2 Kings 2 22

2 Kings 2:22 kjv

So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

2 Kings 2:22 nkjv

So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

2 Kings 2:22 niv

And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.

2 Kings 2:22 esv

So the water has been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.

2 Kings 2:22 nlt

And the water has remained pure ever since, just as Elisha said.

2 Kings 2 verses

2 Kings 2 22 Meaning

2 Kings 2:22 states the enduring and complete restoration of Jericho's contaminated water source, affirming that it remained purified from the moment Elisha spoke his prophetic word of healing. The verse highlights the permanent efficacy of divine power channeled through Elisha's initial miracle, providing a lasting source of life where there had been sterility and death.

2 Kings 2 22 Context

This verse immediately follows Elisha's first public miracle after inheriting Elijah's mantle and spirit. As Elisha traveled to Jericho, the city's inhabitants appealed to him, lamenting that their city's water supply was "bad" (sterilizing or causing miscarriages) and made the land unfruitful (2 Ki 2:19). Elisha instructed them to bring him a new bowl filled with salt. He then went to the spring of water, threw the salt into it, and declared, "Thus says the Lord, I have healed these waters; from now on neither death nor unfruitfulness shall come from it" (2 Ki 2:21). Verse 22 confirms the immediate and lasting effect of this divine intervention. This act reversed the curse of unhealthiness associated with Jericho, possibly connected to Joshua's curse on rebuilding the city (Josh 6:26), and signified the dawn of Elisha's ministry as one marked by restorative power and blessing, contrasting somewhat with Elijah's era of judgment.

2 Kings 2 22 Word analysis

• So (וַיֵּרָפְא֣וּ - vayyērāp̄ʾû): The waw-consecutive perfect introduces a direct consequence or result of Elisha's preceding action and pronouncement. It signifies the immediate and certain fulfillment.
• the waters (הַמַּ֨יִם - hammayim): Refers to the specific spring or source of water that had been detrimental to life in Jericho. "Mayim" is a dual noun, often signifying abundant or multiple waters.
• were healed (וַיֵּרָפְא֣וּ - vayyērāp̄ʾû): From the root rapha (רפא), meaning to heal, mend, restore, cure. It implies a complete restoration to a healthy, whole, or original state, often used in the context of divine healing (e.g., Exod 15:26, "I am the LORD, your Healer"). It conveys a deep transformation from a condition of blight and death to one of life and fertility.
• to this day (עַד֩ הַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֤ה - ʿad hayyōm hazzèh): A significant narrative phrase affirming the long-term, verifiable reality and permanency of the miracle. It suggests the author (or an earlier source) bore witness to the continued effectiveness of Elisha's act in their own time, lending strong historical validation and credibility to the account. This demonstrates the enduring power of God's intervention.
• according to (כִּדְבַ֥ר - kiḏəḇar): The prefix k^e (כְּ) means "according to," "as," or "in proportion to." It highlights that the miracle's success and lasting nature were entirely dependent on, and perfectly aligned with, the specific words Elisha uttered.
• the word (דָּבָר - dabar): This Hebrew term is rich in meaning, encompassing speech, utterance, command, matter, or event. Here, it denotes Elisha's prophetic pronouncement—not merely a statement, but a potent, effective decree from God.
• of Elisha (אֱלִישָׁ֗ע - ʾĕlîšāʿ): The newly inaugurated prophet of God, demonstrating his divine authority and the spiritual power that now resided in him after Elijah's departure. This act solidifies his position as a true prophet.
• which he spoke (אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽר - ʾăšer dibbēr): Reaffirms that the miracle's efficacy stemmed directly from Elisha's oral proclamation, not from the salt or the bowl themselves. It emphasizes the active and performative nature of the prophetic word when it originates from God.

2 Kings 2 22 Bonus section

The "new bowl" Elisha used (2 Ki 2:20) symbolically points to the need for new vessels or a renewed spirit through which God's transformative power can work. The "salt" Elisha threw into the water, typically associated with purification, preservation (Lev 2:13), and covenant (Num 18:19), perhaps further alludes to God establishing a new state of being for Jericho. Elisha's early ministry, as showcased in this miracle, often features acts of community-wide restoration and blessing, contrasting with the often harsh judgments characteristic of Elijah's prophetic period. This pattern of Elisha's miracles (e.g., feeding the hungry, raising the dead, healing) provides a prefiguration of the extensive ministry of healing and blessing seen in the New Testament with Christ and His apostles, further emphasizing the life-giving nature of divine intervention.

2 Kings 2 22 Commentary

2 Kings 2:22 concisely closes the narrative of Jericho's water purification, acting as a divine validation of Elisha's prophetic ministry. It declares the immediate and lasting success of God's healing through Elisha's word. The phrase "to this day" serves as an emphatic historical verification, assuring readers that this was not a temporary fix but a permanent transformation, observable across generations. This miracle signifies God's power to reverse barrenness and bring forth life where there was death, illustrating the principle that God's word is effective and accomplishes what it promises (Isa 55:10-11). It highlights Elisha's role as a conduit of divine blessing and restoration, distinct from previous curses on Jericho. The act itself—using common salt in a new bowl—underscored that the power lay not in the physical elements but in the prophetic word spoken by God's chosen servant.