2 Kings 3:18 kjv
And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.
2 Kings 3:18 nkjv
And this is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.
2 Kings 3:18 niv
This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; he will also deliver Moab into your hands.
2 Kings 3:18 esv
This is a light thing in the sight of the LORD. He will also give the Moabites into your hand,
2 Kings 3:18 nlt
But this is only a simple thing for the LORD, for he will make you victorious over the army of Moab!
2 Kings 3 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 18:14 | "Is anything too hard for the LORD?..." | God's power, nothing is too difficult for Him. |
| Exod 14:13 | "...the LORD will fight for you..." | Divine intervention and battle against enemies. |
| Num 11:23 | "Is the LORD's arm too short?" | God's omnipotence and ability to fulfill His word. |
| Deut 20:4 | "For the LORD your God is He who goes with you..." | God's presence and fight on behalf of His people. |
| Deut 31:6 | "...be strong and courageous... for the LORD your God goes with you." | Assurance of God's help and strength. |
| Josh 23:10 | "One man of you puts to flight a thousand..." | God empowers His people for disproportionate victory. |
| Judg 7:7 | "...With the three hundred men... I will deliver the Midianites into your hand." | God uses small numbers to achieve great victory. |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | "...the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand." | Acknowledging God as the source of victory. |
| 2 Chron 20:15 | "...The battle is not yours but God's." | God takes ownership of the conflict and ensures victory. |
| Job 42:2 | "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld." | God's absolute sovereignty and power. |
| Psa 44:3 | "...it was not their own sword that gave them possession of the land..." | Victory comes from God, not human strength. |
| Psa 115:3 | "Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases." | God's absolute sovereignty and power. |
| Psa 135:5-6 | "For I know that the LORD is great... Whatever the LORD pleases, he does..." | God's greatness and active power in the world. |
| Prov 21:30-31 | "No wisdom... can avail against the LORD. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD." | Human plans are subject to God's ultimate control and victory. |
| Isa 40:26 | "Lift up your eyes on high... He calls them all by name..." | God's majestic power over creation and His purposes. |
| Isa 41:10 | "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God..." | Divine reassurance and support in facing challenges. |
| Jer 32:17 | "Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power... Nothing is too hard for you." | Affirmation of God's limitless power as Creator. |
| Amos 3:7 | "For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." | God's method of communication through His chosen prophets. |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." | Victory is through divine power, not human capability. |
| Matt 19:26 | "With God all things are possible." | New Testament affirmation of God's omnipotence. |
| Luke 1:37 | "For nothing will be impossible with God." | God's limitless capability to achieve His will. |
| Rom 8:31 | "If God is for us, who can be against us?" | God's support renders all opposition trivial. |
| Heb 11:6 | "...without faith it is impossible to please him..." | Emphasizes faith as prerequisite for divine action. |
2 Kings 3 verses
2 Kings 3 18 Meaning
This verse, spoken by the prophet Elisha, declares God's perspective on the upcoming battle: the deliverance of the Moabites into the hands of the allied kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom is not a difficult task for the LORD. It reassures the kings that God will not only provide water as promised but will also effortlessly grant them a complete victory over their powerful enemies.
2 Kings 3 18 Context
Chapter 3 of 2 Kings begins with the joint military campaign of Jehoram king of Israel, Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and the king of Edom against Mesha, king of Moab. Moab had been paying tribute to Israel but rebelled after Ahab's death. As they advanced through the wilderness, the allied army and their animals ran out of water, facing imminent collapse. In their desperation, they consulted Elisha, the prophet. Though Elisha was initially reluctant to prophesy to Jehoram, who followed in the sins of his father Ahab, he consented for the sake of the righteous King Jehoshaphat. Elisha then commanded them to dig trenches throughout the valley (2 Ki 3:16) and prophesied that water would miraculously fill them without wind or rain (2 Ki 3:17), which came to pass. Verse 18 then adds to this promise, assuring them that providing water was merely a prelude; God would also effortlessly hand over their formidable Moabite enemies. This context highlights divine intervention in a humanly impossible situation and the role of the prophet as God's spokesperson.
2 Kings 3 18 Word analysis
- This (זֹאת zōt): A demonstrative pronoun, pointing forward to the second part of the prophecy concerning the Moabites. It indicates that the deliverance of Moab, like the provision of water, is part of a single, continuous divine plan.
- is a light thing (קַל֙ qāl): The Hebrew word qāl (קַל) means "light," "slight," "insignificant," "easy," or "trifling." This word is significant as it conveys God's perspective: what seems a massive undertaking or impossible task to humans is of no effort for Him. It contrasts human weakness and limited sight with God's unlimited power.
- in the sight of (בְּעֵינֵ֣י bᵉʿênê): Literally "in the eyes of." This phrase emphasizes that it is God's divine perspective that matters. From His omniscient and omnipotent viewpoint, this grand military victory is effortless. It sets divine assessment against human assessment.
- the LORD (יְהוָ֔ה YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing Him as the sovereign, self-existent, faithful God. The use of YHWH signifies His personal involvement and commitment to His people, even in their waywardness, particularly for the sake of His covenant with Jehoshaphat and the faithfulness He demonstrates.
- he will deliver (וְנָתַ֥ן wᵉnātan): From the Hebrew root nātan (נָתַן), meaning "to give," "to put," "to place," and in this context, "to hand over" or "to grant." The grammatical form (Qal perfect consecutive) denotes a strong assurance and certainty of the future action. God will unequivocally perform this act.
- the Moabites (מוֹאָב Moʾāv): The specific enemy nation, known for their strong king Mesha (Mesha Stele) and their god Chemosh. Delivering them specifically highlights God's triumph over human and pagan deities, asserting YHWH's exclusive sovereignty over the outcomes of battle.
- also (גַּם gam): This conjunction signifies that the victory over Moab is in addition to the promised water (2 Ki 3:17). It implies an overabundance of divine provision and an escalation of blessing beyond their immediate need, showcasing God's generous hand.
- into your hand (בְּיֶדְכֶֽם bᵉyedkem): A common biblical idiom signifying control, power, or possession. To be "in one's hand" means to be conquered, subdued, or fully under one's authority. This conveys a complete and decisive victory.
2 Kings 3 18 Bonus section
The sequence of prophecies in 2 Kings 3, where the 'smaller' miracle of providing water precedes the 'larger' miracle of defeating a formidable enemy, serves to build faith incrementally. It confirms Elisha's authenticity as a prophet and establishes the certainty of the more significant prophecy. The declaration "it is a light thing in the sight of the LORD" not only comforts but also encourages the kings to recognize that even great victories for humanity are mere trifles from God's boundless power. This also carries a polemic against the regional gods, particularly Moab's god Chemosh, asserting that YHWH alone determines the course of events and grants victory, irrespective of the supposed might of pagan deities or armies.
2 Kings 3 18 Commentary
This verse serves as a profound statement of God's omnipotence and His ability to accomplish the seemingly impossible with ease. Following the promise of miraculous water provision, Elisha declares that delivering the formidable Moabite army is "a light thing" for the LORD. This perspective fundamentally shifts the human perception of challenge and limitation. It's not a struggle or a difficult endeavor for the Almighty; rather, it is as if the greatest obstacle for mankind is a trivial matter for the Creator. This reassures the kings, particularly the righteous Jehoshaphat, that God's power is not constrained by military strength, logistics, or the might of enemies. It underscores God's sovereignty over nations and the outcomes of battle, reminding His people that victory comes from Him alone, not from their strategic planning or numerical superiority. It stands as a testament to God's readiness to intervene supernaturally for His people when they turn to Him in faith, showcasing His covenant faithfulness despite human failings.