2 Kings 3:12 kjv
And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
2 Kings 3:12 nkjv
And Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
2 Kings 3:12 niv
Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
2 Kings 3:12 esv
And Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
2 Kings 3:12 nlt
Jehoshaphat said, "Yes, the LORD speaks through him." So the king of Israel, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom went to consult with Elisha.
2 Kings 3 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 22:7 | But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lᴏʀᴅ...?” | Jehoshaphat seeking genuine prophet |
| Amos 3:7 | For the Lord Gᴏᴅ does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. | God speaks through His prophets |
| Isa 55:11 | so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty... | Power and efficacy of God's word |
| Jer 1:9 | Then the Lᴏʀᴅ put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lᴏʀᴅ said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth." | God empowers prophets with His word |
| Ezek 2:7 | And you shall speak my words to them... | Prophet's role as God's mouthpiece |
| Zech 7:12 | They made their hearts like flint lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. | Hearing God's word through prophets is crucial |
| Acts 2:17 | “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh...'" | God's Spirit inspiring prophecy |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... | Progression of divine revelation |
| 2 Pet 1:21 | For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. | Divine origin of prophecy |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lᴏʀᴅ with all your heart... and he will make straight your paths. | Seeking God's guidance, trusting His word |
| Jam 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God... | Asking God for wisdom/guidance |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's word as a guide |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | ...To obey is better than sacrifice... | Importance of heeding prophetic word |
| 2 Chr 20:20 | ...Believe in the Lᴏʀᴅ your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed. | Believing God's prophets for success |
| Num 27:21 | ...He shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lᴏʀᴅ... | Ancient ways of seeking God's word |
| Exod 17:6 | Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock... and water shall come out of it... | God provides in wilderness (foreshadows water) |
| Ps 107:5-7 | Then they cried to the Lᴏʀᴅ in their trouble... and he delivered them... | God hears prayers in distress, provides |
| Gen 39:2-3 | The Lᴏʀᴅ was with Joseph, and he became a successful man... | God's presence brings success/favor |
| Isa 41:10 | fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God... | Assurance of God's presence with His servants |
| Matt 28:20 | ...And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. | Jesus' promise of enduring presence |
| 1 Sam 3:19 | And Samuel grew, and the Lᴏʀᴅ was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. | God's word fulfilled through His prophet |
| Deut 18:15 | “The Lᴏʀᴅ your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you... | Promise of a prophet |
2 Kings 3 verses
2 Kings 3 12 Meaning
This verse describes a pivotal moment in the search for divine guidance during a dire military campaign. King Jehoshaphat of Judah confirms that Elisha is indeed a true prophet of the Lord, affirming the presence of God's prophetic message with him. Subsequently, the three kings involved in the campaign—the King of Israel (Jehoram), King Jehoshaphat, and the King of Edom—humble themselves by going to Elisha to seek the word of the Lord.
2 Kings 3 12 Context
The events of 2 Kings chapter 3 unfold during a military campaign waged by the combined forces of Israel (under King Jehoram), Judah (under King Jehoshaphat), and Edom against Moab. Moab had rebelled against Israel's vassalage after the death of Ahab. The kings took a circuitous route through the wilderness of Edom, a decision that led to their army and animals running out of water. Facing imminent defeat, they recognized the gravity of their situation, signaling a moment of crisis that often compels leaders to seek divine intervention. Jehoshaphat, known for his devotion to the Lord, insists on finding a prophet of Yahweh to consult, demonstrating his consistent practice of seeking God's counsel before battle (cf. 1 Kgs 22:7). Elisha, the successor to Elijah, is identified as a servant of the Lord. This immediate crisis leads directly to the acknowledgment of Elisha's authority, contrasting sharply with the general apostasy prevalent in the northern kingdom of Israel, particularly under the Omride dynasty. This pursuit of the true prophet represents a departure from reliance on pagan deities or mere human wisdom in a desperate situation.
2 Kings 3 12 Word analysis
- And Jehoshaphat said: Jehoshaphat (יְהוֹשָׁפָט - Yehoshaphat), King of Judah, consistently sought the Lord's guidance (e.g., 2 Chr 17:4; 2 Chr 20:3-4). His affirmation here carries weight and leadership among the kings present, initiating the turning point from despair to divine inquiry.
- 'The word of the Lord is with him.':
- The word (דְּבַר - devar): Not merely a general "message," but a specific, authoritative, divine utterance, a prophetic oracle or revelation. It refers to God's active, spoken will.
- of the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): Emphasizes that this is not human wisdom or a pagan deity's message, but the communication of the covenant God of Israel, the true God. This highlights the polemic against the false gods like Baal, prominent in Israel under Ahab's children.
- is with him (עִמּוֹ - 'immo): This signifies more than just Elisha having received a message from the Lord. It implies a continuing, dynamic presence of God's Spirit and prophetic power upon and within Elisha, validating his divine appointment and capacity to speak for God. This mirrors phrases used to describe God's presence with His chosen servants (Gen 39:2; Ex 3:12).
- So the king of Israel: This refers to Jehoram (or Joram), son of Ahab and Jezebel, who inherited the Baal-worship of his parents (2 Kgs 3:2-3). His coming to Elisha, prompted by Jehoshaphat, indicates a moment of compelled humility and recognition of the need for Yahweh's intervention, despite his own idolatrous background.
- and Jehoshaphat: Jehoshaphat’s steadfastness leads him to partake in the act of seeking. His presence underscores his continued leadership in turning to God.
- and the king of Edom: The king of Edom, also a participant in the military alliance and a foreign ruler, also humbles himself. His presence further magnifies the direness of their situation, forcing even those outside the direct covenant line to seek the God of Israel.
- went down (וַיֵּרְדוּ - vayyerdu) to him: This verb literally means "descended" or "went down," indicating a physical movement of approaching Elisha from their elevated position as kings. Metaphorically, it implies a gesture of submission, deference, and humility before Elisha's prophetic authority, despite his status as a private citizen. Kings lowering themselves before a prophet demonstrates a profound acknowledgment of a higher spiritual power and source of authority.
2 Kings 3 12 Bonus section
The scene in 2 Kings 3:12 provides a stark contrast between Jehoshaphat's consistent seeking of the Lord and Jehoram's opportunistic, crisis-driven "faith." While Jehoram bows in the face of disaster, his underlying heart for Baal worship remains (implied by 2 Kgs 3:2-3 and his later actions), suggesting that his "seeking" is born out of desperation rather than devotion. This verse sets the stage for God's provision and Elisha's prophetic power, not due to the inherent goodness of all the kings, but primarily due to Jehoshaphat's righteous desire and God's faithfulness to those who seek Him (even among the unrighteous who might benefit as a result). The king of Edom's participation further highlights the universal reach of God's power and sovereignty, capable of impacting even foreign nations through His chosen servants.
2 Kings 3 12 Commentary
2 Kings 3:12 encapsulates a critical spiritual acknowledgment by worldly powers. Jehoshaphat's declaration, "The word of the Lord is with him," serves as a crucial theological endorsement, identifying Elisha not merely as a wise man but as a legitimate channel for divine revelation. This distinguishes Elisha's prophecy from pagan divination or personal opinion, asserting that the very presence and authority of the LORD's living word reside in him. The subsequent action of the three kings, descending to Elisha, is laden with symbolic weight. For these rulers—especially the King of Israel who typically fostered idolatry, and the King of Edom who served foreign gods—to humble themselves before a simple prophet of Yahweh signifies the overwhelming pressure of their desperate circumstances. It is a testament to the fact that dire straits often expose the limitations of human power and drive even resistant hearts to seek the one true God. Their journey to Elisha illustrates the principle that divine counsel is found where God's Spirit is active and His word resides. It models the necessary posture of humility for those seeking God's guidance: one must "go down" from pride or self-reliance to genuinely encounter His truth. This also highlights the authority of the prophet as God's representative, whose voice carries more weight than any royal decree in matters of divine will and salvation.