2 Kings 3 17

2 Kings 3:17 kjv

For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.

2 Kings 3:17 nkjv

For thus says the LORD: 'You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.'

2 Kings 3:17 niv

For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.

2 Kings 3:17 esv

For thus says the LORD, 'You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.'

2 Kings 3:17 nlt

You will see neither wind nor rain, says the LORD, but this valley will be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals.

2 Kings 3 verses

2 Kings 3 17 Meaning

This verse conveys a direct prophecy from the LORD through Elisha. It promises a miraculous supply of water to the thirsty allied armies of Israel, Judah, and Edom, along with their livestock. Crucially, this provision will occur without any observable natural indicators of rain, such as wind or cloud cover, emphasizing God's unconventional and supernatural method of provision beyond human expectation or visible atmospheric conditions.

2 Kings 3 17 Context

Chapter 3 of 2 Kings details the joint military campaign of Jehoram, King of Israel; Jehoshaphat, King of Judah; and the King of Edom against Mesha, King of Moab, who had rebelled against Israel. Following an unusual seven-day march through the wilderness of Edom, their armies, and crucially, their livestock, ran out of water, threatening the entire expedition with collapse. Facing imminent defeat not by enemy forces but by natural elements, they desperately sought divine guidance. This led them to consult the prophet Elisha. Elisha initially showed disdain for Jehoram, Israel's idolatrous king, but agreed to inquire of the LORD for the sake of the righteous King Jehoshaphat. Elisha then commanded them to dig trenches in the dry valley, setting the stage for the miraculous promise made in verse 17, which defied conventional expectations of how water would appear.

2 Kings 3 17 Word analysis

• For thus says the LORD: (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, koh amar Yahweh) This is a classic prophetic formula used throughout the Hebrew Bible, establishing the absolute divine authority and infallibility of the message. It signifies that the following words are not Elisha's thoughts or predictions but the direct, sovereign decree of God Himself, leaving no room for doubt regarding its fulfillment.
• 'You shall not see wind: (לֹא־תִרְאוּ רוּחַ, lo'-tir'u ruakh)
  • ruakh (רוּחַ): This Hebrew word can mean "wind," "spirit," or "breath." In this meteorological context, it signifies atmospheric wind. Winds are often a precursor to rain-bearing weather systems in the region.
  • The phrase emphasizes that there will be no visible or sensory evidence (like rising dust or moving branches) of an approaching storm, contrary to normal expectations for rain. It points to an unseen, unassisted work of God.
• nor shall you see rain; (וְלֹא־תִרְאוּ גֶשֶׁם, vəlo'-tir'u geshem)
  • geshem (גֶּשֶׁם): Specifically refers to heavy rain or a downpour.
  • This clarifies that the miracle will not involve rain falling directly overhead, eliminating a common expectation for water in a dry region. The absence of both wind and rain highlights God's supernatural agency and defiance of natural precipitation methods in their immediate vicinity.
• yet that valley shall be filled with water, (וְהַנַּחַל הַהוּא יִמָּלֵא מָיִם, vəhanachl hahu yimmale mayim)
  • hanachl (הַנַּחַל): Refers to "the wadi" or "dry riverbed/valley." Wadis are typical topographical features of arid regions, which only flow during specific rainy seasons or after distant rainfall. Elisha had previously instructed them to dig numerous trenches (borot, בּוֹרוֹת) in this wadi, signifying preparation for the promised water.
  • This is the miraculous outcome. Despite no local signs of rain, the wadi (which they prepared through obedience) will inexplicably become full. This suggests the water would come from elsewhere, possibly through flash floods caused by unseen rainfall in the upstream mountainous regions.
• so that you, your livestock, and your animals may drink.' (וּשְׁתִיתֶם אַתֶּם וּמִקְנֵיכֶם וּבְהֶמְתְּכֶם, ush’tithem attem umikneychem uvihemtekem)
  • mikneychem (מִקְנֵיכֶם): Refers specifically to domestic herds like cattle and sheep, crucial for the army's meat and milk supply.
  • uvhemtchem (וּבְהֶמְתְּכֶם): A more general term for beasts of burden and other large animals (like donkeys or camels), essential for transportation in military campaigns.
  • This phrase emphasizes the practical purpose and the comprehensive nature of God's provision. It wasn't just for the soldiers but for all living creatures depending on them, highlighting the full extent of the immediate need and God's abundant care.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain": This is a polemic against reliance on human senses, meteorology, or pagan deities like Baal (believed to control storms and rain). God explicitly states that the common natural precursors to water (wind, direct rain) will be absent. The miracle will transcend normal causation, demonstrating God's sovereignty over nature and His ability to work outside predictable patterns, emphasizing His independence and power over what appears "empty" or "dry."

2 Kings 3 17 Bonus section

• The absence of visible rain also served to eliminate any credit given to Baal, the Canaanite storm god, reinforcing the singular power of Yahweh.
• The water's arrival, likely as a flash flood from the mountains of Edom, aligns with geological and hydrological realities of wadis, yet its timing and specific appearance at that desperate moment render it entirely miraculous.
• This divine intervention not only rescued the armies from thirst but was intrinsically linked to God's strategic plan for defeating the Moabites, demonstrating that His provision often serves multiple purposes, including military and theological ones.
• The prophet Elisha, like his predecessor Elijah, repeatedly showcased God's power over elements and life itself, further solidifying the message that Israel's God was truly supreme.

2 Kings 3 17 Commentary

This verse stands as a profound testament to God's limitless power and unconventional methods of provision. In a desperate situation where an entire army faced certain destruction from thirst in the desert, Elisha's prophecy declares that God will provide water, not through the expected means of visible rain or wind, but by filling the wadi in an unseen manner. This implies that the water would arrive from an upstream source, perhaps from a distant cloudburst or flash flood that was not directly observed by the camped armies. The command to dig trenches (mentioned in the preceding verse) reveals that while God works miraculously, He often requires an act of faith and obedience from humanity as a point of cooperation or expectation. This miracle serves multiple purposes: it demonstrates God's supreme authority over nature, utterly humbles the armies who could not save themselves, and highlights that God's ways (His thoughts, His methods) are far above human comprehension or prediction (Isa 55:8-9). The promise of water for both people and animals underscores God's holistic care for His creation, ensuring that the critical needs of all involved are met in a desperate situation. The unseen source of the water also had a strategic outcome the next morning when the Moabites, seeing the sun reflect on the red earth-stained water, mistook it for blood and thought the allies had slaughtered each other, leading to their decisive defeat (2 Kgs 3:22-23).