subsequent miraculous parting of the Jordan River with Elijah's fallen mantle (2 Kgs 2:11-14). This act, a clear display of divine power, was precisely the sign that Elisha requested (a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit) to signify God's full transfer of authority. The "sons of the prophets" at Jericho had been watching the events from a distance and were awaiting the return of Elisha. This verse marks the crucial moment of public validation for Elisha's new role as the lead prophet of Israel, ensuring his recognition by the established prophetic community. Historically, during this period in Israel (reign of Jehoram of Israel), apostasy and Baal worship were prevalent, making the authentic continuation of Yahweh's prophetic ministry through Elisha even more vital. The recognition by these prophetic guilds would establish Elisha's authority within a structure already familiar to the people, reinforcing the true worship of Yahweh against rival false practices.
2 Kings 2 15 Word analysis
Now when: Indicates a transition and consequence, connecting this scene directly to the preceding events of Elisha's miraculous crossing of the Jordan.
the sons of the prophets: (Hebrew: bnei hannevi'im בְּנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים) Refers to a recognized community or guild of prophetic students and disciples, organized groups associated with particular prophetic centers (like Jericho). They were likely trainees or associates of the more prominent prophets. Their endorsement of Elisha carried significant weight.
who were at Jericho: Identifies the specific location of this prophetic community, placing them in direct view to witness Elisha's miraculous return. Jericho, associated with God's miraculous power from the time of Joshua, adds a layer of significance.
saw him opposite them: Implies a clear and direct visual confirmation. They witnessed the supernatural event of the Jordan parting with their own eyes, providing objective evidence for their subsequent declaration.
they said: Signifies a collective, unanimous declaration resulting from their shared observation and discernment. It was a verbal recognition of a spiritual truth.
"The spirit of Elijah: (Hebrew: ruach Eliyahu רוּחַ אֵלִיָּהוּ) This does not mean Elijah's personal ghost or soul, but rather the divine anointing, power, authority, and character of the Lord's Spirit that had empowered Elijah's prophetic ministry. It represents a continuation of God's work, not a passing of a human spirit.
rests on Elisha." (Hebrew: nachah al Elisha נָחָה עַל אֱלִישָׁע) The verb "rests" (נָחָה, nachah) denotes a permanent settling, abiding, or dwelling. It signifies an authoritative and clear impartation and establishment of the divine presence and power upon Elisha, not a temporary influence. This affirms that Elisha received the "double portion" he requested.
And they came to meet him: A deliberate and respectful action. Instead of waiting for Elisha to come to them, they proactively approached him, signifying eagerness to acknowledge and accept him.
and bowed down to the ground before him. (Hebrew: vayyishtachavu lo artzah וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ לוֹ אָרְצָה) This act is a deep gesture of homage, respect, and submission to recognized authority. It is not worship directed to Elisha but rather profound reverence for the God-given authority manifest in him. It acknowledges Elisha as the legitimate successor and God's chosen leader.
Words-group analysis:
- "the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said...": This sequence emphasizes the importance of witness and communal affirmation. It wasn't a subjective feeling but an objective observation by a knowledgeable group that led to their shared conclusion, legitimizing Elisha's call publicly.
- "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.": This is the pivotal theological statement of the verse. It confirms God's faithful transfer of divine anointing and power, ensuring the continuity of the prophetic office and the Lord's ongoing engagement with Israel through a chosen servant. It's the fulfillment of Elisha's specific request.
- "And they came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.": This action serves as a public declaration of acceptance, allegiance, and submission. It solidified Elisha's position among the prophetic community, effectively sealing his succession.
2 Kings 2 15 Bonus section
The miraculous Jordan crossing by Elisha, observed by the sons of the prophets, mirrors significant biblical events like the original Jordan crossing by Joshua leading Israel into the Promised Land (Josh 3), establishing Elisha as a figure of new beginnings and divine leadership akin to Joshua. The "double portion" requested by Elisha (2 Kgs 2:9) aligns with a firstborn's inheritance in ancient Israel, suggesting Elisha's primary position as the spiritual heir to Elijah, and indicating a remarkable extent of divine power that would flow through his ministry. The presence and recognition from "sons of the prophets" underscore the idea that spiritual authority is often affirmed and accepted within established communities, providing a human framework for God's divine appointments. This verse also highlights how tangible manifestations of God's power (like parting the Jordan) can serve as crucial evidence for authentic prophetic authority, validating a prophet in the eyes of others as prescribed in Deut 18:21-22 regarding discerning true prophets.
2 Kings 2 15 Commentary
2 Kings 2:15 provides the public validation of Elisha's anointing and succession. After Elijah's dramatic departure and Elisha's inaugural miracle at the Jordan, the trained prophetic community—the "sons of the prophets"—serve as vital witnesses. Their discerning declaration, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha," confirms not just a spiritual intuition but an empirical observation of divine power at work. The phrase "spirit of Elijah" points to the continuity of God's anointing and power for ministry, ensuring that the departure of one mighty prophet did not mean the cessation of God's active work in Israel. The physical act of bowing down demonstrates their profound respect and acceptance of Elisha as their new leader and a divinely commissioned servant, acknowledging God's choice rather than worshipping Elisha himself. This moment cemented Elisha's position and prepared the way for his extensive ministry.
- Practical application example: Just as God clearly validated Elisha to his peers, His hand can be recognized in leaders today through their anointing, spiritual fruit, and effective ministry, inspiring proper respect and submission to their God-given authority for His Kingdom work.