2 Kings 2:14
New International Version
He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

New Living Translation
He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.

English Standard Version
Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

Berean Standard Bible
Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over.

King James Bible
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

New King James Version
Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

New American Standard Bible
Then he took the coat of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters, and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.

NASB 1995
He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.

NASB 1977
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” Indeed, he himself also struck the waters, and they were divided here and there! And Elisha crossed over.

Amplified Bible
He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he too had struck the waters, they divided this way and that, and Elisha crossed over.

Christian Standard Bible
He took the mantle Elijah had dropped, and he struck the water. “Where is the LORD God of Elijah? ” he asked. He struck the water himself, and it parted to the right and the left, and Elisha crossed over.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then he took the mantle Elijah had dropped and struck the waters. “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” he asked. He struck the waters himself, and they parted to the right and the left, and Elisha crossed over.

American Standard Version
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they were divided hither and thither; and Elisha went over.

Contemporary English Version
He struck the water with the coat and wondered, "Will the LORD perform miracles for me as he did for Elijah?" As soon as Elisha did this, a dry path opened up through the water, and he walked across.

English Revised Version
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they were divided hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He took the coat and struck the water with it. He asked, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" As he struck the water, it divided to his left and his right, and Elisha crossed [the river].

Good News Translation
He struck the water with Elijah's cloak and said, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" Then he struck the water again, and it divided, and he walked over to the other side.

International Standard Version
Elisha took hold of Elijah's ornamental cloak that had been left behind, struck the water, and cried out: "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" All of a sudden, after he had struck the water, the water divided into two parts! One side of the river stood opposite the other, and Elisha crossed over.

Majority Standard Bible
Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. ?Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?? he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over.

NET Bible
He took the cloak that had fallen off Elijah, hit the water with it, and said, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" When he hit the water, it divided and Elisha crossed over.

New Heart English Bible
And he took the cloak of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the water, and it did not divide. And he said, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah, even he?" And he struck the water a second time, and they divided to the one side and to the other; and Elisha crossed over.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

World English Bible
He took Elijah’s mantle that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” When he also had struck the waters, they were divided apart, and Elisha went over.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he takes the robe of Elijah that fell from off him, and strikes the waters, and says, “Where [is] YHWH, God of Elijah—even He?” And he strikes the waters, and they are halved, here and there, and Elisha passes over.

Young's Literal Translation
and he taketh the robe of Elijah that fell from off him, and smiteth the waters, and saith, 'Where is Jehovah, God of Elijah -- even He?' and he smiteth the waters, and they are halved, hither and thither, and Elisha passeth over.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will take the wide cloak of Elijah which fell from off him and strike the waters, and say, Where is Jehovah the God of Elijah, even he? And he will strike the waters and they will divide hence and thence, and Elisha will pass through.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he struck the waters with the mantle of Elias, that had fallen from him, and they were not divided. And he said: Where is now the God of Elias? And he struck the waters, and they were divided, hither and thither, and Eliseus passed over.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he struck the waters with the cloak of Elijah, which had fallen from him, and they were not divided. And he said, “Where is the God of Elijah, even now?” And he struck the waters, and they were divided here and there. And Elisha went across.

New American Bible
Wielding the mantle which had fallen from Elijah, he struck the water and said, “The LORD, the God of Elijah—where is he now?” He struck the water: it divided, and he crossed over.

New Revised Standard Version
He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the waters and said, O LORD, the God of my lord Elijah! And when he also had struck the waters of the Jordan, they parted half hither and half thither; and Elisha went over.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he called LORD JEHOVAH and he took the cloak of Elyah that fell from him, and he struck the water and he said: “Oh, LORD JEHOVAH, God of my Lord Elyah!” Also, he struck the waters of the Jordan, and they were divided, half here and half there, and Elisha crossed over.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said: 'Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?' and when he also had smitten the waters, they were divided hither and thither; and Elisha went over.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and he took the mantle of Eliu, which fell from off him, and smote the water, and said, Where is the Lord God of Eliu? and he smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither; and Elisaie went over.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elijah Taken to Heaven
13Elisha also picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah, and he went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over.

Cross References
Exodus 14:21-22
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, / and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

Joshua 3:13-17
When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.” / So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them. / Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, ...

1 Kings 19:19
So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him.

2 Kings 4:29-31
So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.” / And the mother of the boy said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her. / Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”

2 Kings 5:14
So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean.

2 Kings 6:6
“Where did it fall?” asked the man of God. And when he showed him the place, the man of God cut a stick, threw it there, and made the iron float.

2 Kings 13:21
Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders, so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. And as soon as his body touched the bones of Elisha, the man was revived and stood up on his feet.

Matthew 14:25-31
During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. / When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear. / But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” ...

Matthew 17:20
“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Mark 11:22-24
“Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them. / “Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him. / Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Luke 4:27
And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

John 14:12
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Acts 3:6-8
But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” / Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. / He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God.

Acts 9:40
Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

Acts 19:11-12
God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul, / so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.


Treasury of Scripture

And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted here and thither: and Elisha went over.

smote

2 Kings 2:8-10
And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground…

Joshua 1:1-9
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, …

Mark 16:20
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Where is

Judges 6:13
And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

1 Kings 18:36-39
And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word…

Psalm 42:2,10
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? …

Jump to Previous
Crossed Divided Dropped Elijah Eli'jah Elijah's Elisha Fallen Fell Hither Mantle Parted Passeth Right Robe Side Smiteth Smitten Smote Struck Thither Water Waters Way
Jump to Next
Crossed Divided Dropped Elijah Eli'jah Elijah's Elisha Fallen Fell Hither Mantle Parted Passeth Right Robe Side Smiteth Smitten Smote Struck Thither Water Waters Way
2 Kings 2
1. Elijah, taking his leave of Elisha, with his mantle divides Jordan
9. and, granting Elisha his request, is taken up by a fiery chariot into heaven
12. Elisha, dividing Jordan with Elijah's mantle, is acknowledged his successor
16. The young prophets, hardly obtaining leave to seek Elijah, cannot find him.
19. Elisha with salt heals the unwholesome waters
23. Bears destroy the children that mocked Elisha














Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him
The cloak, or mantle, of Elijah symbolizes the prophetic authority and power that Elijah held. In biblical times, a cloak was often a symbol of one's office or calling. Elijah's mantle falling to Elisha signifies the transfer of prophetic leadership. This act is reminiscent of Elijah's initial calling of Elisha when he threw his cloak over him (1 Kings 19:19), indicating the passing of his prophetic role.

and struck the waters.
Striking the waters with the cloak is an act of faith and a demonstration of the power of God working through His prophets. This action mirrors Moses' parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21) and Joshua's crossing of the Jordan River (Joshua 3:14-17), both of which were significant events in Israel's history that demonstrated God's miraculous intervention and guidance.

“Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked.
Elisha's question is both a cry for divine presence and an acknowledgment of the source of Elijah's power. It reflects a desire for confirmation that the same God who empowered Elijah will now empower him. This invocation of the "God of Elijah" emphasizes the continuity of God's work through His chosen servants and highlights the importance of divine presence in fulfilling one's calling.

And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left,
The parting of the waters is a miraculous sign that confirms Elisha's succession as the prophet of Israel. It serves as a divine endorsement of Elisha's ministry, similar to how God confirmed Joshua's leadership after Moses by parting the Jordan River. This miracle also foreshadows the many signs and wonders that Elisha would perform, demonstrating God's power and presence with him.

and Elisha crossed over.
Elisha's crossing over the Jordan River marks the beginning of his prophetic ministry. It signifies a transition from being a disciple of Elijah to becoming the leading prophet in Israel. This crossing can be seen as a type of baptism, symbolizing a new beginning and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for the tasks ahead. It also connects to the broader biblical theme of crossing over into new phases of God's redemptive plan, as seen in the Israelites' entrance into the Promised Land.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Elisha
A prophet and the successor of Elijah, who performed many miracles and was a significant figure in the history of Israel.

2. Elijah
A major prophet in Israel who was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, leaving his cloak behind for Elisha.

3. The Jordan River
A significant river in the biblical account, often symbolizing a place of transition and divine intervention.

4. The Cloak of Elijah
A symbol of prophetic authority and the transfer of Elijah's prophetic spirit to Elisha.

5. The Parting of the Waters
A miraculous event demonstrating God's power and the continuation of Elijah's ministry through Elisha.
Teaching Points
The Continuation of God's Work
God's work does not end with one person; it continues through those He calls and equips. Elisha's ministry is a continuation of Elijah's, showing that God's purposes transcend individual lifetimes.

The Importance of Spiritual Inheritance
Elisha's receipt of Elijah's cloak symbolizes the passing of spiritual authority and responsibility. We are called to pass on our faith and spiritual gifts to the next generation.

Faith in Action
Elisha's act of striking the waters demonstrates faith in God's power and presence. We are encouraged to act in faith, trusting that God will work through us.

God's Presence in Transition
The parting of the Jordan River signifies God's presence during times of change and transition. We can trust God to guide us through life's transitions.

Seeking God's Presence
Elisha's question, "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" reflects a desire for God's presence and power. We should continually seek God's presence in our lives.(14) Where is the Lord God of Elijah?--Has He left the earth with His prophet? If not, let Him now show His power, and verify the granting of my request (2Kings 2:9). The words are a sort of irony of faith. Elisha "seeks" Jehovah as the only source of power. (Comp. Jeremiah 2:6; Jeremiah 2:8, where the priests and prophets are blamed for having recourse to idols, instead of asking, "Where is Jehovah?")

And when he also had smitten.--The Hebrew is, also (or, even) he--and he smote. There is clearly something wrong. The LXX. does not render the Hebrew 'aph h-' "also he," but copies the words in Greek (????). Keil connects them with the foregoing question, "Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah, even He?" Thenius objects that this use of 'aph is doubtful, and supports Houbigant's correction, '?pho, an enclitic then--"Where, then, is Jehovah, the God of Elijah? and he smote," &c. Perhaps 'eph?h ("where") was the original reading: "Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah? Where?"--an emphatic repetition of the question. Or it may be that the words 'aph h-' wayyakkeh should be transposed: "and he smote--he also (like Elijah)," &c. The Vulgate has the curious renderings, "And with the cloak of Elias which had fallen from him, he smote the waters, and they were not divided; and he said, Where is the God of Elias now also? And he smote the waters, and they were divided," &c. Such also is the reading of the Complutensian LXX.; but the variation is simply an old attempt to account for the twofold "and he smote the waters."

Verse 14. - And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him; and smote the waters - imitated, i.e., the action of Elijah (ver. 8), as Elijah had imitated the action of Moses at the passage of the Red Sea - and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? The present Hebrew text reads, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah, even he?" the last two words being emphatic; but the emphasis scarcely appears to be needed. Hence the translators have very generally detached the two words from Elisha's question, and, attaching them to the succeeding clause, have rendered it, And when he also had smitten the waters; but the position of the van conjunctive, after אַף־הוּא and before יַכֶּה, makes this division of the clauses impossible. It has therefore been proposed by some to read אֵפוא, "now," for אַף־הוּא, "even he" (Houbigant, Thenius, Schultz, Botteher, Dathe), and to translate, "Where now is the Lord God of Elijah?" Is he still here, with me, or has he withdrawn himself from earth with his prophet, and left me alone to my own unaided strength? This gives a good meaning, but is perhaps too bold a change. The LXX. had evidently our present Hebrew text before them, and, as they could make nothing of it, transcribed it into Greek characters, Ποῦ ὁ Θεὸς Ηλιοὺ ἀφφώ; they parted hither and thither: and Elisha wont over. God showed, i.e., that he was still with Elisha by enabling him to repeat Elijah's last miracle, and thus gave him an assurance that he would be with him thenceforth An his prophetic ministry.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then he took
וַיִּקַּח֩ (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

the cloak
אַדֶּ֨רֶת (’ad·de·reṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 155: Something ample

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

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

had fallen
נָפְלָ֤ה (nā·p̄ə·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

from him
מֵֽעָלָיו֙ (mê·‘ā·lāw)
Preposition-m | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and struck
וַיַּכֶּ֣ה (way·yak·keh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

the waters.
הַמַּ֔יִם (ham·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

“Where now [is]
אַיֵּ֕ה (’ay·yêh)
Interrogative
Strong's 346: Where?

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

the God
אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Elijah?”
אֵלִיָּ֑הוּ (’ê·lî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 452: Elijah -- 'Yah is God', a well-known prophet of Israel, also three other Israelites

he asked.
וַיֹּאמַ֕ר (way·yō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

And when he had struck
וַיַּכֶּ֣ה (way·yak·keh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

the waters,
הַמַּ֗יִם (ham·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

they parted
וַיֵּֽחָצוּ֙ (way·yê·ḥā·ṣū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2673: To cut, split in two, to halve

to the right
הֵ֣נָּה (hên·nāh)
Adverb
Strong's 2008: Hither, thither

and to the left,
וָהֵ֔נָּה (wā·hên·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 2008: Hither, thither

and Elisha
אֱלִישָֽׁע׃ (’ĕ·lî·šā‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 477: Elisha -- 'God is salvation', a well-known Israelite prophet

crossed over.
וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר (way·ya·‘ă·ḇōr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on


Links
2 Kings 2:14 NIV
2 Kings 2:14 NLT
2 Kings 2:14 ESV
2 Kings 2:14 NASB
2 Kings 2:14 KJV

2 Kings 2:14 BibleApps.com
2 Kings 2:14 Biblia Paralela
2 Kings 2:14 Chinese Bible
2 Kings 2:14 French Bible
2 Kings 2:14 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Kings 2:14 He took the mantle of Elijah that (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 2:13
Top of Page
Top of Page