2 Kings 8 12

2 Kings 8:12 kjv

And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

2 Kings 8:12 nkjv

And Hazael said, "Why is my lord weeping?" He answered, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child."

2 Kings 8:12 niv

"Why is my lord weeping?" asked Hazael. "Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites," he answered. "You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women."

2 Kings 8:12 esv

And Hazael said, "Why does my lord weep?" He answered, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women."

2 Kings 8:12 nlt

"What's the matter, my lord?" Hazael asked him. Elisha replied, "I know the terrible things you will do to the people of Israel. You will burn their fortified cities, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women!"

2 Kings 8 verses

2 Kings 8 12 Meaning

In 2 Kings 8:12, the prophet Elisha reveals the reason for his weeping to Hazael. He prophetically declares that he foresees the terrible evil and immense cruelty Hazael will inflict upon the people of Israel once he becomes king of Aram. Elisha details these future atrocities, which include setting their fortified cities on fire, brutally slaying their young men, mercilessly crushing their infants, and inhumanely ripping open pregnant women. This verse underscores God's foreknowledge of future events, the moral depravity of human actions, and the profound burden of prophetic revelation.

2 Kings 8 12 Context

This verse is situated within a significant narrative concerning the prophet Elisha in Damascus. King Ben-Hadad of Aram is gravely ill and sends his chief officer, Hazael, to inquire of Elisha whether he will recover. Elisha tells Hazael that the king will indeed die, but then he gazes intently at Hazael until Hazael becomes uncomfortable, and Elisha begins to weep. This verse, 2 Kings 8:12, records Elisha's explanation for his tears. The immediate historical context is the ongoing conflict and complex relationship between the northern kingdom of Israel and its powerful neighbor, Aram (Syria), during the reign of King Jehoram of Israel. Elisha's prophecy serves as a divine revelation, foretelling a period of intense suffering and judgment for Israel, carried out through the future king of Aram, Hazael, who is divinely ordained to inflict these calamities.

2 Kings 8 12 Word analysis

• Then Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?”

  • Hazael (חֲזָאֵל, Ḥăzaʾel): Means "God has seen" or "God has beheld." Ironically, he is about to become an instrument of divine wrath. His question reveals his initial confusion and lack of understanding of Elisha's prophetic foresight.
  • "my lord": Indicates a deferential and respectful address from Hazael, highlighting his current position as an obedient servant, contrasting sharply with the future wickedness Elisha sees in him.
  • "weeping" (בֹּכֶה, bōkeh): From bākhāh (to weep, to lament). Elisha's tears are not of personal sorrow or weakness but of deep prophetic anguish and identification with the suffering Israel will endure. This act parallels the deep lamentation often displayed by prophets witnessing impending judgment (e.g., Jeremiah).

• And he answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel:

  • "he answered": Refers to Elisha.
  • "I know" (יָדַעְתִּי, yāda‘tî): From yāda‘ (to know, perceive, understand). This is not a human guess but a divinely granted insight into the future. It signifies absolute certainty based on revelation, confirming Elisha's prophetic authority.
  • "the evil" (הָרָעָה, hā-rā‘â): From ra‘ (bad, evil, wickedness, disaster, calamity). It encompasses both the moral wickedness of Hazael's actions and the devastating calamity these actions will bring upon Israel.
  • "that you will do": Directly attributes culpability to Hazael, indicating his agency and responsibility despite being an instrument in God's broader plan.
  • "the sons of Israel": Refers to the entire nation of Israel, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the coming disaster.

• you will set their fortresses on fire, and you will slay their young men with the sword, and dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child.”

  • "fortresses" (מִבְצְרֵיהֶם, mibṣᵉrêhem): Walled cities, strongholds. Setting them on fire symbolizes complete conquest and destruction, eliminating their defenses. This signifies total defeat and territorial loss.
  • "slay... with the sword": Standard brutal method of warfare. "Young men" points to the warrior class and the strength of the nation, their decimation leading to utter helplessness.
  • "dash in pieces their little ones": (וְאֶת־עֹלְלֵיהֶם תְּרַטֵּשׁ, wə’eṯ-‘ōləlêhem təraṭṭēš) – An extremely graphic and horrific act. "Little ones" (‘ōlēl) refers to infants or very young children. "Dash in pieces" (rāṭaš) implies smashing them, usually against a rock or hard surface. This act signifies total annihilation, genocidal intent, preventing future generations, and represents the ultimate savagery of ancient warfare. It's condemned elsewhere in the Bible, showing its extreme evil.
  • "rip up their women with child": (וְאֶת־הָרֹותֵיהֶם תְּבַקֵּעַ, wə’eṯ-hārōṯêhem tᵉbaqqēa‘) – Another abhorrent and cruel act. "Women with child" (hārim) are pregnant women. "Rip up" (bāqa‘) means to split open or tear asunder. This is the epitome of depravity, aimed at eradicating any future possibility for the nation and maximizing suffering. Both "dashing infants" and "ripping pregnant women" demonstrate utter lack of human compassion and are often cited in prophetic condemnations of atrocities committed by foreign nations or as acts of divine judgment when nations persist in severe sin.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "I know the evil that you will do": Highlights divine foreknowledge of human sin and the certainty of prophetic fulfillment, not as mere prediction but as a revelation of God's overarching plan and allowance.
  • "set their fortresses on fire... slay their young men... dash in pieces their little ones... rip up their women with child": This litany of horrors systematically covers all aspects of national destruction – military, infrastructure, and especially the complete eradication of future generations through the targeting of infants and unborn children. It paints a grim picture of absolute, unsparing brutality.

2 Kings 8 12 Bonus section

Elisha's weeping illustrates the prophetic ministry's heavy cost, where foreseeing national calamity brought immense sorrow rather than satisfaction. This profound emotional response demonstrates a spiritual empathy, mirroring God's own lament over humanity's choices and subsequent suffering, even when that suffering is a consequence of judgment. While Hazael's future acts are depicted as his choices, fulfilling a prophecy shows the intricate dance between divine sovereignty and human agency; God allows these actions to unfold, using them within His greater, righteous purpose, yet never condoning the inherent evil of the perpetrator. This tragic forecast also stands as a stern warning against turning away from the Lord, highlighting the severe consequences that apostasy can bring upon a nation.

2 Kings 8 12 Commentary

Elisha's tears are a window into the prophet's profound burden and identification with the future suffering of God's people. His weeping is not a sign of fear, but of compassionate grief over the horrifying atrocities Hazael will commit, foreseen through divine revelation. This prophetic sight extends beyond mere predictions; it embodies God's omniscient knowledge of human actions, even the most heinous, long before they occur. The gruesome details outlined by Elisha – the burning of fortresses, the slaughter of young men, the smashing of infants, and the dismemberment of pregnant women – describe warfare at its most barbaric. These acts underscore Hazael's unmitigated wickedness and also serve as a divine judgment against Israel's idolatry and sin, though Hazael himself is accountable for his cruel heart. The immediate fulfillment of this prophecy began soon after Hazael murdered Ben-Hadad and seized the throne, leading to years of severe oppression against Israel, as recorded in later chapters of 2 Kings. Elisha’s vision, therefore, serves as both a prophecy of impending doom and a powerful statement about the depths of human depravity and God's sovereign hand over the course of history, using even wicked rulers to accomplish His purposes.