2 Kings 7:19
New International Version
The officer had said to the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” The man of God had replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!”

New Living Translation
The king’s officer had replied, “That couldn’t happen even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven!” And the man of God had said, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!”

English Standard Version
the captain had answered the man of God, “If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he had said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”

Berean Standard Bible
And the officer had answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” So Elisha had replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!”

King James Bible
And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

New King James Version
Then that officer had answered the man of God, and said, “Now look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he had said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”

New American Standard Bible
At that time the royal officer had responded to the man of God and said, “Now even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could such a thing as this happen?” And he had said, “Behold, you are going to see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it.”

NASB 1995
Then the royal officer answered the man of God and said, “Now behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he said, “Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat of it.”

NASB 1977
Then the royal officer answered the man of God and said, “Now behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he said, “Behold, you shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the royal officer had answered the man of God and said, “Now behold, if Yahweh should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he had said, “Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat of it.”

Amplified Bible
The royal officer had answered the man of God and said, “Now behold, [even] if the LORD should make windows in heaven, could such a thing happen?” And Elisha had answered, “You will see it with your own eyes, but [because of your doubt] you will not eat it.”

Christian Standard Bible
this captain had answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen? ” Elisha had said, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
this captain had answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” Elisha had said, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”

American Standard Version
and that captain answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if Jehovah should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? and he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof:

Contemporary English Version
But the officer refused to believe that even the LORD could do that. So Elisha warned him that he would see it happen, but would not eat any of the food.

English Revised Version
and that captain answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? and he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the servant answered the man of God, "Could this happen even if the LORD poured rain through windows in the sky?" Elisha answered, "You will see it with your own eyes, but you won't eat any of it.")

Good News Translation
to which the officer had answered, "That can't happen--not even if the LORD himself were to send grain at once!" And Elisha had replied, "You will see it happen, but you won't get to eat any of the food."

International Standard Version
But the royal attendant on whom the king depended responded to the man of God: "Look here! Even if the LORD were to make a window in the sky, how could this happen?" He replied, "No, you look! You'll see it with your eyes, but you won't eat any of it!"

Majority Standard Bible
And the officer had answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” So Elisha had replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!”

NET Bible
But the officer replied to the prophet, "Look, even if the LORD made it rain by opening holes in the sky, could this happen so soon?" Elisha said, "Look, you will see it happen with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of the food!"

New Heart English Bible
and that captain answered the man of God, and said, "Now, look, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?" and he said, "Look, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it."

Webster's Bible Translation
And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thy eyes, but shalt not eat of it.

World English Bible
and that captain answered the man of God, and said, “Now, behold, if Yahweh made windows in heaven, might such a thing be?” and he said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the captain answers the man of God and says, “And behold, YHWH is making windows in the heavens—will this thing be?” And he says, “Behold, you are seeing it with your eyes, and you do not eat thereof”;

Young's Literal Translation
and the captain answereth the man of God, and saith, 'And lo, Jehovah is making windows in the heavens -- it is according to this word?' and he saith, 'Lo, thou art seeing with thine eyes, and thereof thou dost not eat;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the third will answer the man of God and say, Behold, Jehovah making lattices in the heavens, will it be according to this word? and he will say, Behold thee seeing with thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat from thence.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
When that lord answered the man of' God, and said: Although the Lord should make flood-gates in heaven, could this come to pass which thou sayest? And he said to him: Thou shalt see with thy eyes, and shalt not eat thereof.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then that leader had responded to the man of God, and he had said, “Even if the Lord will open the floodgates of heaven, how can what you say possibly happen?” And he said to him, “You will see it with your own eyes, and you will not eat from it.”

New American Bible
The adjutant had answered the man of God, “Even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, how could this happen?” And Elisha had replied, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”

New Revised Standard Version
the captain had answered the man of God, “Even if the LORD were to make windows in the sky, could such a thing happen?” And he had answered, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat from it.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But that mighty man had answered the prophet of God and said, If the LORD should make windows in heaven, could this thing be? And the prophet had said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And that Mighty Man had answered and said to the Prophet of God: “If LORD JEHOVAH made windows in Heaven, would this event happen?” And he had said to him: “Behold, you shall see with your eyes, and you shall not eat of it.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and that captain answered the man of God, and said: 'Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?' and he said: 'Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof';

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the officer answered Elisaie, and said, Behold, if the Lord makes flood-gates in heaven, shall this thing be? and Elisaie said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not eat thereof.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Siege Lifted
18It happened just as the man of God had told the king: “About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel.” 19And the officer had answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” So Elisha had replied, You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!” 20And that is just what happened to him. The people trampled him in the gateway, and he died.…

Cross References
2 Kings 6:32-33
Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?” / While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him. And the king said, “This calamity is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”

2 Kings 4:16-17
And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.” / But the woman did conceive, and at that time the next year she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.

Numbers 11:21-23
But Moses replied, “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ / If all our flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?” / The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not My word will come to pass.”

Genesis 18:12-14
So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” / And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’ / Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”

Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Psalm 78:19-20
They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness? / When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?”

Exodus 16:3-4
“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!” / Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.

Malachi 3:10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.

Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Luke 1:18-20
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” / “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. / And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

Luke 1:37
For no word from God will ever fail.”

John 6:5-9
When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” / But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do. / Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.” ...

John 11:39-40
“Take away the stone,” Jesus said. “Lord, by now he stinks,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man. “It has already been four days.” / Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

Romans 4:20-21
Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, / being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

Hebrews 11:11
By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.


Treasury of Scripture

And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat thereof.

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2 Kings 7
1. Elisha prophesies incredible plenty in Samaria
3. four lepers, venturing on the host of the Syrians, bring tidings of their flight
12. The king, finding by spies the news to be true, spoils the tents of the Syrians.
17. The lord who would not believe the prophecy of plenty is trampled in the press














But the officer had replied
This phrase introduces the skepticism of the officer, a figure representing doubt and disbelief. In the Hebrew context, the term for "officer" (שָׁלִישׁ, shalish) often refers to a high-ranking military official, indicating someone with authority and influence. His reply is not just a personal doubt but a public challenge to the prophetic word, reflecting a broader theme of human skepticism against divine promises.

to the man of God
The "man of God" is a title frequently used for prophets, particularly Elisha in this context. It underscores the divine authority and spiritual insight bestowed upon Elisha. Historically, prophets were seen as intermediaries between God and the people, and this title affirms Elisha's role as a conduit of God's will and power.

Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven
This phrase is a hyperbolic expression of doubt. The officer uses "windows in heaven" to suggest an impossible scenario, reflecting a lack of faith in God's ability to intervene supernaturally. The imagery of "windows" (אֲרֻבּוֹת, arubbot) in the Hebrew Bible often symbolizes divine provision or judgment, as seen in Genesis 7:11 with the floodgates of heaven. Here, it challenges the belief in God's providence.

could this really happen?
This rhetorical question underscores the officer's incredulity. It reflects a common human tendency to doubt God's promises when faced with dire circumstances. The historical context of a severe famine in Samaria amplifies this skepticism, as the situation seemed beyond human resolution, thus questioning the feasibility of divine intervention.

So Elisha had answered
Elisha's response is authoritative and prophetic. As a prophet, Elisha speaks with the authority of God, and his words are not merely predictions but declarations of divine will. This response sets the stage for the fulfillment of God's promise, contrasting human doubt with divine certainty.

You will see it with your own eyes
This phrase is both a promise and a judgment. It assures the officer that God's word will indeed come to pass, visible and undeniable. The emphasis on "your own eyes" highlights personal accountability and the reality of witnessing God's power, serving as a testament to the truth of prophetic words.

but you will not eat any of it!
This final phrase is a pronouncement of judgment on the officer's unbelief. It reflects a biblical principle that disbelief can lead to missing out on God's blessings. Theologically, it serves as a warning against skepticism and a call to trust in God's promises. The historical fulfillment of this prophecy, as recorded later in the chapter, underscores the seriousness of doubting God's word and the consequences thereof.

(19) That lord.--The adjutant.

Now.--And.

Might such a thing be?--Literally, Might it happen according to this word? But the LXX., Syriac, and Vulg.,with many Hebrew MSS., read, as in 2Kings 7:2, "Might this thing (or word) be?"

Verse 19. - And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof (see the comment on the preceding verse).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the officer
הַשָּׁלִ֜ישׁ (haš·šā·lîš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7991: A triple, a triangle, a three-fold measure, a general of the third rank

had answered
וַיַּ֨עַן (way·ya·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

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

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

“Look,
וְהִנֵּ֣ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

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

were to make
עֹשֶׂ֤ה (‘ō·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

windows
אֲרֻבּוֹת֙ (’ă·rub·bō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 699: A lattice, a window, dovecot, chimney, sluice

in heaven,
בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם (baš·šā·ma·yim)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

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

really happen?”
הֲיִהְיֶ֖ה (hă·yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

So Elisha had replied,
וַיֹּאמַר֒ (way·yō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“You will see [it]
רֹאֶה֙ (rō·’eh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

with your own eyes,
בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ (bə·‘ê·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

but you will not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

eat
תֹאכֵֽל׃ (ṯō·ḵêl)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

any of it.”
וּמִשָּׁ֖ם (ū·miš·šām)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither


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OT History: 2 Kings 7:19 And that captain answered the man (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 7:18
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