2 Kings 1:4
New International Version
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!’” So Elijah went.

New Living Translation
Now, therefore, this is what the LORD says: You will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’” So Elijah went to deliver the message.

English Standard Version
Now therefore thus says the LORD, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” So Elijah went.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘You will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.’” So Elijah departed.

King James Bible
Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

New King James Version
Now therefore, thus says the LORD: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” So Elijah departed.

New American Standard Bible
Now therefore, this is what the LORD says: ‘You will not get down from the bed upon which you have lain, but you shall certainly die.’” Then Elijah departed.

NASB 1995
“Now therefore thus says the LORD, ‘You shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” Then Elijah departed.

NASB 1977
“Now therefore thus says the LORD, ‘You shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” Then Elijah departed.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now therefore thus says Yahweh, ‘You shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” Then Elijah departed.

Amplified Bible
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘You [Ahaziah] will not leave the bed on which you lie, but you will certainly die.’” So Elijah departed.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, this is what the LORD says: You will not get up from your sickbed; you will certainly die.’ ” Then Elijah left.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, this is what the LORD says: ‘You will not get up from your sickbed—you will certainly die.’” Then Elijah left.

American Standard Version
Now therefore thus saith Jehovah, Thou shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

Contemporary English Version
Tell him that because he has done this, he's on his deathbed!" And Elijah did what he was told.

English Revised Version
Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what the LORD says: You will not get up from the bed you are lying on. Instead, you will die there.' " Then Elijah left.

Good News Translation
Tell the king that the LORD says, 'You will not recover from your injuries; you will die!'" Elijah did as the LORD commanded,

International Standard Version
Now therefore this is what the LORD says: "You won't be getting up from that bed of yours on which you're lying. You will most certainly die!"'" So Elijah got up and went.

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ?You will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.?? So Elijah departed.

NET Bible
Therefore this is what the LORD says, "You will not leave the bed you lie on, for you will certainly die!"'" So Elijah went on his way.

New Heart English Bible
Now therefore thus says the LORD, "You shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die."'" Elijah departed.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

World English Bible
Now therefore Yahweh says, “You will not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you will surely die.”’” Then Elijah departed.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And therefore, thus said YHWH: The bed to where you have gone up, you do not come down from it, for you certainly die”; and Elijah goes on.

Young's Literal Translation
and therefore, thus said Jehovah, The bed whither thou hast gone up, thou dost not come down from it, for thou dost certainly die;' and Elijah goeth on.

Smith's Literal Translation
And for this, thus said Jehovah, The bed where thou wentest up there, thou shalt not come down from it, but dying, thou shalt die, and Elijah will go.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore thus saith the Lord: From the bed, on which thou art gone up, thou shalt not come down, but thou shalt surely die. And Elias went away.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For this reason, thus says the Lord: From the bed to which you have ascended, you shall not descend. Instead, dying you shall die.’ ” And Elijah went away.

New American Bible
For this, the LORD says: You shall not leave the bed upon which you lie; instead, you shall die. And Elijah departed.

New Revised Standard Version
Now therefore thus says the LORD, ‘You shall not leave the bed to which you have gone, but you shall surely die.’” So Elijah went.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now therefore thus says the LORD: You shall not come down from the bed on which you are lying, but you shall surely die. And Elijah departed.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of this, thus says LORD JEHOVAH: the bed upon which you went up, you shall not go down from it, but you shall surely die!” And Elyah went on.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now therefore thus saith the LORD: Thou shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.' And Elijah departed.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For thus saith the Lord, The bed on which thou art gone up, thou shalt not come down from it, for thou shalt surely die. And Eliu went, and said so to them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elijah Denounces Ahaziah
3But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are on your way to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 4Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘You will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.’” So Elijah departed. 5When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you returned?”…

Cross References
2 Kings 1:6
They replied, “A man came up to meet us and said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and tell him that this is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending these men to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.’”

2 Kings 1:16
And Elijah said to King Ahaziah, “This is what the LORD says: Is there really no God in Israel for you to inquire of His word? Is that why you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.”

1 Kings 22:28
But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”

2 Kings 7:1-2
Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: ‘About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel, and two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel.’” / But the officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” replied Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it.”

2 Kings 9:6-10
So Jehu got up and went into the house, where the young prophet poured the oil on his head and declared, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the LORD’s people Israel. / And you are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD shed by the hand of Jezebel. / The whole house of Ahab will perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, both slave and free, in Israel. ...

2 Kings 20:1
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”

1 Samuel 28:19
Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”

Isaiah 38:1
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”

Jeremiah 28:16-17
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’” / And in the seventh month of that very year, the prophet Hananiah died.

Ezekiel 24:16-18
“Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow. / Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.” / So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded.

Amos 7:17
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be divided by a measuring line, and you yourself will die on pagan soil. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’”

Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 12:20
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

Acts 5:9-10
“How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” / At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Acts 12:23
Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.


Treasury of Scripture

Now therefore thus said the LORD, You shall not come down from that bed on which you are gone up, but shall surely die. And Elijah departed.

Thou shalt, etc.

but shalt

Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 3:4
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Numbers 26:65
For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

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2 Kings 1
1. Moab rebels
2. Ahaziah, sending to Baal-Zebub, has his judgement by Elijah
5. Elijah twice brings fire from heaven on those Ahaziah sent to apprehend him.
13. He pities the third captain,
15. and, encouraged by an angel, tells the king of his death
17. Jehoram succeeds Ahaziah














Therefore, this is what the LORD says
The phrase "this is what the LORD says" is a common prophetic formula found throughout the Old Testament, indicating divine authority and the certainty of the message. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "YHWH," the sacred tetragrammaton, which signifies God's eternal and unchanging nature. This introduction underscores the seriousness and inevitability of the prophecy, as it comes directly from the sovereign Creator.

You will not get up from the bed on which you are lying
The imagery of the "bed" symbolizes a place of rest and vulnerability. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a bed was not only a place for sleeping but also for convalescence. The Hebrew word for "bed" is "miš·kāḇ," which can also imply a place of weakness or illness. This phrase indicates that King Ahaziah's condition is terminal, and there is no hope of recovery. It serves as a stark reminder of human frailty and the limits of earthly power.

You will surely die
The certainty of death is emphasized by the Hebrew construction "môt tamût," which is an infinitive absolute, a grammatical form used to express certainty and intensity. This phrase leaves no room for doubt or negotiation, highlighting the finality of God's judgment. It reflects the biblical principle that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and it serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.

So Elijah departed
Elijah's departure signifies obedience and the fulfillment of his prophetic duty. The Hebrew verb "way·yē·leḵ" (departed) suggests a purposeful and immediate action. Elijah, as a prophet, acts as God's messenger without hesitation, demonstrating faithfulness and courage. His departure also marks the transition from prophecy to fulfillment, as the word of the LORD is set into motion. Elijah's role as a prophet is to deliver God's message, and his swift departure underscores the urgency and gravity of the divine pronouncement.

(4) Now therefore.--For this act of faithlessness, and to prove by the event that there is a God in Israel, whose oracle is unerring. (Comp. 1Kings 18:24, seq.)

Thus saith.--Or, hath said. After these words the prophetic announcement comes in rather abruptly. Perhaps the verse has been abridged by the compiler, and in the original account from which he drew, the words of 2Kings 1:6 may have followed here, "Go, return to the king . . . Ekron."

And Eijah departed.--On the Lord's errand. The LXX. adds, "and said unto them," or "told them," which is perhaps due to a copyist's eye having wandered to the words "unto him," or "unto them," in next verse (Thenius).

Verse 4. - Now therefore. The word translated, "therefore" (לָכֵן) is emphatic, and means "for this reason," "on this account." Because Ahaziah had apostatized from Cod, God sentenced him to die from the effects of his fall, and not to recover. It is implied that he might have recovered if he had acted otherwise. And Elijah departed; i.e. quitted the messengers, showing that his errand was accomplished - he had said all that he was commissioned to say.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore,
וְלָכֵן֙ (wə·lā·ḵên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

this is what
כֹּֽה־ (kōh-)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

says:
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘You will not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

get up
תֵרֵ֥ד (ṯê·rêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

from
מִמֶּ֖נָּה (mim·men·nāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the bed
הַמִּטָּ֞ה (ham·miṭ·ṭāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4296: A bed, for, sleeping, eating, a sofa, litter, bier

on which
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you are lying.
עָלִ֥יתָ (‘ā·lî·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

You will surely die.’”
מ֣וֹת (mō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

So Elijah
אֵלִיָּֽה׃ (’ê·lî·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 452: Elijah -- 'Yah is God', a well-known prophet of Israel, also three other Israelites

departed.
וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk


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OT History: 2 Kings 1:4 Now therefore thus says Yahweh You shall (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 1:3
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