2 Kings 6:9
New International Version
The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.”

New Living Translation
But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.”

English Standard Version
But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful not to pass by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.”

King James Bible
And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.

New King James Version
And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.”

New American Standard Bible
But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, saying, “Be careful that you do not pass this place, because the Arameans are coming down there.”

NASB 1995
The man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there.”

NASB 1977
And the man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there.”

Amplified Bible
The man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, “Be careful not to pass by this place, because the Arameans are pulling back to there.”

Christian Standard Bible
But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.”

American Standard Version
And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are coming down.

Contemporary English Version
Each time, Elisha would send this warning to the king of Israel: "Don't go near there. That's where the Syrian troops have set up camp."

English Revised Version
And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are coming down.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So the man of God would send a message to the king of Israel, "Be careful not to go by that place. The Arameans are hiding there."

Good News Translation
But Elisha sent word to the king of Israel, warning him not to go near that place, because the Syrians were waiting in ambush there.

International Standard Version
So the man of God sent a message to the king of Israel, warning him, "Keep an eye on that area, because the Arameans are going to be there!"

Majority Standard Bible
Then the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: ?Be careful not to pass by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.?

NET Bible
But the prophet sent this message to the king of Israel, "Make sure you don't pass through this place because Syria is invading there."

New Heart English Bible
The man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, "Beware that you not pass such a place; for the Arameans are coming down there."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians have come down.

World English Bible
The man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the man of God sends to the king of Israel, saying, “Take heed of passing by this place, for the Arameans are coming down there”;

Young's Literal Translation
And the man of God sendeth unto the king of Israel, saying, 'Take heed of passing by this place, for thither are the Aramaeans coming down;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the man of God will send to the king of Israel, saying, Watch from passing through this place, for there Aram encamps.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying: Beware that thou pass not to such a place: for the Syrians are there in ambush.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying: “Take care not to pass by that place. For the Syrians are there in ambush.”

New American Bible
But the man of God would send word to the king of Israel, “Be careful! Do not pass by this place, for Aram will attack there.”

New Revised Standard Version
But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Take care not to pass this place, because the Arameans are going down there.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the prophet of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that you do not pass this place; for the Arameans are lying in wait.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Prophet of God sent to the King of Israel, and he said to him: “Beware you do not pass this place, because there the Edomites are laying wait!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying: 'Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Arameans are coming down.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Elisaie sent to the king of Israel, saying, Take heed that thou pass not by that place, for the Syrians are hidden there.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elisha Captures the Blinded Arameans
8Now the king of Aram was at war against Israel. After consulting with his servants, he said, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” 9Then the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.” 10So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had pointed out. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.…

Cross References
2 Kings 6:10
So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had pointed out. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.

2 Kings 6:12
But one of his servants replied, “No one, my lord the king. For Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

2 Kings 6:15-17
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, behold, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?” / “Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” / Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2 Kings 1:3
But 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?’

2 Kings 3:16-19
and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’ / For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ / This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. ...

1 Kings 22:17
So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”

1 Samuel 23:9-12
When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” / And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account. / Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD. ...

1 Samuel 9:6-9
“Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.” / “If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” / The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.” ...

1 Samuel 19:11-12
Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” / So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped.

2 Chronicles 20:14-17
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants, as he stood in the midst of the assembly. / And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. / Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. ...

Jeremiah 42:9-11
Jeremiah told them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition: / ‘If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I will relent of the disaster I have brought upon you. / Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear; do not be afraid of him, declares the LORD, for I am with you to save you and deliver you from him.

Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.

Matthew 2:12
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.

Matthew 2:22
But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,

Matthew 24:15-16
So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), / then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.


Treasury of Scripture

And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that you pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.

Beware

2 Kings 3:17-19
For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts…

1 Kings 20:13,28
And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD…

thither the Syrians

2 Kings 4:27
And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Revelation 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

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Aramaeans Arameans Beware Care Israel Passing Secret Syrians Thither Waiting Word
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Aramaeans Arameans Beware Care Israel Passing Secret Syrians Thither Waiting Word
2 Kings 6
1. Elisha, allowing the young prophets to enlarge dwellings, floats an axhead
8. He discloses the king of Syria's counsel
13. The army which was sent to Dothan to apprehend Elisha, is blinded
19. Being brought into Samaria, they are dismissed in peace
24. The famine in Samaria causes women to eat their own children
30. The king sends to slay Elisha














But the man of God
This phrase refers to Elisha, a prophet in Israel, who is often called "the man of God" in the Scriptures. The Hebrew term used here is "ish ha-Elohim," which signifies a person who is not only a servant of God but also someone who embodies divine wisdom and authority. Elisha's role as a prophet is crucial, as he serves as a conduit for God's guidance and protection over Israel. His life and ministry are marked by miraculous acts and profound spiritual insight, demonstrating God's active presence among His people.

sent word to the king of Israel
Elisha's communication with the king of Israel highlights the prophet's role as an intermediary between God and the nation's leadership. The Hebrew verb "shalach" (to send) indicates a deliberate and purposeful action. This act of sending a message underscores the importance of divine guidance in political and military matters. Historically, prophets often advised kings, and their counsel was considered vital for the nation's well-being. Elisha's intervention here is a testament to God's concern for His people and His desire to protect them from harm.

Be careful not to pass this place
The warning given by Elisha is a direct and urgent command. The phrase "be careful" translates from the Hebrew "hishamer," which means to guard oneself or to be on alert. This instruction implies a need for vigilance and prudence, emphasizing the importance of heeding divine warnings. The specificity of "this place" suggests that God is aware of the enemy's plans and is actively working to thwart them. It serves as a reminder that God is omniscient and sovereign over all circumstances.

for the Arameans are going down there
The Arameans, also known as the Syrians, were frequent adversaries of Israel. The phrase "are going down" indicates a planned movement or attack, suggesting that the Arameans were strategically positioning themselves to ambush the Israelites. This intelligence, revealed through Elisha, demonstrates God's providential care and His ability to reveal the hidden schemes of the enemy. Historically, the Arameans were a powerful and persistent threat, yet this verse illustrates that no enemy is beyond God's control or knowledge.

(9) Pass.--Pass over, across, or through.

Such a place.--This place.

Thither.--There.

Come down.--Coming down. Another anomalous Hebrew form (n?hittim). Some would recognise here again a corruption of the same verb as in 2Kings 6:8, and render, "for there the Syrians are about hiding" (nehbim, i.e., nehb?'im). This is supported by the LXX., "??? ???? ????? ?????????;" the Syriac and Arabic, "are lurking;" the Vulg., "in insidiis sunt;" and the Targum, "are hidden." But the word (Heb.) is really an irregular participial formation from nahath, "to descend," and the Authorised Version is therefore correct. The versions have deduced the idea of hiding from that of going down, as if crouching on the ground were meant.

Verse 9. - And the man of God - i.e. Elisha, who at the time was "the man of God "(κατ ἐξοήν) - sent unto the King of Israel - Jehoram, undoubtedly (see ver. 32) - saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. Some translate, "Beware that thou neglect not such a place, for thither the Syrians are coming down;" but our version is probably correct, and is approved by Bahr and Thenius. Elisha did not suffer his hostile feeling towards Jehoram personally (2 Kings 3:13; 2 Kings 5:8; 2 Kings 6:32) to interfere with his patriotism. When disaster threatened his country, he felt it incumbent on him to warn even an ungodly king.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the man
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of God
הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

sent
וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

word to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the king
מֶ֤לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Israel:
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

“Be careful
הִשָּׁ֕מֶר (hiš·šā·mer)
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

passing by
מֵעֲבֹ֖ר (mê·‘ă·ḇōr)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

this
הַזֶּ֑ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

place,
הַמָּק֣וֹם (ham·mā·qō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the Arameans
אֲרָ֥ם (’ă·rām)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 758: Aram -- Syria

are going down
נְחִתִּֽים׃ (nə·ḥit·tîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 5181: To sink, descend, to press, lead down

there.”
שָׁ֖ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither


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OT History: 2 Kings 6:9 The man of God sent to (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 6:8
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