2 Kings
2 Kings 7:9–16
9Finally, they said to one another, “We are not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our sin will overtake us. Now, therefore, let us go and tell the king’s household.”
10So they went and called out to the gatekeepers of the city, saying, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there— not a trace — only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.”
11The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported to the king’s household.
12So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’”
13But one of his servants replied, “Please, have scouts take five of the horses that remain in the city. Their plight will be no worse than all the Israelites who are left here. You can see that all the Israelites here are doomed. So let us send them and find out.”
14Then the scouts took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.” 15And they tracked them as far as the Jordan, and indeed, the whole way was littered with the clothing and equipment the Arameans had thrown off in haste. So the scouts returned and told the king.
16Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. It was then that a seah of fine flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
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 7:9
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finally | וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ | way·yō·mə·rū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H559 utter, say |
| they said | וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ | way·yō·mə·rū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H559 utter, say |
| to | אֶל־ | ’el- | Preposition | H413 motion to |
| one | אִ֨ישׁ | ’îš | Noun - masculine singular | H376 man |
| another | רֵעֵ֜הוּ | rê·‘ê·hū | Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H7453 shouting, roar |
| We are | אֲנַ֣חְנוּ | ’ă·naḥ·nū | Pronoun - first person common plural | H587 we |
| not | לֹֽא־ | lō- | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| doing | עֹשִׂ֗ים | ‘ō·śîm | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural | H6213 do, make |
| what is right | כֵ֣ן׀ | ḵên | Adjective - masculine singular | H3651 right, veritable, honest |
| Today | הַיּ֤וֹם | hay·yō·wm | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H3117 day |
| is a day | יוֹם־ | yō·wm- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3117 day |
| of good news | בְּשֹׂרָ֣ה | bə·śō·rāh | Noun - feminine singular | H1309 tidings |
| If we | וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ | wa·’ă·naḥ·nū | Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common plural | H587 we |
| are silent | מַחְשִׁ֗ים | maḥ·šîm | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural | H2814 be silent, inactive, still |
| and wait | וְחִכִּ֛ינוּ | wə·ḥik·kî·nū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural | H2442 wait, await |
| until | עַד־ | ‘aḏ- | Preposition | H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while |
| morning | הַבֹּ֖קֶר | hab·bō·qer | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H1242 morning |
| light | א֥וֹר | ’ō·wr | Noun - common singular construct | H216 light |
| our sin | עָו֑וֹן | ‘ā·wō·wn | Noun - common singular | H5771 iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity |
| will overtake us | וּמְצָאָ֣נוּ | ū·mə·ṣā·’ā·nū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular; first person common plural | H4672 attain to, find |
| Now | וְעַתָּה֙ | wə·‘at·tāh | Conjunctive waw; Adverb | H6258 now |
| therefore | וְעַתָּה֙ | wə·‘at·tāh | Conjunctive waw; Adverb | H6258 now |
| let us go | וְנָבֹ֔אָה | wə·nā·ḇō·’āh | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| and tell | וְנַגִּ֖ידָה | wə·nag·gî·ḏāh | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural | H5046 be conspicuous |
| the king’s | הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| household | בֵּ֥ית | bêṯ | Noun - masculine singular construct | H1004 house |
2 Kings 7:10
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| So they went | וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ | way·yā·ḇō·’ū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| and called out | וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֮ | way·yiq·rə·’ū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H7121 call, proclaim, read |
| to | אֶל־ | ’el- | Preposition | H413 motion to |
| the gatekeepers | שֹׁעֵ֣ר | šō·‘êr | Noun - masculine singular construct | H7778 porter |
| of the city | הָעִיר֒ | hā·‘îr | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H5892 excitement |
| saying | וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ | way·yag·gî·ḏū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H5046 be conspicuous |
| We went | בָּ֚אנוּ | bā·nū | Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| to | אֶל־ | ’el- | Preposition | H413 motion to |
| the Aramean | אֲרָ֔ם | ’ă·rām | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H758 Aram |
| camp | מַחֲנֵ֣ה | ma·ḥă·nêh | Noun - common singular construct | H4264 encampment, camp |
| and no | אֵֽין־ | ’ên- | Adverb | H369 nothing, nought |
| one | אִ֖ישׁ | ’îš | Noun - masculine singular | H376 man |
| there | שָׁ֛ם | šām | Adverb | H8033 there, thither |
| not a trace | וְק֣וֹל | wə·qō·wl | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct | H6963 sound, voice |
| only | אִם־ | ’im- | Conjunction | H518 if |
| tethered | אָסוּר֙ | ’ā·sūr | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular | H631 tie, bind, imprison |
| horses | הַסּ֤וּס | has·sūs | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H5483 swallow or swift |
| and donkeys | וְהַחֲמ֣וֹר | wə·ha·ḥă·mō·wr | Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singular | H2543 heap |
| and the tents | וְאֹהָלִ֖ים | wə·’ō·hā·lîm | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural | H168 tent |
| were intact | הֵֽמָּה׃ | hêm·māh | Pronoun - third person masculine plural | H1992 they, them |
2 Kings 7:11
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The gatekeepers | הַשֹּֽׁעֲרִ֑ים | haš·šō·‘ă·rîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H7778 porter |
| shouted the news | וַיִּקְרָ֖א | way·yiq·rā | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7121 call, proclaim, read |
| and it was reported | וַיַּגִּ֕ידוּ | way·yag·gî·ḏū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H5046 be conspicuous |
| to the king’s | הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| household | בֵּ֥ית | bêṯ | Noun - masculine singular construct | H1004 house |
2 Kings 7:12
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| So the king | הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| got up | וַיָּ֨קָם | way·yā·qām | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H6965 arise, stand up, stand |
| in the night | לַ֗יְלָה | lay·lāh | Noun - masculine singular | H3915 twist, night, adversity |
| and said | וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| to | אֶל־ | ’el- | Preposition | H413 motion to |
| his servants | עֲבָדָ֔יו | ‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw | Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H5650 slave, servant |
| Let me tell | אַגִּֽידָה־ | ’ag·gî·ḏāh- | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular | H5046 be conspicuous |
| you | לָכֶ֔ם | lā·ḵem | Preposition; second person masculine plural | |
| what | אֲשֶׁר־ | ’ă·šer- | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| the Arameans | אֲרָ֑ם | ’ă·rām | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H758 Aram |
| have done | עָ֥שׂוּ | ‘ā·śū | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | H6213 do, make |
| to us | לָ֖נוּ | lā·nū | Preposition; first person common plural | |
| They know | יָדְע֞וּ | yā·ḏə·‘ū | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | H3045 know |
| we | אֲנַ֗חְנוּ | ’ă·naḥ·nū | Pronoun - first person common plural | H587 we |
| are starving | רְעֵבִ֣ים | rə·‘ê·ḇîm | Adjective - masculine plural | H7457 hungry |
| so they have left | וַיֵּצְא֤וּ | way·yê·ṣə·’ū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H3318 go or come out |
| the camp | הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ | ham·ma·ḥă·neh | Article; Noun - common singular | H4264 encampment, camp |
| to hide | לְהֵחָבֵ֤ה | lə·hê·ḥā·ḇêh | Preposition-l; Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | H2247 withdraw, hide |
| in the field | בְהַשָּׂדֶה | ḇə·haś·śå̄·ḏɛh | Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular | H7704 id. |
| thinking | לֵאמֹ֔ר | lê·mōr | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H559 utter, say |
| When | כִּֽי־ | kî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| they come out | יֵצְא֤וּ | yê·ṣə·’ū | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | H3318 go or come out |
| of | מִן־ | min- | Preposition | H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not |
| the city | הָעִיר֙ | hā·‘îr | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H5892 excitement |
| we will take them | וְנִתְפְּשֵׂ֣ם | wə·niṯ·pə·śêm | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common plural; third person masculine plural | H8610 lay hold of, wield |
| alive | חַיִּ֔ים | ḥay·yîm | Adjective - masculine plural | H2416 alive, living |
| and enter | נָבֹֽא׃ | nā·ḇō | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| the city | הָעִ֖יר | hā·‘îr | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H5892 excitement |
2 Kings 7:13
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| But one | אֶחָ֨ד | ’e·ḥāḏ | Number - masculine singular | H259 one |
| of his servants | מֵעֲבָדָ֜יו | mê·‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw | Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H5650 slave, servant |
| replied | וַיַּעַן֩ | way·ya·‘an | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H6030 answer, respond |
| Please | נָ֞א | nā | Interjection | H4994 I (we) pray, now |
| have | וְיִקְחוּ־ | wə·yiq·ḥū- | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H3947 take |
| five | חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה | ḥă·miš·šāh | Number - masculine singular | H2568 five |
| of | מִן־ | min- | Preposition | H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not |
| the horses | הַסּוּסִים֮ | has·sū·sîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H5483 swallow or swift |
| that | אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ’ă·šer | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| remain | הַֽנִּשְׁאָרִים֮ | han·niš·’ā·rîm | Article; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural | H7604 remain, be left over |
| in the city | בָהּ֒ | ḇāh | Preposition; third person feminine singular | |
| Their plight | הִנָּ֗ם | hin·nām | Interjection; third person masculine plural | H2009 lo! behold! |
| will be no worse than all | כְּכָל־ | kə·ḵāl- | Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| the Israelites | יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ | yiś·rā·’êl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3478 Israel |
| who | אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ’ă·šer | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| are left | נִשְׁאֲרוּ־ | niš·’ă·rū- | Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural | H7604 remain, be left over |
| here | בָ֔הּ | ḇāh | Preposition; third person feminine singular | H834 particle of relation |
| You can see | הִנָּ֕ם | hin·nām | Interjection; third person masculine plural | |
| that | כְּכָל־ | kə·ḵāl- | Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct | |
| all the Israelites | יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל | yiś·rā·’êl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | |
| here | אֲשֶׁר־ | ’ă·šer- | Pronoun - relative | |
| are doomed | תָּ֑מּוּ | tām·mū | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | H8552 be complete, finished |
| So let us send them | וְנִשְׁלְחָ֖ה | wə·niš·lə·ḥāh | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural | H7971 send |
| and find out | וְנִרְאֶֽה׃ | wə·nir·’eh | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | H7200 see |
2 Kings 7:14
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Then | וַיִּקְח֕וּ | way·yiq·ḥū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H3947 take |
| two | שְׁנֵ֖י | šə·nê | Number - masculine dual construct | H8147 two |
| chariots | רֶ֣כֶב | re·ḵeḇ | Noun - masculine singular | H7393 chariotry, chariot, mill-stone |
| with horses | סוּסִ֑ים | sū·sîm | Noun - masculine plural | H5483 swallow or swift |
| and the king | הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| sent them | וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח | way·yiš·laḥ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7971 send |
| after | אַחֲרֵ֧י | ’a·ḥă·rê | Preposition | H310 behind |
| the Aramean | אֲרָ֛ם | ’ă·rām | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H758 Aram |
| army | מַחֲנֵֽה־ | ma·ḥă·nêh- | Noun - common singular construct | H4264 encampment, camp |
| saying | לֵאמֹ֖ר | lê·mōr | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H559 utter, say |
| Go | לְכ֥וּ | lə·ḵū | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | H1980 go, come, walk |
| and see | וּרְאֽוּ׃ | ū·rə·’ū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | H7200 see |
2 Kings 7:15
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And they tracked them | וַיֵּלְכ֣וּ | way·yê·lə·ḵū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H1980 go, come, walk |
| as | עַד־ | ‘aḏ- | Preposition | H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while |
| far as the Jordan | הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ | hay·yar·dên | Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular | H3383 Jordan |
| and indeed | וְהִנֵּ֣ה | wə·hin·nêh | Conjunctive waw; Interjection | H2009 lo! behold! |
| the whole | כָל־ | ḵāl | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| way | הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ | had·de·reḵ | Article; Noun - common singular | H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner |
| was littered with | מְלֵאָ֤ה | mə·lê·’āh | Adjective - feminine singular | H4392 full |
| the clothing | בְגָדִים֙ | ḇə·ḡā·ḏîm | Noun - masculine plural | H899 treachery |
| and equipment | וְכֵלִ֔ים | wə·ḵê·lîm | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural | H3627 article, utensil, vessel |
| the Arameans | אֲרָ֖ם | ’ă·rām | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H758 Aram |
| had thrown off | הִשְׁלִ֥יכוּ | hiš·lî·ḵū | Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural | H7993 throw, fling, cast |
| in haste | בְּהֵחָפְזָם | bə·hē·ḥå̄·p̄ə·zå̄m | Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine plural | H2648 be in trepidation, hurry, or alarm |
| So the scouts | הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים | ham·mal·’ā·ḵîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H4397 messenger |
| returned | וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ | way·yā·šu·ḇū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H7725 turn back, return |
| and told | וַיַּגִּ֖דוּ | way·yag·gi·ḏū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H5046 be conspicuous |
| the king | לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ | lam·me·leḵ | Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
2 Kings 7:16
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Then the people | הָעָ֔ם | hā·‘ām | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H5971 people |
| went out | וַיֵּצֵ֣א | way·yê·ṣê | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H3318 go or come out |
| and plundered | וַיָּבֹ֕זּוּ | way·yā·ḇōz·zū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H962 spoil, plunder |
| the camp | מַחֲנֵ֣ה | ma·ḥă·nêh | Noun - common singular construct | H4264 encampment, camp |
| of the Arameans | אֲרָ֑ם | ’ă·rām | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H758 Aram |
| It was then that | וַיְהִ֨י | way·hî | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| a seah | סְאָה־ | sə·’āh- | Noun - feminine singular | H5429 se'ah |
| of fine flour | סֹ֜לֶת | sō·leṯ | Noun - feminine singular | H5560 fine flour |
| for a shekel | בְּשֶׁ֗קֶל | bə·še·qel | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular | H8255 shekel |
| and two seahs | וְסָאתַ֧יִם | wə·sā·ṯa·yim | Conjunctive waw; Noun - fd | H5429 se'ah |
| of barley | שְׂעֹרִ֛ים | śə·‘ō·rîm | Noun - feminine plural | H8184 barley |
| for a shekel | בְּשֶׁ֖קֶל | bə·še·qel | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular | H8255 shekel |
| according to the word | כִּדְבַ֥ר | kiḏ·ḇar | Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct | H1697 speech, word |
| of the LORD | יְהוָֽה׃ | Yah·weh | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3068 Yahweh |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
2 Kings 7:9 Isaiah 52:7 · Philippians 2:4 · Isaiah 41:27 · 2 Kings 7:6 · Numbers 32:23 · Nahum 1:15 · 2 Kings 7:3 · Haggai 1:4–5
2 Kings 7:16 2 Kings 7:1 · Isaiah 33:23 · Isaiah 33:4
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.