2 Kings

2 Kings 3:22–27

²²When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water, and it looked as red as blood to the Moabites across the way.

²³“This is blood!” they exclaimed. “The kings have clashed swords and slaughtered one another. Now to the plunder, Moab!”

²⁴But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and attacked them, and they fled before them. So the Israelites invaded their land and struck down the Moabites. ²⁵They destroyed the cities, and each man threw stones on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up every spring and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-haraseth was left with stones in place, but men with slings surrounded it and attacked it as well.

²⁶When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not prevail. ²⁷So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall.

And there was great fury against the Israelites,^e so they withdrew and returned to their own land.

Footnotes

e 3:27 Or And Israel’s fury was great

Read all of 2 Kings 3

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

2 Kings 3:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When they got up early	וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ	way·yaš·kî·mū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7925 start, rise, early
in the morning	בַבֹּ֔קֶר	ḇab·bō·qer	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning
the sun	וְהַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ	wə·haš·še·meš	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - common singular	H8121 sun
was shining	זָרְחָ֣ה	zā·rə·ḥāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H2224 rise, come forth
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the water	הַמָּ֑יִם	ham·mā·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4325 water, juice, urine
and	הַמַּ֖יִם	ham·ma·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4325 water, juice, urine
looked	וַיִּרְא֨וּ	way·yir·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7200 see
red	אֲדֻמִּ֥ים	’ă·ḏum·mîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H122 red
as blood	כַּדָּֽם׃	kad·dām	Preposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1818 blood
to the Moabites	מוֹאָ֥ב	mō·w·’āḇ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4124 Moab
across the way	מִנֶּ֛גֶד	min·ne·ḡeḏ	Preposition-m	H5048 what is conspicuous or in front

2 Kings 3:23

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
This	זֶ֔ה	zeh	Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
is blood	דָּ֣ם	dām	Noun - masculine singular	H1818 blood
they exclaimed	וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
The kings	הַמְּלָכִ֔ים	ham·mə·lā·ḵîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4428 king
have clashed swords	נֶֽחֶרְבוּ֙	ne·ḥer·ḇū	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural	H2717 be dry, dried up
and slaughtered	וַיַּכּ֖וּ	way·yak·kū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5221 smite
one	אִ֣ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
another	רֵעֵ֑הוּ	rê·‘ê·hū	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H7453 shouting, roar
Now	וְעַתָּ֥ה	wə·‘at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H6258 now
to the plunder	לַשָּׁלָ֖ל	laš·šā·lāl	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H7998 prey, spoil, plunder, booty
Moab	מוֹאָֽב׃	mō·w·’āḇ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4124 Moab

2 Kings 3:24

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But when the Moabites came	וַיָּבֹאוּ֮	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the camp	מַחֲנֵ֣ה	ma·ḥă·nêh	Noun - common singular construct	H4264 encampment, camp
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵל֒	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
the Israelites	יִשְׂרָאֵל֙	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
rose up	וַיָּקֻ֤מוּ	way·yā·qu·mū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
and attacked	וַיַּכּ֣וּ	way·yak·kū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5221 smite
them	מוֹאָ֔ב	mō·w·’āḇ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4124 Moab
and they fled	וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ	way·yā·nu·sū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5127 flee, escape
before them	מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם	mip·pə·nê·hem	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H6440 face, before
So	וַיָּבוֹ	way·yå̄·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
and struck down	וְהַכּ֖וֹת	wə·hak·kō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H5221 smite
the Moabites	מוֹאָֽב׃	mō·w·’āḇ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4124 Moab

2 Kings 3:25

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
They destroyed	יַהֲרֹ֡סוּ	ya·hă·rō·sū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H2040 throw down, break or tear down
the cities	וְהֶעָרִ֣ים	wə·he·‘ā·rîm	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine plural	H5892 excitement
and each man	אִישׁ־	’îš-	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
threw	יַשְׁלִ֨יכוּ	yaš·lî·ḵū	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7993 throw, fling, cast
stones	אַבְנ֜וֹ	’aḇ·nōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H68 stone
on every	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
good	ט֠וֹבָה	ṭō·w·ḇāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
field	חֶלְקָ֣ה	ḥel·qāh	Noun - feminine singular	H2513 portion
until it was covered	וּמִלְא֗וּהָ	ū·mil·’ū·hā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural; third person feminine singular	H4390 be full, fill
They stopped up	יִסְתֹּ֙מוּ֙	yis·tō·mū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5640 stop up, shut up, keep close
every	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
spring	מַעְיַן־	ma‘·yan-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4599 spring
and cut down	יַפִּ֔ילוּ	yap·pî·lū	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5307 fall, lie
every	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
good	ט֣וֹב	ṭō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
tree	עֵֽץ־	‘êṣ-	Noun - masculine singular	H6086 tree, trees, wood
Only	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
Kir-haraseth	חֲרָ֑שֶׂת	ḥă·rā·śeṯ	Preposition, Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7025 Kir-Cheres, Kir-Chareseth
was left	הִשְׁאִ֧יר	hiš·’îr	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7604 remain, be left over
with stones in place	אֲבָנֶ֛יהָ	’ă·ḇā·ne·hā	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H68 stone
but men with slings	הַקַּלָּעִ֖ים	haq·qal·lā·‘îm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H7051 slinger
surrounded it	וַיָּסֹ֥בּוּ	way·yā·sōb·bū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5437 turn about, go around, surround
and attacked it	וַיַּכּֽוּהָ׃	way·yak·kū·hā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person feminine singular	H5221 smite

2 Kings 3:26

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When the king	מֶ֣לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of Moab	מוֹאָ֔ב	mō·w·’āḇ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4124 Moab
saw	וַיַּרְא֙	way·yar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7200 see
that	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the battle	הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה	ham·mil·ḥā·māh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4421 battle, war
was too fierce	חָזַ֥ק	ḥā·zaq	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H2388 be or grow firm, strong, strengthen
for him	מִמֶּ֖נּוּ	mim·men·nū	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
he took	וַיִּקַּ֣ח	way·yiq·qaḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3947 take
with him	א֠וֹתוֹ	’ō·w·ṯōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H854 with
seven	שְׁבַע־	šə·ḇa‘-	Number - feminine singular construct	H7651 seven
hundred	מֵא֨וֹת	mê·’ō·wṯ	Number - feminine plural	H3967 hundred
swordsmen	אִ֜ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
to break through	לְהַבְקִ֛יעַ	lə·haḇ·qî·a‘	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H1234 cleave, break open or through
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the king	מֶ֥לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of Edom	אֱד֖וֹם	’ĕ·ḏō·wm	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H123 name of a condiment
but they could not prevail	יָכֹֽלוּ׃	yā·ḵō·lū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure

2 Kings 3:27

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So he took	וַיִּקַּח֩	way·yiq·qaḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3947 take
his firstborn	הַבְּכ֜וֹר	hab·bə·ḵō·wr	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1060 first-born
son	בְּנ֨וֹ	bə·nōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1121 son
who	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
was to succeed him	יִמְלֹ֣ךְ	yim·lōḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4427 be or become king, or queen, reign
and offered him	וַיַּעֲלֵ֤הוּ	way·ya·‘ă·lê·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
as a burnt offering	עֹלָה֙	‘ō·lāh	Noun - feminine singular	H5930 whole burnt-offering
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the city wall	הַ֣חֹמָ֔ה	ha·ḥō·māh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H2346 wall
And there was	וַיְהִ֥י	way·hî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
great	גָּד֖וֹל	gā·ḏō·wl	Adjective - masculine singular	H1419 great
fury	קֶצֶף־	qe·ṣep̄-	Noun - masculine singular	H7110 wrath
against	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the Israelites	יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
so they withdrew	וַיִּסְעוּ֙	way·yis·‘ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5265 pull out or up, set out, journey
and returned	וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ	way·yā·šu·ḇū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7725 turn back, return
to	לָאָֽרֶץ׃פ	lā·’ā·reṣ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

2 Kings 3:25 Jeremiah 48:36 · Jeremiah 48:31 · Isaiah 16:7 · 2 Kings 3:19 · Isaiah 16:11

2 Kings 3:27 Micah 6:7 · Deuteronomy 12:31 · Judges 11:31 · Ezekiel 16:20 · Amos 2:1 · Psalm 106:37–38 · 1 Samuel 14:36–46 · Judges 11:39 · Genesis 22:13 · Genesis 22:2

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.