2 Kings 9 12

2 Kings 9:12 kjv

And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel.

2 Kings 9:12 nkjv

And they said, "A lie! Tell us now." So he said, "Thus and thus he spoke to me, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "I have anointed you king over Israel." ' "

2 Kings 9:12 niv

"That's not true!" they said. "Tell us." Jehu said, "Here is what he told me: 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.'?"

2 Kings 9:12 esv

And they said, "That is not true; tell us now." And he said, "Thus and so he spoke to me, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, I anoint you king over Israel.'"

2 Kings 9:12 nlt

"You're hiding something," they said. "Tell us." So Jehu told them, "He said to me, 'This is what the LORD says: I have anointed you to be king over Israel.'"

2 Kings 9 verses

2 Kings 9 12 Meaning

2 Kings 9:12 records the moment when Jehu reveals the divine mandate given to him by the prophet. After his fellow army captains initially dismiss the prophet's words as nonsensical, Jehu declares unequivocally, "Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel." This statement signifies that his kingship is not a human conspiracy or ambition, but a direct appointment from God, establishing divine authority for the dramatic events that are about to unfold in the eradication of Ahab's house.

2 Kings 9 12 Context

The setting of 2 Kings 9 is pivotal, marking the divinely orchestrated overthrow of the wicked Omride dynasty. This chapter immediately follows Elisha's continued ministry and prophecies. Specifically, Elisha dispatches one of the "sons of the prophets"—a younger, perhaps lesser-known prophet—to Ramoth-Gilead, where Jehu, a prominent military commander, is stationed with the Israelite army, defending against the Arameans. The prophet's instructions are to find Jehu, take him aside into a private inner room, anoint him with oil, and declare him king of Israel, specifically noting God's command to destroy the house of Ahab in fulfillment of Elijah's earlier prophecy (1 Kgs 21:21-24). After delivering the message and anointing Jehu, the prophet is to flee. Upon Jehu's return to his fellow captains, they are curious about the strange encounter, initially dismissive of the prophet whom they call a "mad fellow." It is in response to their skepticism and demand for clarification that Jehu utters the words of 2 Kings 9:12, establishing the divine legitimacy for his immediate and brutal coup against Joram (Ahab's son) and the eradication of Baal worship.

2 Kings 9 12 Word analysis

• And they said: Refers to the "captains of the army" (2 Kgs 9:5). Their inquiry reflects immediate curiosity and potential suspicion regarding the unusual interaction between the young prophet and Jehu.
• It is false (כָּזָב, kazav): The Hebrew word signifies a "lie," "falsehood," or "deception." The captains' initial reaction reveals their dismissal of the prophet's abrupt message. They may have thought the prophet was merely unstable ("mad fellow," 2 Kgs 9:11), or perhaps conveying a message of human conspiracy, rather than a genuine divine declaration. This indicates a general skepticism toward certain prophetic displays unless explicitly validated. It implicitly highlights a polemic against unreliable sources of information, contrasting human opinion with divine truth.
• tell us now: A demand for direct, immediate, and truthful revelation. It shows their authority as military leaders and their expectation for Jehu, one of their own, to disclose the true nature of the secret message.
• And he said: Jehu speaks. His shift from quiet reception to a solemn declaration underscores the gravity of the revelation.
• Thus saith the LORD (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, koh amar Yahweh): This is the quintessential prophetic formula, signifying a direct and authoritative utterance from God. It carries ultimate weight and leaves no room for human interpretation or dismissal. This phrase immediately transforms the perceived "madness" into unquestionable divine truth. It strongly asserts God's sovereignty over human affairs, including the selection and removal of kings. It directly opposes pagan divination and pronouncements, which often relied on human manipulation or ambiguous signs, by presenting a clear, unequivocal divine decree from the true God, Yahweh.
• I have anointed thee (מְשַׁחְתִּיךָ, meshachtikha): "I have consecrated you by pouring oil upon you." Though the physical act was performed by the young prophet, the agency is attributed directly to God ("I have anointed thee"). This emphasizes that Jehu's kingship is not a result of human will or a mere human ritual, but a divine appointment and consecration. This anointing serves as God's public (through the prophet) and formal sanction, bestowing the authority necessary to execute God's judgment against the house of Ahab. The use of oil for anointing signified setting apart for a specific divine purpose, commonly for prophets, priests, and kings in ancient Israel.
• king over Israel (מֶלֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, melekh al Yisrael): This designates the precise scope and nature of the divine appointment—rulership over the entire northern kingdom of Israel. This legitimizes Jehu's immediate claim to the throne and his subsequent actions to seize it. This declaration also points to God's continued involvement in Israel's leadership, even when those leaders might be chosen for difficult tasks, like judgment.

2 Kings 9 12 Bonus section

The prompt delivery and immediate impact of Jehu's statement emphasize the undeniable power associated with the phrase "Thus saith the LORD" in ancient Israelite culture. It signals a shift from ordinary discourse to the declaration of ultimate truth and divine mandate. The young prophet's instructions to perform the anointing in private and then flee (2 Kgs 9:2-3) highlight the subversive and dangerous nature of the message. The anointing of Jehu serves a specific, immediate purpose of judgment and is distinct from the more public anointings of early Israelite kings like Saul and David, which were often part of a more stable transition of power. Jehu's kingship would be marked by swift and decisive violence, all divinely sanctioned to cleanse the land.

2 Kings 9 12 Commentary

2 Kings 9:12 is a powerful declaration of divine authority amidst human skepticism. The scene transitions dramatically from the soldiers' casual dismissal of the prophet's eccentricity to Jehu's solemn proclamation of God's direct command. By using the formidable phrase, "Thus saith the LORD," Jehu immediately elevates the message from a perceived "falsehood" to an absolute divine decree. This not only silences doubt but also legitimizes Jehu's impending bloody revolution as an act commanded and empowered by God. His anointing as "king over Israel" underscores that his forthcoming actions, particularly the destruction of Ahab's lineage and Baal worship, are not personal vengeance or political ambition, but the execution of God's long-prophesied judgment. The verse highlights God's sovereignty in raising up leaders, even for destructive purposes, to fulfill His perfect will and cleanse His people from idolatry.