2 Kings 8:8 kjv
And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?
2 Kings 8:8 nkjv
And the king said to Hazael, "Take a present in your hand, and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, 'Shall I recover from this disease?' "
2 Kings 8:8 niv
he said to Hazael, "Take a gift with you and go to meet the man of God. Consult the LORD through him; ask him, 'Will I recover from this illness?'?"
2 Kings 8:8 esv
the king said to Hazael, "Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, saying, 'Shall I recover from this sickness?'"
2 Kings 8:8 nlt
the king said to Hazael, "Take a gift to the man of God. Then tell him to ask the LORD, 'Will I recover from this illness?'"
2 Kings 8 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 18:21-22 | "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD... if the word does not come to pass, that is the word the LORD has not spoken." | Validates Elisha's prophecy by its fulfillment. |
| Isa 46:10 | "declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done..." | God's foreknowledge and sovereignty over events. |
| Amos 3:7 | "For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." | God reveals His plans to His prophets. |
| 1 Ki 19:15-17 | "Go, return on your way... anoint Hazael to be king over Syria... and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel..." | Elisha's fulfillment of Elijah's prophetic commission. |
| Jer 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." | God's eternal knowledge and purpose for individuals. |
| Hab 1:6 | "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth..." | God uses even wicked nations/men for His plans. |
| John 11:4 | "But when Jesus heard it he said, 'This sickness will not end in death; rather it is for God’s glory...'" | A sickness not immediately fatal, echoing Elisha's initial statement. |
| Psa 139:4 | "Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether." | God's comprehensive knowledge, including future words. |
| Acts 15:18 | "Known to God from eternity are all His works." | God's eternal plan and awareness of all creation. |
| Job 14:5 | "Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass..." | God's predetermination of human lifespan. |
| 2 Ki 8:12-13 | "And Elisha said, 'Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel...'" | Elisha's further revelation of Hazael's future actions. |
| 2 Ki 8:15 | "But the next day he took a blanket and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, so that he died..." | The immediate fulfillment of Ben-Hadad's death prophecy. |
| 2 Ki 10:32 | "In those days the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael would strike them throughout all the territory of Israel..." | Hazael's reign fulfilling prophecies of oppression. |
| 1 Ki 11:29-39 | Ahijah's prophecy to Jeroboam about becoming king, and the division of the kingdom. | Divine appointment and dethronement of kings. |
| Gen 50:20 | "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good..." | God works through human evil to accomplish His purposes. |
| Pro 16:9 | "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." | God's ultimate direction over human decisions. |
| Dan 2:28 | "...there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries..." | God's exclusive ability to disclose the future. |
| 1 Sam 2:6-7 | "The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up... he raises up the poor from the dust..." | God's sovereignty over life, death, and human fortunes. |
| Eccl 9:11-12 | "...time and chance happen to them all... man also does not know his time." | Life's uncertainties, contrasted with God's perfect knowledge. |
| Isa 55:11 | "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose..." | The certainty and efficacy of God's spoken word. |
| Prov 16:33 | "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." | God's sovereignty extends even to seemingly random events. |
| Psa 76:10 | "Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remainder of wrath you will restrain." | God uses and restrains human will and actions. |
2 Kings 8 verses
2 Kings 8 8 Meaning
This verse conveys a precise, two-part prophetic word from Elisha to Hazael concerning Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram. Elisha reveals that King Ben-Hadad will physically recover from his current illness ("You shall certainly recover"). However, immediately following this, Elisha declares with divine certainty that Ben-Hadad will nonetheless "surely die," revealing God's ultimate decree and foreknowledge of the king's fate by other means, which is executed by Hazael himself in the next verse (2 Ki 8:15).
2 Kings 8 8 Context
This verse is part of a significant narrative (2 Kings 8:7-15) where the prophet Elisha travels to Damascus, the capital of Aram/Syria. Ben-Hadad, the Aramean king, falls ill and, having previously experienced Elisha's miraculous powers (e.g., healing Naaman in 2 Ki 5), sends his chief servant Hazael with lavish gifts to inquire of the prophet about his recovery. This highlights Elisha's widespread recognition and God's authority extending even to foreign, hostile nations. Elisha's reply to Hazael is multi-layered: an immediate factual truth about Ben-Hadad's illness not being fatal, followed by a prophetic declaration of his inevitable death through other means, foreshadowing Hazael's own dark destiny and his future role as a cruel oppressor of Israel, as already prophesied by Elijah to anoint Hazael as King (1 Kings 19:15).
2 Kings 8 8 Word analysis
- And Elisha said unto him: This phrase establishes a direct, authoritative communication from Elisha. "Him" specifically refers to Hazael, the chief servant of Ben-Hadad, who has come as the king's emissary.
- Go, say unto him,
- Go: This is an imperative command, directing Hazael to immediately return and deliver the message.
- say unto him: "Him" here refers to King Ben-Hadad, clarifying the intended recipient of the specific message Elisha is about to relay.
- Thou mayest certainly recover:
- חָיֹה תִּֽחְיֶה (chāyoh tiḥyeh): This Hebrew construction uses the absolute infinitive ("chāyoh") followed by the imperfect form of the verb "to live" or "recover" ("tiḥyeh", from root chayah H2421). This grammatical emphasis typically conveys strong certainty. Here, it conveys that Ben-Hadad will indeed survive his current illness. Elisha's statement is precisely accurate; the sickness itself is not unto death.
- howbeit: This crucial conjunction serves as an adversative, meaning "nevertheless" or "but." It introduces a sharp contrast to the preceding statement, preparing the listener for an opposing truth or a more comprehensive aspect of the divine decree.
- the LORD hath shewed me:
- יהוה (YHWH): This sacred name for the God of Israel emphasizes that the source of this deeper revelation is the true, sovereign God, not mere human insight. It affirms Elisha's role as Yahweh's prophet.
- hath shewed me: This confirms Elisha's direct access to divine knowledge, emphasizing the supernatural origin and infallibility of the prophecy he is about to utter. His prophetic authority rests on this divine revelation.
- that he shall surely die:
- מוֹת יָמֹוּת (mōṯ yāmūṯ): Similar to "certainly recover," this Hebrew idiom employs the absolute infinitive ("mōṯ") followed by the imperfect form of the verb "to die" ("yāmūṯ", from root muth H4191). This construction expresses an absolute, undeniable certainty. It prophesies that while Ben-Hadad's illness will not kill him, he is indeed appointed to "surely die" by another means, later fulfilled by Hazael's murderous act (2 Ki 8:15). This declares God's final, unchangeable decree over Ben-Hadad's life.
2 Kings 8 8 Bonus section
- Elisha's Completion of Elijah's Mandate: This prophetic word to Hazael concerning his ascent to the Aramean throne directly connects to and fulfills a crucial part of the commission given to Elisha's mentor, Elijah, in 1 Kings 19:15-17 (to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha himself). Elisha is faithfully acting as Elijah's successor in completing these divinely decreed actions.
- The Nuance of Prophecy: The verse demonstrates that prophecy is not always a simplistic 'yes' or 'no' answer. It can be a complex, multi-layered truth reflecting immediate circumstances and overarching divine decree. Understanding such prophecy often requires deep spiritual insight, and its complete meaning may only become apparent in its fulfillment.
- Divine Orchestration of Leaders: God’s sovereignty in raising up leaders, even foreign and wicked rulers like Hazael, for His own purposes is clearly depicted. Such appointments often serve as instruments of God’s judgment, particularly against His own people when they turn from Him, as Hazael later became an oppressor of Israel.
- Hazael's Moral Test: Elisha’s words, by simultaneously giving Hazael a message of superficial hope for his master while also revealing his true, dark destiny, serve as an indirect test. Hazael's response to this foreknowledge reveals his pre-existing ambition and readiness for violence.
- Yahweh's Reputation Beyond Israel: The very fact that Ben-Hadad, a pagan king of a hostile nation, seeks counsel from an Israelite prophet underscores the widespread recognition of Yahweh's power and Elisha's authority, even among those outside Israel. This acts as a quiet polemic against the impotence of local pagan deities.
2 Kings 8 8 Commentary
2 Kings 8:8 provides a vivid example of multifaceted prophecy and the meticulous nature of God's word. Elisha delivers a statement that, on the surface, appears paradoxical: Ben-Hadad will live, yet he will surely die. The first part, "You shall certainly recover," speaks to the immediate physical condition—the illness itself is not fatal. This prevents Elisha from being a false prophet, as the king's malady would indeed remit. However, the pivot with "howbeit" introduces the deeper, sovereign decree of God. "The LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die" unveils the ultimate, divinely ordained fate for Ben-Hadad, which involves violent demise rather than a natural death from sickness. This foreknowledge allowed Elisha to identify Hazael's wicked intent, and set in motion Hazael’s destined role as an oppressive king, which had already been revealed by Elijah. Thus, this verse beautifully illustrates divine foreknowledge, prophetic accuracy, and God's sovereign control over nations and individual lives, even working through the choices and actions of sinful men to fulfill His grand design.