2 Kings 7:9
New International Version
Then they said to each other, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.”

New Living Translation
Finally, they said to each other, “This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.”

English Standard Version
Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king’s household.”

Berean Standard Bible
Finally, they said to one another, “We are not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our sin will overtake us. Now, therefore, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

King James Bible
Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.

New King James Version
Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

New American Standard Bible
Then they said to one another, “We are not doing the right thing. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent about it; if we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now then come, let’s go and inform the king’s household.”

NASB 1995
Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

NASB 1977
Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. So now, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

Amplified Bible
Then they said one to another, “We are not doing the right thing. This is a day of good news, yet we are keeping silent. If we wait until the morning light, some punishment [for not reporting this now] will come on us. So now come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then they said to each other, “We’re not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our punishment will catch up with us. So let’s go tell the king’s household.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then they said to each other, “We’re not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our sin will catch up with us. Let’s go tell the king’s household.”

American Standard Version
Then they said one to another, We do not well; this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, punishment will overtake us; now therefore come, let us go and tell the king's household.

Contemporary English Version
They said to each other, "This isn't right. Today is a day to celebrate, and we haven't told anyone else what has happened. If we wait until morning, we will be punished. Let's go to the king's palace at once and tell the good news."

English Revised Version
Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, punishment will overtake us: now therefore come, let us go and tell the king's household.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then they said to one another, "What we're doing is not right. This is a day of good news, and we're not telling anyone about it. If we wait until morning when it's light out, we'll be punished. Let's bring the news to the royal palace."

Good News Translation
But then they said to each other, "We shouldn't be doing this! We have good news, and we shouldn't keep it to ourselves. If we wait until morning to tell it, we are sure to be punished. Let's go right now and tell the king's officers!"

International Standard Version
But then they told each other, "We're not doing the right thing. This is a day of good news, but if we keep quiet until morning, we're sure to be punished! So let's leave and go tell the king's household!"

Majority Standard Bible
Finally, they said to one another, ?We are not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our sin will overtake us. Now, therefore, let us go and tell the king?s household.?

NET Bible
Then they said to one another, "It's not right what we're doing! This is a day to celebrate, but we haven't told anyone. If we wait until dawn, we'll be punished. So come on, let's go and inform the royal palace."

New Heart English Bible
Then they said one to another, "We aren't doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we keep silent. If we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king's household."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.

World English Bible
Then they said to one another, “We aren’t doing right. Today is a day of good news, and we keep silent. If we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let’s go and tell the king’s household.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they say to one another, “We are not doing right this day; it [is] a day of tidings, and we are keeping silent; and we have waited until the morning light, then punishment has found us; and now, come and we go in and declare [it] to the house of the king.”

Young's Literal Translation
And they say one unto another, 'We are not doing right this day; a day of tidings it is, and we are keeping silent; and -- we have waited till the light of the morning, then hath punishment found us; and now, come and we go in and declare to the house of the king.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will say a man to his neighbor, Not thus do we: this day, it is a day of glad tidings, and we being silent: and waiting till morning light and sin will find us: an now come and we will go and announce to the king's house.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then they said one to another: We do not well: for this is a day of good tidings. If we hold our peace, and do not tell it till the morning, we shall be charged with a crime: come, let us go and tell it in the king's court.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then they said one to another: “We are not doing the right thing. For this is a day of good news. If we remain silent and refuse to report it until morning, we will be charged with a crime. Come, let us go and report it in the court of the king.”

New American Bible
Then they said to one another: “We are not doing right. This is a day of good news, and we are keeping silent. If we wait until morning breaks, we will be blamed. So come, let us go and inform the palace.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then they said to one another, “What we are doing is wrong. This is a day of good news; if we are silent and wait until the morning light, we will be found guilty; therefore let us go and tell the king’s household.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then they said one to another, We are not doing right; this day is a day of good tidings, and how long shall we remain silent? If we wait until the morning light, some mischief will come upon us; now therefore come, let us go and tell the king's household.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they said, each man to his companion: “We are not doing rightly today! This is a day of good news, and how long will we be silent and wait, until the morning light will shine and sin will meet us? Come now, let us go and we will tell it in the house of the King!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then they said one to another: 'We do not well; this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace; if we tarry till the morning light, punishment will overtake us; now therefore come, let us go and tell the king's household.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And one man said to his neighbour, We are not doing well thus: this day is a day of glad tidings, and we hold our peace, and are waiting till the morning light, and shall find mischief: now them come, and let us go into the city, and report to the house of the king.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Siege Lifted
8When the lepers reached the edge of the camp, they went into a tent to eat and drink. Then they carried off the silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid them. On returning, they entered another tent, carried off some items from there, and hid them. 9Finally, they said to one another, “We are not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our sin will overtake us. Now, therefore, let us go and tell the king’s household.” 10So they went and called out to the gatekeepers of the city, saying, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a trace—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.”…

Cross References
2 Kings 6:24-25
Some time later, Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army and marched up to besiege Samaria. / So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver.

2 Kings 6:33
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 5:1-3
Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. / At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. / She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”

2 Kings 4:42-44
Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. / But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” / So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

2 Kings 3:16-20
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. ...

2 Kings 2:19-22
Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please note, our lord, that the city’s location is good, as you can see. But the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.” / “Bring me a new bowl,” he replied, “and put some salt in it.” So they brought it to him, / and Elisha went out to the spring, cast the salt into it, and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will it cause death or unfruitfulness.’” ...

1 Kings 17:8-16
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: / “Get up and go to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” / So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, so that I may drink.” ...

1 Kings 18:41-45
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” / So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the summit of Carmel, bent down on the ground, and put his face between his knees. / “Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” ...

Exodus 16:19-20
Then Moses said to them, “No one may keep any of it until morning.” / But they did not listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it became infested with maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

Exodus 18:17-18
But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. / Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.

Isaiah 55:1-2
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! / Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.

Isaiah 58:7
Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Jeremiah 38:9
“My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have dropped him into the cistern, where he will starve to death, for there is no more bread in the city.”

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”


Treasury of Scripture

Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come on us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.

they said one

2 Kings 7:3
And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

Haggai 1:4,5
Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? …

this day

2 Kings 7:6
For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

Isaiah 41:27
The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

some mischief will come upon us.

2 Kings 5:26,27
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? …

Numbers 32:23
But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Proverbs 24:16
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Jump to Previous
Good Hold Household King's Light Morning News Overtake Peace Punishment Right Tarry Tidings Wait
Jump to Next
Good Hold Household King's Light Morning News Overtake Peace Punishment Right Tarry Tidings Wait
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














Finally, they said to one another
This phrase indicates a moment of realization and decision among the lepers who had discovered the abandoned Aramean camp. In the biblical narrative, lepers were often marginalized and lived outside the city, yet here they are pivotal in delivering a message of salvation. This reflects a recurring biblical theme where God uses the unlikely or marginalized to fulfill His purposes, similar to how He used shepherds to announce Jesus' birth (Luke 2:8-20).

We are not doing what is right
The lepers recognize a moral obligation to share the good news of the Arameans' departure. This acknowledgment of wrongdoing highlights the biblical principle of accountability and the importance of doing what is right in God's eyes, as seen in James 4:17, which states that knowing the right thing to do and failing to do it is sin.

Today is a day of good news
The term "good news" here is significant, as it prefigures the Gospel message in the New Testament. The lepers' discovery of the abandoned camp and the abundance of resources parallels the spiritual abundance found in Christ. This phrase echoes Isaiah 52:7, which speaks of the beauty of those who bring good news, ultimately fulfilled in the proclamation of the Gospel.

If we are silent and wait until morning light
The urgency in this phrase underscores the importance of timely action in sharing good news. In a broader biblical context, it reflects the urgency of spreading the Gospel message, as seen in 2 Corinthians 6:2, which emphasizes the present as the time of salvation.

Our sin will overtake us
The lepers understand that withholding the good news would be sinful. This reflects the biblical teaching that sin is not only in wrongful actions but also in failing to act rightly. The concept of sin overtaking someone is reminiscent of Genesis 4:7, where sin is described as crouching at the door, ready to overtake Cain if he does not master it.

Now, therefore, let us go and tell the king’s household
This decision to inform the king's household demonstrates obedience and responsibility. It mirrors the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, where believers are commanded to go and make disciples, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. The lepers' actions serve as a type of evangelism, spreading the message of deliverance and salvation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Four Lepers
These were the outcasts who discovered the abandoned Aramean camp. Their condition as lepers made them societal outcasts, yet they played a pivotal role in delivering the good news to the city of Samaria.

2. Samaria
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which was under siege by the Arameans, leading to a severe famine in the city.

3. The Arameans
The enemy army that besieged Samaria, causing the famine. They fled their camp due to a divinely induced panic, leaving behind supplies.

4. The King’s Household
The royal family and officials in Samaria who were initially unaware of the miraculous provision available to them.

5. The Siege of Samaria
A critical event where the city was surrounded by the Arameans, leading to desperation and dire conditions among the inhabitants.
Teaching Points
The Responsibility to Share Good News
Just as the lepers realized their duty to share the good news, Christians are called to share the Gospel with others. Keeping the message of salvation to ourselves is not right.

God Uses the Unexpected
God often uses unlikely people and circumstances to fulfill His purposes. The lepers, despite their status, were instrumental in God's plan to save Samaria.

Urgency in Delivering the Message
The lepers understood the urgency of their message. Similarly, there is an urgency in sharing the Gospel, as people are in spiritual need.

Trust in God’s Provision
The miraculous provision for Samaria reminds believers to trust in God's ability to provide in seemingly impossible situations.

Repentance and Action
Recognizing wrongdoing and taking corrective action is vital. The lepers' decision to act upon their realization is a model for repentance and obedience.(9) Some mischief will come upon us.--Literally, guilt will find us: we shall incur blame. Vulg., "we shall be accused of wrong-doing."

Now therefore.--And now: the inferential use of "now." (Comp. Psalm 2:10.)

Verse 9. - Then they said one to another, We do not well. It was a tardy recognition of what their duty required of them. As Grotius says, "Officium civium est ea indicate, quae ad salutem publicam pertinent." Their fellow-countrymen in the city of Samaria were perishing of hunger, mothers eating their children, and the like, while they employed hour after hour in collecting and hiding away their booty. They ought, as soon as they had satisfied their hunger, to have hurried back to the city and spread the good news. This day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace; i.e. we keep silence, and do not proclaim them, as we ought. If we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us; rather, punishment will fall on us; we shall suffer for what we have done - a very reasonable supposition. Now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household. The "king's household" means the court, the medium through which the king was ordinarily approached.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Finally, they said
וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

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

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

another,
רֵעֵ֜הוּ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

“We are
אֲנַ֣חְנוּ (’ă·naḥ·nū)
Pronoun - first person common plural
Strong's 587: We

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

doing
עֹשִׂ֗ים (‘ō·śîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

what is right.
כֵ֣ן ׀ (ḵên)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

Today
הַיּ֤וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

is a day
יוֹם־ (yō·wm-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of good news.
בְּשֹׂרָ֣ה (bə·śō·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1309: Glad tidings, reward for, good news

If we
וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ (wa·’ă·naḥ·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common plural
Strong's 587: We

are silent
מַחְשִׁ֗ים (maḥ·šîm)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 2814: To be silent, inactive, or still

and wait
וְחִכִּ֛ינוּ (wə·ḥik·kî·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 2442: To adhere to, to await

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

morning
הַבֹּ֖קֶר (hab·bō·qer)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

light,
א֥וֹר (’ō·wr)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 216: Illumination, luminary

our sin
עָו֑וֹן (‘ā·wō·wn)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

will overtake us.
וּמְצָאָ֣נוּ (ū·mə·ṣā·’ā·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

Now, therefore,
וְעַתָּה֙ (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

let us go
וְנָבֹ֔אָה (wə·nā·ḇō·’āh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

and tell
וְנַגִּ֖ידָה (wə·nag·gî·ḏāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

the king?s
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

household.?
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT History: 2 Kings 7:9 Then they said one to another We (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 7:8
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