2 Kings 3:15 kjv
But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
2 Kings 3:15 nkjv
But now bring me a musician." Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
2 Kings 3:15 niv
But now bring me a harpist." While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came on Elisha
2 Kings 3:15 esv
But now bring me a musician." And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him.
2 Kings 3:15 nlt
Now bring me someone who can play the harp." While the harp was being played, the power of the LORD came upon Elisha,
2 Kings 3 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 10:5-6 | "After that you shall come to the hill of God... a band of prophets coming down from the high place with harp... prophecy... the Spirit of God will come mightily upon you." | Music preceding prophetic inspiration |
| 1 Sam 16:23 | "And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played... Saul would be relieved..." | Music's soothing effect on troubled spirit |
| 1 Chr 25:1 | "Moreover, David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service... those who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals." | Levitical musicians used in prophetic worship |
| Ezek 1:3 | "...the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel... and the hand of the LORD was upon him there." | "Hand of the LORD" signifying prophetic anointing |
| Ezek 3:14 | "The Spirit lifted me up... and the hand of the LORD was strong upon me." | "Hand of the LORD" for empowering vision and message |
| Ezek 3:22 | "The hand of the LORD was upon me there. And he said to me, 'Arise, go out into the valley...'" | Divine call to receive further revelation |
| Isa 8:11 | "For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people..." | "Strong hand" implies compelling divine revelation |
| 1 Kgs 18:46 | "The hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he gathered up his cloak and ran before Ahab..." | Divine power enabling supernatural physical feat |
| Luke 11:20 | "But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." | God's direct, powerful intervention (finger similar to hand) |
| Acts 4:30 | "while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed..." | God's hand associated with miraculous works |
| Acts 11:21 | "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord." | God's presence enabling successful ministry |
| Amos 3:7 | "For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." | God's pattern of revealing His will to prophets |
| Num 12:6 | "If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream." | General principle of divine communication to prophets |
| Joel 2:28 | "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy..." | The pouring out of the Spirit, resulting in prophecy |
| Psa 4:4 | "Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent." | Quieting of the soul for reflection or divine insight |
| Psa 92:3 | "with the ten-stringed harp and the lute, with the soft melody of the lyre." | Musical instruments for worship and contemplation |
| Psa 149:3 | "Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!" | Music used in praise and worship |
| Gen 4:21 | "...and his brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe." | Music's ancient origins and human skill |
| Jer 1:9 | "Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, 'Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.'" | God's direct physical action to enable prophetic speech |
| John 14:26 | "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things..." | The Spirit as the source of revelation in New Covenant |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness..." | Scripture as the inspired Word, result of divine 'breathing out' |
2 Kings 3 verses
2 Kings 3 15 Meaning
2 Kings 3:15 describes Elisha's request for a harpist, indicating that for prophecy to come forth, there was a need for a particular atmosphere of tranquility and focus. As the musician played, the direct, powerful, and enabling presence of God, symbolized as "the hand of the LORD," came upon Elisha, imparting the divine message and spiritual readiness needed for him to prophesy to the kings. It signifies that divine inspiration is sovereign, yet a prepared vessel, sometimes aided by external means, is receptive to it.
2 Kings 3 15 Context
The immediate context of 2 Kings 3:15 involves a desperate situation where three kings – Jehoram of Israel, Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the King of Edom – are campaigning against Moab but are stranded in the wilderness without water. Jehoshaphat, a righteous king, inquires if there is a prophet of the LORD to seek guidance from God. Elisha is found. Initially, Elisha expresses contempt for Jehoram, who persisted in Baal worship (similar to his parents, Ahab and Jezebel), but out of respect for Jehoshaphat, Elisha agrees to inquire of the LORD. It is at this point that Elisha, instead of immediately prophesying, calls for a harpist, signifying a preparatory step needed for the prophetic spirit to manifest. Historically, this account occurs during the divided kingdom period, with prophecy being a primary means of God's communication to His people amidst a backdrop of idolatry and political turmoil. This episode highlights God's sovereignty over nature and His willingness to answer sincere seekers, even when associated with those who rebel against Him.
2 Kings 3 15 Word analysis
- But now: This phrase (וְעַתָּה - wəʿattah) indicates a shift or a new directive after the preceding interaction where Elisha displayed displeasure towards King Jehoram. It signals the imminent action or requirement before revelation.
- bring me: (הָבָה לִי - hāḇāh lî) - A direct imperative from Elisha, showing his authority as a prophet and his control over the immediate environment. It implies an urgent need for this particular instrument.
- a harpist: (מְנַגֵּן - mənaggen) - Refers to one who plays a stringed instrument, often translated as 'musician' or 'minstrel'. The root (נָגַן - nagan) means to play, to strike a stringed instrument. It indicates that the sound and atmosphere created by music were considered conducive for prophetic receptivity, not as a magical incantation, but as a means to quiet the prophet's mind and soul, enabling him to better perceive the divine presence and voice. In ancient Israelite culture, music was deeply intertwined with worship, prophetic ministry, and the temple service.
- And it came to pass: (וְהָיָה - wəhāyāh) - A common Hebrew transition signifying an event unfolded as described, highlighting the sequence of actions and results.
- when the harpist played: (כְּנַגֵּן הַמְנַגֵּן - kə-naggen hammənaggen) - Literally "as the playing of the player." The repetition emphasizes the act of playing, signifying that it was during the performance of music, specifically as it quieted the prophet's spirit and focused his mind, that the divine influence came. This highlights the preparatory nature of the music. It points to a meditative or contemplative state facilitated by the melody, allowing Elisha to separate from the anxieties of the external situation (the desperate kings, the lack of water).
- that the hand of the LORD: (יַד יְהוָה - yad YHWH) - This is a potent anthropomorphism for God's powerful, sovereign, and direct action or influence. It is a common biblical idiom representing divine empowerment, active presence, guiding strength, and especially in prophetic contexts, the impartation of spiritual ability to receive and deliver God's message. It differentiates this experience from pagan ecstasy, emphasizing divine control rather than human manipulation or self-induced frenzy. It means God was actively at work.
- came upon him: (הָיְתָה אֵלָיו - hāyətāh ʾēlāw) - Denotes the descent or presence of God's power upon Elisha, implying an enabling or filling for the purpose of prophecy. This phrase is consistently used in scripture to describe divine anointing for specific tasks or prophetic revelation, demonstrating that the prophet himself was not the source of the message but merely the conduit.
2 Kings 3 15 Bonus section
The act of seeking music to prepare for prophecy finds echoes in other ancient Near Eastern cultures where music was also used in ecstatic religious practices. However, in the biblical context, it is crucial to note that the source of the "hand of the LORD" is exclusively Yahweh, distinguishing Israelite prophecy from pagan divination, which sought to manipulate spirits or induce a trance by various means to gain control over divine knowledge. Elisha’s method was about making himself a better conduit for God, not controlling God. This also underscores the humanity of the prophets; they were not automatons but individuals who, despite their calling, often needed practical means to ready themselves for weighty divine encounters, highlighting both divine sovereignty and human receptivity.
2 Kings 3 15 Commentary
2 Kings 3:15 provides a significant insight into the process of prophetic revelation. Elisha, though a powerful prophet, did not command prophecy at will but recognized his dependence on the divine. The request for a harpist reveals a practical aspect of prophetic preparation in ancient Israel. Music, for Elisha, was not a charm to compel God but a divinely permitted means to quiet his mind, settle his spirit, and foster an environment conducive for receptivity to the Spirit of God. It helped to tune out the clamor of the dire situation and the sinful presence of Jehoram, enabling spiritual focus. It emphasizes that while God's inspiration is sovereign, a prophet must be in a state of humble readiness. The subsequent manifestation of "the hand of the LORD" confirms that the source of power and the message was entirely divine. It speaks to God's varied ways of communicating with His servants, often utilizing elements that help a person to be more spiritually sensitive and receptive, even as the ultimate revelation is purely from Him. This practice stands in stark contrast to pagan methods of divination, which relied on manipulation or demonic influence, as Elisha's source was always YHWH Himself. The verse teaches us about waiting on God, preparing our hearts, and acknowledging that true divine communication is God-initiated and God-enabled.