2 Kings 9 25

2 Kings 9:25 kjv

Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him;

2 Kings 9:25 nkjv

Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, "Pick him up, and throw him into the tract of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I were riding together behind Ahab his father, that the LORD laid this burden upon him:

2 Kings 9:25 niv

Jehu said to Bidkar, his chariot officer, "Pick him up and throw him on the field that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember how you and I were riding together in chariots behind Ahab his father when the LORD spoke this prophecy against him:

2 Kings 9:25 esv

Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, "Take him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember, when you and I rode side by side behind Ahab his father, how the LORD made this pronouncement against him:

2 Kings 9:25 nlt

Jehu said to Bidkar, his officer, "Throw him into the plot of land that belonged to Naboth of Jezreel. Do you remember when you and I were riding along behind his father, Ahab? The LORD pronounced this message against him:

2 Kings 9 verses

2 Kings 9 25 Meaning

2 Kings 9:25 details Jehu's command to throw the dead body of Joram, King of Israel, onto the land that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. This action directly fulfills the divine judgment prophesied by Elijah against King Ahab's house because of Ahab's role in Naboth's murder and seizure of his vineyard. It serves as a stark visible demonstration of God's precise and unyielding justice against wickedness and bloodshed.

2 Kings 9 25 Context

The events of 2 Kings chapter 9 detail the execution of divine judgment against the house of Ahab, as previously prophesied by Elijah. Elisha dispatches one of his prophetic students to anoint Jehu, the commander of Israel's army, as king and to commission him specifically to eradicate Ahab's entire dynasty for the sins of idolatry and the shedding of innocent blood (2 Ki 9:1-10).

Upon receiving his commission, Jehu immediately moves with a singular purpose. He intercepts King Joram (Ahab's son) near Jezreel. Joram and Ahaziah (King of Judah, Joram's nephew and also related to Ahab through his mother Athaliah) come out to meet him. After a tense exchange, Jehu shoots Joram through the heart, killing him instantly. Verse 25 then gives Jehu's specific instruction to his officer, Bidkar, concerning Joram's corpse: it must be cast upon Naboth's plot of ground, thus tying the present execution of judgment directly to the past crime that sealed Ahab's fate. This act underscores the immediate fulfillment of prophecy and the precision of divine justice. Historically, the murder of Naboth by Ahab and Jezebel to confiscate his vineyard was a notorious act of injustice that provoked God's wrath, a central grievance in Elijah's pronouncement against the Omride dynasty in 1 Kings 21.

2 Kings 9 25 Word analysis

• Then Jehu said: Indicates an immediate, decisive command, following Joram's death. Jehu assumes authority swiftly.
• to Bidkar, his officer, (Hebrew: שָׁלִישׁ, shālîsh): Bidkar was Jehu's aide-de-camp or chief officer. The Hebrew term can refer to a "third man" in a chariot or a high-ranking official. This detail is significant as Bidkar was an eyewitness, crucial for confirming Jehu's memory of the prophecy's context.
• "Pick him up, and throw him: Strong imperative verbs ("sê', šelek"). Jehu's commands are direct and leaves no room for hesitation, demonstrating his zealous resolve in carrying out the divine mandate. "Throw" emphasizes the ignominious disposal of the corpse.
• on the plot of ground (Hebrew: חֶלְקַת, ḥelqat): A specific portion or piece of land. Not just any ground, but the very site of the injustice.
• that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. This is the focal point. It immediately identifies the place with the heinous crime of Naboth's murder for his vineyard. The injustice committed against Naboth is the primary trigger for the judgment against Ahab's house. Naboth’s innocence and the ruthlessness of Ahab and Jezebel amplified the sin.
• For remember how, (Hebrew: כִּי זְכֹר, kî zekhor): "For, indeed, remember!" Jehu uses this to validate his actions and Bidkar's understanding. It confirms that the command is not arbitrary but directly linked to a past event and a specific memory shared between them. It implies divine justification for Jehu's violent act.
• when you and I were riding side by side (Hebrew: רֹכְבִים צְמָדִים, rokhevim tsemaḍîm): Literally "riding as a pair/couple." This implies that Bidkar was riding in the same chariot as Jehu, possibly in a position of close proximity and trust, alongside King Ahab, when Elijah pronounced the oracle. This detail underscores Bidkar's first-hand testimony and direct awareness of the original prophecy against Ahab and his family. Their shared presence at that pivotal moment validates the divine basis for Jehu's actions now.
• behind Ahab his father, Specifies the location and time of the original prophecy and the recipient: Ahab. Joram is here linked directly to his father, Ahab's guilt, establishing the continuity of divine judgment across generations.
• the LORD uttered this oracle against him:" (Hebrew: יְהוָה דִּבֶּר אֶת־הַמַּשָּׂא הַזֶּה עָלָיו, YHWH dibber 'et-hamassa' hazzeh 'alayv):
  • YHWH: Emphasizes the divine source of the prophecy and the judgment. This is God's plan being executed, not merely human vengeance.
  • uttered (dibber): Spoke, commanded.
  • oracle (massa'): Often refers to a prophetic "burden" or "pronouncement," especially one of judgment or doom. This is a solemn and weighty divine decree.
  • This phrase unequivocally links Joram's fate to God's previously declared will, showing Jehu as an instrument of divine justice rather than a mere usurper.

2 Kings 9 25 Bonus section

• Dishonorable Burial: The act of leaving a corpse unburied and exposed, especially on the ground of a previous crime, was a profound disgrace in the ancient Near East (e.g., Jer 16:4; Ps 79:2-3). This added to the severity of the judgment on Joram and the house of Ahab, denying them an honorable burial.
• Symbolic Repetition: The scene deliberately mirrors the initial crime. Just as innocent blood defiled the ground of Naboth’s vineyard, the blood and body of Joram now defile it, directly linking the retribution to the original offense (compare Num 35:33). This spatial justice underscores God's intricate working.
• Divine Vindication: The passage serves to vindicate God's character as a righteous judge. It demonstrates that the cries of the oppressed are heard and that justice will prevail against human power and wickedness, regardless of how long it takes.
• Jehu's Zeal: This act showcases Jehu's fierce and zealous commitment to fulfilling the prophetic word. His detailed instruction reveals not just a killer, but an agent focused on executing judgment precisely according to the divine decree.

2 Kings 9 25 Commentary

2 Kings 9:25 is a dramatic turning point, encapsulating the swift and precise fulfillment of divine justice against the wicked Omride dynasty. Jehu, acting as God's anointed instrument, orchestrates not merely a regicide, but a biblically significant execution of prophecy. By ordering Joram’s body to be thrown onto Naboth’s vineyard, the very scene of Ahab's most infamous injustice, God ensures that the place of sin becomes the literal and symbolic site of judgment. This public display serves as a powerful reminder that God remembers wicked deeds, especially those involving the shedding of innocent blood and the coveting of property, and that His judgment, though sometimes delayed, is inevitably delivered with striking proportionality. The detailed mention of Bidkar's shared memory of the original prophecy with Jehu confirms the divine legitimacy of the act, demonstrating God's sovereign control over history and His unwavering commitment to His declared Word. It is a powerful affirmation that God is just and does not permit evil to go unpunished indefinitely, and that a corrupt legacy eventually culminates in severe consequences.