2 Kings 2:6

Authorized King James Version

And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר
And he said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
ל֨וֹ
H0
#3
אֵֽלִיָּ֜הוּ
And Elijah
elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other israelites
#4
שֵֽׁב
unto him Tarry
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
#5
נָ֣א
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
#6
פֹ֗ה
this place (french ici), i.e., here or hence
#7
כִּ֤י
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#8
יְהוָ֥ה
As the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#9
שְׁלָחַ֣נִי
hath sent
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
#10
הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה
me to Jordan
jarden, the principal river of palestine
#11
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר
And he said
to say (used with great latitude)
#12
וְחֵֽי
liveth
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
#13
יְהוָ֥ה
As the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#14
וְחֵֽי
liveth
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
#15
נַפְשְׁךָ֖
and as thy soul
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
#16
אִם
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
#17
אֶֽעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ
I will not leave
to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc
#18
וַיֵּֽלְכ֖וּ
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#19
שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃
thee And they two
two; also (as ordinal) twofold

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of 2 Kings Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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