2 Kings 6:15–17
Elisha calms his young man: “more are those with us”; God opens his eyes
Study it word by word15The attendant of the man of Elohim rose early to get up and went out, and there was a force surrounding the city, with horses and chariots. His young man said to him, “Alas, my lord! What shall we do?”
16He said, “Do not be afraid, for more are those who are with us than those who are with them.”
17Elisha prayed and said, “YHWH, please open his eyes so that he may see.” YHWH opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw; and there was the mountain, full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
In its context
13He said, “Go and see where he is, so that I may send and take him.” It was told him, saying, “Look, he is in Dothan.”
14He sent there horses and chariots and a heavy force, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
…
18They came down to him, and Elisha prayed to YHWH and said, “Please strike this nation with blindness.” And he struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha.
19Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man whom you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.
Its words in the original
- יַּשְׁכֵּםyashkem· rise early
Rise early, get up early in the morning.
- מְשָׁרֵתmesharet· serve, minister
Serve someone closely, attend to them personally; also minister in worship.
- אִישׁish· man, husband, each
Man, male; with a possessive, husband. Also "each one", "anyone". It is "ish", distinct from "adam" (human being); it is used for the man in contrast with the woman ("ishah").
- אֱלֹהִיםelohim· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- קוּםkum· rise, stand, establish
Rise, stand up; also stand firm, establish or fulfill something. "Rise against" is to attack.
- יֵּצֵאyetse· go out, bring out
Go out, come out. In the causative form, "make go out", "bring out", "lead out", "produce".
- חַיִלchayil· strength; wealth, army
Strength, ability; depending on the passage, wealth, an army, or valor.
- סוֹבֵבsovev· go around, surround
Go around, turn around; surround.
- עִירir· city
City: in ancient times any settlement with protection, however small.
- סוּסsus· horse
Horse.
- רָכֶבrachev· chariots
War chariots (as a whole); also the upper millstone.
- יֹּאמֶרyomer· say
Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".
- נַעֲרnaar· young man, servant
Boy, young man; also a servant or attendant.
- אֲהָהּahah· alas
Alas!: a cry of pain or distress.
- אֲדֹנִadoni· lord, master
Lord: one who has authority over another (an owner, a husband, a superior). It is also a polite form, "my lord". Said of God, "the Lord".
- נַעֲשֶׂהnaase· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- תִּירָאtira· fear
Fear. It can be fright before a danger or deep reverence before God ("fear YHWH"). In some forms, be fearsome, awesome.
- רַבִּיםrabim· many, great
Many, much, abundant, great; also "elder" or "chief".
- יִּתְפַּלֵּלyitpalel· pray
Pray, intercede: speak with God, often asking on behalf of another; also judge.
- אֱלִישָׁעelisha· Elisha
Elisha: a name meaning "El is salvation." He is the son of Shaphat, of Abel-meholah, whom Elijah called to be prophet in his place (1 Kings 19:16-21; 2 Kings 2–13).
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- פְּקַחpekach· open (the eyes)
Open (the eyes or the ears); from there, become aware.
- עֵינָיenay· eye
Eye. "In someone's eyes" means "in his opinion"; "find favor in the eyes of" is to please him. Also a spring of water.
- יִרְאֶהyire· see
See. Also look, observe, notice, consider; in some forms, "appear" or "show".
- הָרhar· mountain, hill country
Mountain, hill; hill country.
- מָלֵאmale· fill, be full
Fill or be full; also fulfill or complete (a time, a word given).
- אֵשׁesh· fire
Fire. In the Bible it often goes with the presence of God (the bush, Sinai).
- סְבִיבֹתsevivot· around
Around, on every side; the surroundings.