2 Kings 6:10 kjv
And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
2 Kings 6:10 nkjv
Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.
2 Kings 6:10 niv
So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
2 Kings 6:10 esv
And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
2 Kings 6:10 nlt
So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.
2 Kings 6 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 6:8-9 | Now the king of Aram was making war on Israel... Elisha sent word... | Immediate context of warnings |
| Am 3:7 | For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. | God reveals secrets to prophets |
| 2 Chr 20:20 | Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed. | Importance of trusting prophets' words |
| Prov 2:11 | Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you, | Wisdom (divinely given) provides protection |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's word guides and illuminates |
| Prov 11:14 | Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. | Safety through wise counsel and warnings |
| Isa 30:21 | And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,”... | Hearing God's guidance |
| Ps 34:7 | The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. | Divine protection and deliverance |
| Ps 91:3-4 | For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence... | God's specific protection from traps |
| Ex 14:13 | And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord,...” | God's direct intervention for salvation |
| Jer 38:20 | But Jeremiah said, “They will not hand you over. Obey now the voice of the Lord...” | Heeding prophetic warnings prevents harm |
| Ez 33:4-5 | Then if anyone hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning,... | Responsibility to heed warnings |
| Isa 46:10 | declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done,... | God's foreknowledge and sovereignty over events |
| Ps 33:10-11 | The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. | God frustrates enemy plans |
| Job 5:12 | He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. | God nullifies human schemes |
| 1 Cor 12:8-10 | For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom... to another discerning of spirits. | Elisha's prophetic gifts of knowledge/discernment |
| 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,... | God's method of communication through prophets |
| Matt 7:24-25 | Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. | Wisdom in hearing and obeying warnings |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Practical obedience to divine word |
| Deut 29:29 | The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us... | God reveals what is necessary for our action |
| Luke 10:19 | Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. | Divine authority and protection from enemy |
| Ps 5:11-12 | But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy... For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield. | God protects those who take refuge in Him |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. | A call for spiritual watchfulness against unseen foes |
2 Kings 6 verses
2 Kings 6 10 Meaning
The verse states that the King of Israel acted upon the specific warnings delivered through the man of God, Elisha, regarding the places where the Arameans (Syrians) intended to ambush him. Consequently, the king and his forces avoided danger and were protected on multiple occasions due to this divine foresight and his willingness to heed the prophetic word.
2 Kings 6 10 Context
2 Kings 6 begins with Elisha performing a miracle, causing an axe head to float, reinforcing his prophetic authority. The narrative then shifts to the persistent conflict between Aram (Syria) and Israel. The King of Aram repeatedly plans ambushes, but his plans are consistently thwarted because the King of Israel avoids the precise locations. Suspecting a spy in his own camp, the Aramean king discovers that Elisha, the "man of God," is the one revealing his secrets. Verse 10 directly describes the Israelite king's response to Elisha's accurate, divinely-sourced intelligence, highlighting the consistent nature of these warnings and the protection they provided. This entire section serves to illustrate God's sovereign knowledge over all earthly strategies and His active protection of His people through His chosen prophet, even amidst their idolatry and unfaithfulness.
2 Kings 6 10 Word analysis
So (וַיִּשְׁלַח - vayyishlaḥ): This Hebrew conjunction ("and he sent") marks a direct consequence or continuation of the previous statement. It indicates a swift and deliberate action taken by the king in response to Elisha's report, implying immediate belief and obedience.
the king of Israel (מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל - meleḵ Yiśrāʾēl): Identifies the specific ruler who was the beneficiary of Elisha's divine intelligence. This was likely Jehoram (Joram), son of Ahab. His readiness to trust Elisha's word here stands out against his general religious disposition which was often wavering or syncretistic.
sent (וַיִּשְׁלַח - vayyishlaḥ): The repetition emphasizes the active nature of the king's response. He didn't just passively receive information but proactively dispatched forces or messengers to specific places. This implies a protective measure, moving troops away from or strengthening specific points.
to the place (אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם - ʾel-hammaqôm): Specificity is key. Elisha did not give general advice but precise geographical intelligence, demonstrating divine omniscience. The king's sending "to" the place could mean dispatching a warning to his troops stationed there or diverting them from there.
about which (אֲשֶׁר - ʾăšer): A relative pronoun, clearly linking the location to the specific information provided by Elisha.
the man of God (אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים - ʾîš hāʾĕlōhîm): The standard title for a prophet of Yahweh, specifically Elisha here. It underscores his divine commission and the source of his knowledge, not human intelligence. His authority derived from God, validating the warnings.
told him (אָמַר לוֹ - ʾāmar lô): Simple statement of verbal communication. Elisha spoke God's word directly or indirectly to the king.
thus he warned him (וְהִזְהִירוֹ - vəhizhîrô): The Hebrew verb root is zāhar (זָהַר), meaning to warn, admonish, shine light on. In the Hiphil stem here, it means "he caused to be warned" or "he warned him." This indicates that the king received and registered the warning effectively, leading to his self-protective actions. The king was warned effectively.
and he saved himself (וְהִשְׁתַּמֵּר - vəhishtammēr): From the root shāmar (שָׁמַר), "to guard, keep, observe." In the Hitpael stem, it signifies a reflexive action: "he guarded himself," "he kept himself safe," or "he was on his guard." This is the successful outcome of heeding the divine warning.
there (שָׁם - shām): Reinforces the direct connection between the place warned about and the act of preservation.
more than once or twice (לֹא אַחַת וְלֹא שְׁתַּיִם - loʾ ʾaḥat wəloʾ shtayim): This idiomatic Hebrew expression means "not once and not twice," i.e., "many times," or "repeatedly." It emphasizes the consistent and persistent nature of both Elisha's warnings and the king's subsequent deliverance, underscoring the reliability of the prophetic word.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "So the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him": This phrase highlights the credibility of Elisha and the king's remarkable (given his typical actions) obedience to the prophet. It reveals God's strategy of intervening in human affairs through prophetic revelation. The king's proactive "sending" suggests his trust and acknowledgement of the divine source.
- "thus he warned him, and he saved himself there": This segment connects the divine warning directly to the resulting protection. The warning (divine communication) leads directly to self-preservation, demonstrating the life-saving power of heeding God's revealed will. The implied warning by Elisha (via the message) led to the king's defensive actions.
- "more than once or twice": This powerful idiom underscores the ongoing and undeniable accuracy of Elisha's prophecies and God's consistent intervention. It implies that these were not isolated incidents but a pattern of divine protection, further solidifying the king's reliance on Elisha and reinforcing God's supreme authority over all earthly powers and war strategies.
2 Kings 6 10 Bonus section
This narrative showcases a unique aspect of divine intervention, akin to "spiritual intelligence." God is portrayed as the ultimate strategist, having full foreknowledge of enemy movements and intentions. This level of omniscience demonstrates that no human plotting, no matter how clandestine, can escape His awareness. The contrast between the worldly tactical efforts of the Aramean king and the supernatural foresight granted to Elisha is stark, illustrating God's complete supremacy. The King of Israel's repeated trust in Elisha's unconventional source of information suggests that practical benefits can sometimes override personal prejudices or theological inconsistencies, urging even less-than-pious leaders to act on evident divine power for self-preservation. It teaches that listening to and acting upon God's specific warnings through His messengers leads to tangible safety and avoids otherwise unavoidable traps.
2 Kings 6 10 Commentary
2 Kings 6:10 encapsulates a profound truth: God's sovereign knowledge transcends all human strategy and offers a path to safety when obeyed. Elisha, acting as God's instrument, possessed divine insight into the secret counsel of the Aramean king, providing specific, actionable intelligence to the King of Israel. The king's decision to act upon these repeated warnings, despite his broader spiritual shortcomings, highlights the practical benefit of heeding divine revelation. This verse demonstrates that God actively guards and protects His people from hidden dangers, revealing His plans to His chosen servants to bring about deliverance. It serves as a powerful testimony to Elisha's authenticity as a prophet and the ever-present care of Yahweh, even when His people are not fully devoted to Him. The phrase "more than once or twice" signifies the unwavering reliability of God's word through His prophet and the repeated, tangible impact of obedience. This constant deliverance would have bolstered the king's immediate faith in Elisha, albeit perhaps not leading to a full repentance and return to YHWH.