2 Kings 2:14

He took Elijah’s mantle that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” When he also had struck the waters, they were divided apart, and Elisha went over.

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Other translations

WEBBE

He took Elijah’s mantle that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” When he also had struck the waters, they were divided apart, and Elisha went over.

BSB

Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over.

KJV

And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

ASV

And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they were divided hither and thither; and Elisha went over.

BBE

And he took Elijah's robe, which had been dropped from him, and giving the water a blow with it, said, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? and at his blow the waters were parted this way and that; and Elisha went over.

Original Hebrew

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וַיִּקַּח vai·yi·kach and he took H3947 אֶת־ 'et- (marks the object) H853 אַדֶּרֶת 'a·de·ret [the] cloak of H155 אֵלִיָּהוּ 'e·li·ya·hu Elijah H452 אֲשֶׁר־ 'a·sher- which H834 נָפְלָה na·fe·lah it had fallen H5307 מֵעָלָיו me·'a·lav from on (the) him H5921 וַיַּכֶּה vai·ya·keh and he struck H5221 אֶת־ 'et- (marks the object) H853 הַמַּיִם ha·ma·yim the waters H4325 וַיֹּאמַר vai·yo·mar and he said H559 אַיֵּה 'ai·yeh where H346 יְהוָה yah·weh [is] Yahweh H3068 אֱלֹהֵי 'e·lo·hei [the] God of H430 אֵלִיָּהוּ 'e·li·ya·hu Elijah H452 אַף־ 'af- also H637 הוּא hu' he H1931 וַיַּכֶּה vai·ya·keh and he struck H5221 אֶת־ 'et- (marks the object) H853 הַמַּיִם ha·ma·yim the waters H4325 וַיֵּחָצוּ vai·ye·cha·tzu and they were divided H2673 הֵנָּה he·nah hither H2008 וָהֵנָּה va·he·nah and hither H2008 וַיַּעֲבֹר vai·ya·'a·vor and he passed over H5674 אֱלִישָׁע 'e·li·sha' Elisha H477

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 13–18

Elijah left his mantle to Elisha; as a token of the descent of the Spirit upon him; it was more than if he had left him thousands of gold and silver. Elisha took it up, not as a sacred relic to be worshipped, but as a significant garment to be worn. Now that Elijah was taken to heaven, Elisha inquired, 1. After God; when our creature-comforts are removed, we have a God to go to, who lives for ever. 2. After the God that Elijah served, and honoured, and pleaded for. The Lord God of the holy prophets is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; but what will it avail us to have the mantles of those that are gone, their places, their books, if we have not their spirit, their God? See Elisha's dividing the river; God's people need not fear at last passing through the Jordan of death as on dry ground. The sons of the prophets made a needless search for Elijah. Wise men may yield to that, for the sake of peace, and the good opinion of others, which yet their judgment is against, as needless and fruitless. Traversing hills and valleys will never bring us to Elijah, but following the example of his holy faith and zeal will, in due time.

Read Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 2 →

Cross-references

14

People & places

ElishaElijah

Topics

MiraclesWaterJordanElishaMantle

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.