2 Kings 8:7 kjv
And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.
2 Kings 8:7 nkjv
Then Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, "The man of God has come here."
2 Kings 8:7 niv
Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Aram was ill. When the king was told, "The man of God has come all the way up here,"
2 Kings 8:7 esv
Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, "The man of God has come here,"
2 Kings 8:7 nlt
Elisha went to Damascus, the capital of Aram, where King Ben-hadad lay sick. When someone told the king that the man of God had come,
2 Kings 8 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Authority of Prophets in Foreign Lands | ||
| Lk 4:25-27 | "I tell you the truth, there were many widows in Israel... but to none of them was Elijah sent... And there were many lepers... none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian." | God's specific outreach to Gentiles through prophets. |
| Jonah 3:4-5 | "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown." The Ninevites believed God... | Prophet sent to hostile Gentile capital. |
| Dan 2:47 | "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings..." | God's power recognized by Gentile king. |
| 1 Kgs 17:8-9 | Then the word of the Lord came to him: "Go at once to Zarephath in Sidon..." | Elijah sent to Gentile widow. |
| Acts 10:34-35 | Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism... but accepts men from every nation..." | God's universal outreach to all peoples. |
| Mt 8:5-10 | When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help... | Faith found even among Gentiles. |
| Isa 45:1 | "This is what the Lord says to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of..." | God calls Gentile ruler for His purpose. |
| Gen 12:3 | "...and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." | God's plan of blessing extends to all nations. |
| Significance of "Man of God" | ||
| 1 Kgs 17:18 | Then she said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God..." | Title acknowledging divine authority. |
| 2 Kgs 4:7 | So she came and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil..." | Elisha consistently referred to as 'man of God'. |
| Deut 33:1 | This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced... | Title used for Moses, denoting divine commissioning. |
| Judg 13:6 | Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, "A man of God came to me..." | Refers to a divinely sent messenger. |
| Kingship and Vulnerability | ||
| 2 Kgs 1:2 | Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers... to inquire of Baal-Zebub... | Sick king seeking divine guidance from pagan gods. |
| 2 Kgs 20:1 | In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death... | Illness affecting a king. |
| 1 Sam 16:14 | Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. | King's vulnerability and spiritual state. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. | God's sovereignty over kings. |
| Damascus/Syria in Prophecy/Context | ||
| 1 Kgs 19:15 | The Lord said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram." | Direct prophetic instruction related to Damascus and a Syrian king. |
| Amos 1:3-5 | This is what the Lord says: "For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath..." | Prophecy against Damascus/Syria. |
| Isa 7:8 | "For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin." | Reference to Damascus as capital of Aram. |
| 2 Kgs 5:1-19 | Now Naaman commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man... | Naaman, a Syrian general, healed by Elisha. |
| 2 Kgs 6:8-23 | Once when the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he took counsel with his officers... | Elisha's previous interaction with the Aramean army. |
| Pss 22:28 | For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. | God's ultimate authority over all nations. |
2 Kings 8 verses
2 Kings 8 7 Meaning
This verse initiates a significant phase in Elisha's ministry, demonstrating God's sovereign reach beyond the borders of Israel into a hostile kingdom. Elisha, the man of God, arrives in Damascus, the capital of Aram (Syria), where its powerful king, Ben-Hadad, lies critically ill. The news of Elisha's arrival quickly spreads to the king, recognizing his esteemed title as a divinely appointed prophet. This setting highlights Ben-Hadad's dire need and underscores the prophet's profound reputation and the recognition of Yahweh's authority even by an adversary nation.
2 Kings 8 7 Context
This verse occurs immediately after the miraculous restoration of the Shunammite woman's land and property by Gehazi, orchestrated by Elisha. The narrative shifts focus to a significant mission for Elisha: a journey to Damascus, the capital of Israel's perennial adversary, Aram (Syria). This visit fulfills a prior divine commission given to Elijah, Elisha's predecessor, to anoint Hazael king of Aram (1 Kgs 19:15), a task that now falls to Elisha. Ben-Hadad II, the ailing king mentioned, has been a persistent enemy of Israel, often raiding and warring against them. His sickness presents a moment of vulnerability for the formidable ruler, setting the stage for a crucial prophetic encounter and the transfer of power, revealing God's hand active in the political landscape of hostile nations.
2 Kings 8 7 Word analysis
- Then (וַיָּבֹ֣א - vayyavo): A temporal connector, linking this new event directly to the preceding narrative (Ch. 8:1-6), which established Elisha's profound influence even among kings. It signals a shift in geographic and political focus.
- Elisha (אֱלִישָׁע - 'Eliyisha'): The prophet of God, whose name means "My God is salvation" or "God saves." His presence in an enemy capital, acknowledged and sought after by its king, powerfully testifies to the universal reach and recognition of Yahweh's authority through His servant, far beyond Israel's borders.
- came to Damascus (דַּמֶּשֶׂק - Dammeseq): Damascus was the mighty capital of Aram (Syria), Israel's formidable military and political adversary. Elisha's entry into this hostile territory demonstrates remarkable divine courage and signals God's direct intervention in foreign affairs. This act echoes Elijah's divine directive regarding Damascus in 1 Kings 19:15.
- and Ben-Hadad king of Syria (בֶן־הֲדַד מֶֽלֶךְ אֲרָם - Ben-Hadad melekh Aram): Ben-Hadad refers to the king of Aram, likely Ben-Hadad II, a long-standing foe of Israel whom Elisha had previously encountered (e.g., in 2 Kgs 6-7). The specific title "king of Syria" (Aram) underscores his formidable secular power, contrasting with his current state of vulnerability.
- was sick (חָלָה - chalah): Indicates physical ailment or illness. This personal vulnerability of a powerful monarch creates the narrative opening for Elisha's involvement, illustrating that even kings are subject to natural limitations and dependent on divine intervention for healing, or in this case, for an answer about their fate.
- And it was told him (וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ ל֔וֹ - vayyagidu lo): This passive construction highlights the widespread knowledge of Elisha's presence and significance. The news reached the highest levels of Aramean society swiftly, implying that Elisha was not just another visitor but a figure of immense importance.
- saying, ‘The man of God (אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים - 'ish ha'Elohim): This title, "man of God," is reserved for special prophets or messengers of Yahweh (e.g., Moses, Elijah, Samuel). Its use by Arameans to describe Elisha shows remarkable reverence and recognition of his divine commissioning and the source of his power, even by those outside the covenant community. It implies he is a powerful figure with access to supernatural knowledge or healing.
- has come here.’ (בָּ֣א עַד־הֵ֔נָּה - ba'ad-henah): Emphasizes Elisha's arrival at this specific and critical location—the capital city of an enemy nation—at a pivotal time for its king. The phrase conveys urgency and the perceived significance of his presence.
2 Kings 8 7 Bonus section
Elisha's journey to Damascus fulfills part of the prophetic mandate given to Elijah at Horeb (1 Kgs 19:15). God specifically instructed Elijah to anoint Hazael as king over Aram, a task that now devolves upon Elisha, underscoring the continuity of the prophetic office and God's unwavering purpose across generations. The Aramean court referring to Elisha as "the man of God" is significant because it is a title generally reserved within Israel, indicating a widespread awareness and respect, perhaps even fear, of Elisha's supernatural capabilities stemming from Yahweh. This acknowledges God's global renown, even among those who did not worship Him. The situation draws a clear contrast to King Ahaziah's folly in 2 Kings 1, where an Israelite king sought an oracle from the pagan god Baal-Zebub; here, a pagan king seeks counsel from the prophet of Yahweh.
2 Kings 8 7 Commentary
This concise verse sets the dramatic stage for the subsequent unfolding of God's sovereign plan over the nations. It presents Elisha, the "man of God," entering the capital of Israel's enemy, not as a spy or diplomat, but as a divine instrument whose arrival immediately commands the attention of the highest authority. The king's illness renders him vulnerable and desperate, driving him to seek counsel from the prophet of a foreign deity. This scenario implicitly contrasts the living God of Israel with the inefficacy of pagan gods, as Ben-Hadad turns to Yahweh's prophet. Elisha's willingness to go to Damascus and Ben-Hadad's eagerness to consult him demonstrate God's profound influence extending far beyond the borders of His chosen people, demonstrating His control over all earthly powers and destinies. The verse efficiently moves the plot toward the fulfillment of prophetic decrees.