2 Kings 8 14

2 Kings 8:14 kjv

So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover.

2 Kings 8:14 nkjv

Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, "What did Elisha say to you?" And he answered, "He told me you would surely recover."

2 Kings 8:14 niv

Then Hazael left Elisha and returned to his master. When Ben-Hadad asked, "What did Elisha say to you?" Hazael replied, "He told me that you would certainly recover."

2 Kings 8:14 esv

Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, "What did Elisha say to you?" And he answered, "He told me that you would certainly recover."

2 Kings 8:14 nlt

When Hazael left Elisha and went back, the king asked him, "What did Elisha tell you?" And Hazael replied, "He told me that you will surely recover."

2 Kings 8 verses

2 Kings 8 14 Meaning

This verse details Hazael's return to King Ben-Hadad of Aram after his encounter with the prophet Elisha. Ben-Hadad eagerly questions Hazael about Elisha's prognosis for his illness. Hazael, however, deceives his master, reporting only the partial truth that Elisha declared Ben-Hadad would surely recover from his ailment, omitting Elisha's accompanying prophecy that the king would nonetheless die. This calculated lie sets the stage for Hazael's treachery and usurpation of the throne.

2 Kings 8 14 Context

This verse follows directly from Elisha's encounter with Hazael in Damascus. Ben-Hadad, King of Aram, was ill and had sent his trusted servant Hazael to Elisha to inquire if he would recover (2 Kgs 8:7-8). Elisha first told Hazael to inform Ben-Hadad that he would recover from his illness, but immediately revealed to Hazael, in confidence, that Ben-Hadad would certainly die by other means. Elisha then prophesied that Hazael would become king and inflict immense suffering on Israel (2 Kgs 8:10-13). Thus, 2 Kings 8:14 represents the critical moment of decision for Hazael, where he chooses to act on the prophetic insight in a self-serving and deceptive manner. This event foreshadows future conflicts and oppressions against Israel under Hazael's rule, and highlights Elisha's ministry extending beyond Israel to influencing geopolitical shifts according to God's plan.

2 Kings 8 14 Word analysis

• So he departed from Hazael: This phrase, particularly the subject "he" and the preposition "from Hazael" (מֵאֵת חֲזָאֵל, me'et Chaza'el), can be nuanced in Hebrew. Grammatically, it can mean someone left Hazael. However, in the immediate narrative context (Hazael's dialogue with Elisha in 2 Kgs 8:13), it is universally understood and translated by scholars as "Hazael departed from [the presence of] Elisha" or "Hazael left Elisha." The preposition מֵאֵת (me'et) often indicates departing from a person's presence or specific location. It marks Hazael's departure from the encounter with the prophet.

• and came and stood before his master: Describes Hazael's return to King Ben-Hadad. To "stand before" a master implies a posture of submission and readiness to report or serve. This signifies Hazael's continued role as a trusted official, hiding his true intentions.

• his master: Refers to Ben-Hadad, the ailing King of Aram. This underscores the relationship dynamic, soon to be shattered by Hazael's betrayal.

• and Hazael said to him: Indicating Ben-Hadad's initiation of the conversation, expecting the prophetic word from Elisha through Hazael. It demonstrates the Aramaic king's acknowledgement of Elisha's prophetic authority and reputation, even across enemy lines. Kings in the Ancient Near East frequently sought omens and prophecies regarding health and succession.

• 'What did Elisha say to you?': Ben-Hadad's urgent inquiry, reflecting his anxiety about his health and his fate. He trusts Hazael as his direct link to the prophet's oracle.

• And he answered, 'He told me that you would surely recover.': Hazael's calculated response. He reported only a portion of Elisha's full prophecy to Ben-Hadad.

  • 'He told me that you would surely recover.' (חָיֹה תִּחְיֶה, chayoh tichyeh): Elisha indeed spoke this exact phrase about Ben-Hadad's illness in 2 Kings 8:10 ("Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover’"). This phrase uses an infinitive absolute before the finite verb, emphatically stating "living, you shall live," or "you will surely recover." Hazael carefully quoted this part correctly. However, Elisha immediately followed this with "however the LORD has shown me that he will certainly die" (2 Kgs 8:10). Hazael's lie of omission turns a qualified recovery into an absolute assurance, manipulating the divine word to achieve his wicked aims. This is a partial truth presented as a complete truth, a classic form of deception.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "So he departed from Hazael and came and stood before his master": This describes the critical transition: Hazael's departure from Elisha's spiritual presence and his re-entry into the worldly, political sphere, immediately setting the stage for his premeditated betrayal. The swift movement underscores the immediacy of his intended action.
  • "What did Elisha say to you?" "He told me that you would surely recover.": This exchange epitomizes deception. Ben-Hadad's vulnerability and his faith in Hazael are contrasted with Hazael's cold, calculating manipulation of divine revelation. Hazael effectively transforms a complex divine prophecy (recovery from illness but certain death by other means) into a simple, reassuring falsehood, solely for his own treacherous ends. This highlights the inherent danger of twisting or omitting parts of truth for personal gain, particularly regarding prophetic words.

2 Kings 8 14 Bonus section

• Irony of Name: The name Hazael (חֲזָאֵל, Chaza'el) means "God has seen" or "vision of God." This is deeply ironic given his treacherous actions that immediately follow the prophecy from God's prophet, Elisha, about Ben-Hadad's true fate and Hazael's wicked future. God truly "saw" Hazael and revealed his heart and future deeds to Elisha.
• Divine Sovereignty vs. Human Responsibility: This verse, especially when read with the next, exemplifies the tension between God's sovereign plan and human free will/responsibility. Elisha prophesied Ben-Hadad's death and Hazael's future as king and oppressor. Hazael then freely chose the path of murder and deception to accelerate his rise, thus fulfilling, rather than frustrating, the divine decree. This shows that even wicked human actions can serve as instruments, albeit culpable ones, in God's overarching purpose.
• The Power of Omission: Hazael's lie was not a fabrication from whole cloth but a cunning distortion through omission. This highlights a potent form of deceit: leveraging partial truths to create a false impression, demonstrating how half-truths can be more dangerous than outright falsehoods because they carry an element of credibility.
• Ben-Hadad's Reliance on Prophecy: Despite being the king of Aram, a rival nation, Ben-Hadad’s decision to send Hazael to Elisha illustrates the prophet's widespread reputation and the Aramaic king's desperation or reverence for prophetic counsel. This respect for Israel’s God’s prophet underscores the true God’s prominence even among pagan nations.

2 Kings 8 14 Commentary

2 Kings 8:14 marks a pivotal moment, showcasing Hazael's cunning and deceit, setting the immediate stage for King Ben-Hadad's murder and Hazael's ascension to the throne. Hazael's response to Ben-Hadad is a masterclass in calculated deception, presenting a partial truth from Elisha's prophecy (Ben-Hadad's non-fatal illness) while concealing the crucial divine declaration of Ben-Hadad's inevitable death. This deliberate omission not only provided false comfort to the ailing king but also removed any suspicion from Hazael himself as the instrument of Ben-Hadad's demise, as the prophet's words (though twisted) seemingly offered assurance. This narrative powerfully demonstrates how divine foreknowledge, communicated through a prophet, can ironically become intertwined with human sinfulness and ambition to fulfill God's ultimate plan, albeit through wicked means. It underscores the destructive nature of unchecked ambition and the insidious power of a well-placed lie.