2 Kings 2 21

2 Kings 2:21 kjv

And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.

2 Kings 2:21 nkjv

Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, "Thus says the LORD: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.' "

2 Kings 2:21 niv

Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, "This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.'?"

2 Kings 2:21 esv

Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, "Thus says the LORD, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it."

2 Kings 2:21 nlt

Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, "This is what the LORD says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility. "

2 Kings 2 verses

2 Kings 2 21 Meaning

In 2 Kings 2:21, the prophet Elisha, acting under the divine authority of the LORD, addresses the detrimental water source of Jericho. He goes directly to the spring and, by symbolically throwing salt into it while proclaiming God's word, orchestrates a miraculous transformation. The verse signifies that the LORD Himself has healed the water, declaring a permanent cessation of death and unfruitfulness resulting from it, thus restoring vitality and productivity to the region.

2 Kings 2 21 Context

This verse is set shortly after the prophet Elijah's ascension into heaven, signifying the transfer of prophetic authority to Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-18). Having received a double portion of Elijah's spirit, Elisha immediately begins his ministry demonstrating God's power through him. Following a miraculous crossing of the Jordan River (2 Ki 2:13-14), Elisha travels to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho, while acknowledging the city's favorable location, report a significant problem: "The situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful" (2 Ki 2:19). This highlights a fundamental life issue, affecting both human health ("death" from bad water) and agricultural productivity ("barrenness" or unfruitfulness of the land). Elisha's action in 2 Kings 2:21 is a direct divine response to this pressing communal need, serving as his inaugural public miracle and confirming his prophetic anointing. It also subtly addresses the historical curse pronounced on Jericho by Joshua (Josh 6:26), implying God's power to reverse even long-standing decrees for the well-being of His people, if and when He wills it.

2 Kings 2 21 Word analysis

• Then he went out: This marks Elisha's deliberate action, directly responding to the city's plight. It shows initiative and a clear focus on the source of the problem.

• to the spring of water:

  • Hebrew: mabbûaʿ hammāyim (מַבּוּעַ הַמַּיִם). Mabbûaʿ means "spring" or "fountain," emphasizing the origin point of the water system affecting Jericho. Elisha targets the root of the issue, not just its effects.
  • Significance: Healing the source ensures permanent restoration. It speaks to God's thoroughness.

• and threw salt in it:

  • Hebrew: vayyashleḵ shām melaḥ (וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ שָׁם מֶלַח). Melaḥ is "salt."
  • Paradoxical Act: In the ancient Near East, salt was often used to symbolize desolation, judgment, and permanent sterility (Deut 29:23, Jer 17:6, Judg 9:45 where Abimelech sows salt on a city to make it desolate). Therefore, its use here to purify water is counter-intuitive from a natural perspective and highlights the miraculous nature of God's work. It's not the chemical property of the salt but the divine decree accompanying it that brings healing.
  • Symbolic Resonance: Salt was also part of covenants, representing permanence and incorruptibility ("covenant of salt," Num 18:19, Lev 2:13). Its presence might underscore the enduring nature of the healing.

• and said: This emphasizes the spoken word as the catalyst for the miracle, rather than the substance (salt) itself.

• 'Thus says the LORD:':

  • Hebrew: kōh ʾāmar Yahweh (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה).
  • Authoritative Proclamation: This formula establishes the divine origin and authority of the act. Elisha is merely God's agent; the power is entirely God's. It sets God apart as the one true God who can manipulate natural processes for His purposes, unlike Baal or other nature deities.

• 'I have healed this water;':

  • Hebrew: rippîʿîtî hammāyim hazzū (רִפִּאּיתִי אֶת־הַמַּיִם הַזֶּה). Rippîʿîtî (from rāphāʾ) is "I have healed," in the perfect tense, indicating a completed and irreversible action.
  • Divine Agent: God explicitly claims responsibility for the healing, not Elisha or the salt. This reinforces Elisha's role as an instrument.

• 'from now on neither death nor barrenness will come from it.':

  • Hebrew: māwet (מָוֶת) for "death" and shikkulîm (שִׁכֻּלִים) for "barrenness" or "miscarriage/childlessness" (also can refer to sterility of land or plants).
  • Total Reversal: These words directly address the two detrimental outcomes described by the people of Jericho (2 Ki 2:19). "Death" refers to harm to humans and animals, and "barrenness" refers to the infertility of the land or its inhabitants.
  • Permanent Promise: "From now on" signifies a lasting and irreversible change, demonstrating the power and faithfulness of the LORD's word.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "he went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it": This sequence demonstrates Elisha's understanding that divine action requires a symbolic, obedient human act directed at the root cause. The "spring" highlights God's addressing foundational issues.
  • "Thus says the LORD: 'I have healed this water'": This phrase underlines the crucial transfer of agency. Elisha does the outward action, but the true agent and source of healing is God, operating through Elisha's prophetic word. This reinforces monotheism against any notion of inherent magical power in the prophet or the salt.
  • "'from now on neither death nor barrenness will come from it.'": This comprehensive outcome covers both immediate harm to life and the long-term impact on productivity and progeny, encompassing the full restoration of vitality promised by God. It assures a complete reversal of the previous blight.

2 Kings 2 21 Bonus section

The healing of Jericho's waters carries a powerful implicit polemic against pagan beliefs. Many ancient cultures revered and feared local deities or spirits associated with springs and fertility. By Yahweh healing the water, the true source of life and power is definitively attributed to the God of Israel, utterly negating any local spiritual entity as a cause or cure for the land's problems. Furthermore, the persistent problem of the Jericho water could symbolically tie back to Joshua's curse on the city. Elisha's miracle demonstrates God's ultimate prerogative to remove curses and bring life, even to a place historically marked by divine judgment, whenever He so wills. This healing shows God's mercy and willingness to bless even a formerly cursed place, signifying renewal and the transformative power of His word through His prophet.

2 Kings 2 21 Commentary

The miracle at Jericho's spring is a profound display of divine sovereignty and restoration through God's chosen prophet, Elisha. It marks Elisha's first public act, immediately after receiving Elijah's mantle, validating his anointing and proving that the spirit of God was indeed upon him. The problem in Jericho was existential: the water, a fundamental necessity for life, was a source of death and unfruitfulness. God's solution, communicated and enacted through Elisha, was both counter-intuitive and absolute. The use of salt, commonly associated with desolation, becoming an instrument of life underscores that the power did not reside in the natural properties of the salt, but solely in the word and will of the LORD. It signifies God's power to supersede and reverse natural order, transforming that which brings death into a source of life. The declaration "I have healed this water" highlights God as the singular author of this transformation, with Elisha acting as His faithful conduit. This miracle not only alleviated a pressing communal problem but also served as a powerful sign that God can reverse curses, restore vitality, and bring flourishing even in seemingly impossible situations. It is a testament to God's commitment to life and fruitfulness for His people, echoing broader biblical themes of divine provision and overcoming spiritual or physical barrenness.