Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. New Living Translation So he went with them. When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. English Standard Version So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. Berean Standard Bible So Elisha went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they began to cut down some trees. Berean Literal Bible And he went with them, and they came to the Jordan, and they cut down the trees. King James Bible So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. New King James Version So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. New American Standard Bible So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. NASB 1995 So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. NASB 1977 So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. Legacy Standard Bible So he went with them; and they came to the Jordan and cut down trees. Amplified Bible So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down [some of] the trees. Berean Annotated Bible So Elisha went with them, and when they came to the Jordan (flowing down), they began to cut down some trees. Christian Standard Bible So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. Holman Christian Standard Bible So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. American Standard Version So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. Contemporary English Version and he left with them. They went to the Jordan River and began chopping down trees. English Revised Version So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. GOD'S WORD® Translation So he went with them. They came to the Jordan River and began to cut down trees. Good News Translation and they set out together. When they arrived at the Jordan, they began to work. International Standard Version So he accompanied them, and when they came to the Jordan River, they cut down some trees. NET Bible So he went with them. When they arrived at the Jordan, they started cutting down trees. New Heart English Bible So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. Webster's Bible Translation So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo Elisha went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they began to cut down some trees. World English Bible So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd he goes with them, and they come to the Jordan, and cut down the trees, Berean Literal Bible And he went with them, and they came to the Jordan, and they cut down the trees. Young's Literal Translation And he goeth with them, and they come in to the Jordan, and cut down the trees, Smith's Literal Translation And he will go with them; and they will come to Jordan, and they will cut woods. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSo he went with them. And when they were come to the Jordan they cut down wood. Catholic Public Domain Version And he went with them. And when they had arrived at the Jordan, they were cutting down wood. New American Bible So he went with them, and when they arrived at the Jordan they began to cut down trees. New Revised Standard Version So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he went on with them, and they came to the Jordan and they cut trees. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. Brenton Septuagint Translation And he went with them, and they came to Jordan, and began to cut down wood. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Axhead Floats…3Then one of them said, “Please come with your servants.” “I will come,” he replied. 4So Elisha went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they began to cut down some trees. 5As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water. “Oh, my master,” he cried out, “it was borrowed!”… Cross References So Elisha went with them, 2 Kings 2:2-6 and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. / Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.” / And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. … Ruth 1:16-17 But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. / Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” and when they came to the Jordan, 2 Kings 2:7-8 Then a company of fifty of the sons of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing Elijah and Elisha as the two of them stood by the Jordan. / And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and to the left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 2 Kings 2:14 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. Joshua 3:14-17 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, / the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. … they began to cut down some trees. Joshua 17:15 Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.” 1 Kings 5:6 Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.” Deuteronomy 20:19-20 When you lay siege to a city for an extended time while fighting against it to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. You must not cut them down. Are the trees of the field human, that you should besiege them? / But you may destroy the trees that you know do not produce fruit. Use them to build siege works against the city that is waging war against you, until it falls. 2 Kings 2:6-8 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. / Then a company of fifty of the sons of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing Elijah and Elisha as the two of them stood by the Jordan. / And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and to the left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 1 Kings 19:19-21 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. / So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?” / So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah. 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, … 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. 1 Samuel 10:5-6 After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. / Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be transformed into a different person. 1 Kings 17:1-7 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!” / Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah: / “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan. … 2 Kings 4:38-41 When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet, he said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and boil some stew for the sons of the prophets.” / One of them went out to the field to gather herbs, and he found a wild vine from which he gathered as many wild gourds as his garment could hold. Then he came back and cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were. / And they poured it out for the men to eat, but when they tasted the stew they cried out, “There is death in the pot, O man of God!” And they could not eat it. … 2 Kings 5:10-14 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.” / But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the spot to cure my leprosy. / Are not the Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not have washed in them and been cleansed?” So he turned and went away in a rage. … Treasury of Scripture So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. they cut down wood Deuteronomy 19:5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live: Deuteronomy 29:11 Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water: Jump to Previous Cut Cutting Jordan Trees Wood WorkJump to Next Cut Cutting Jordan Trees Wood Work2 Kings 6 1. Elisha, allowing the young prophets to enlarge dwellings, floats an axhead8. 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 So Elisha went with them Elisha, the prophet and successor of Elijah, is known for his close relationship with the sons of the prophets, a group of prophetic disciples. His willingness to accompany them demonstrates his role as a mentor and leader. This reflects the biblical principle of spiritual guidance and discipleship, as seen in other mentor-mentee relationships like Moses and Joshua or Paul and Timothy. Elisha's presence signifies divine approval and guidance, emphasizing the importance of godly leadership. and when they came to the Jordan they began to cut down some trees Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God, successor to Elijah, known for his miracles and guidance to the people of Israel. 2. The Sons of the Prophets A group of prophetic disciples or students who were under the mentorship of Elisha. 3. The Jordan River A significant river in the biblical account, often a place of transition and divine activity. 4. The Act of Cutting Down Trees Represents the practical work and preparation for building a larger dwelling place for the sons of the prophets. Teaching Points The Importance of Community in MinistryThe sons of the prophets worked together, emphasizing the value of community and collaboration in serving God. God's Presence in Everyday Tasks Even in mundane activities like cutting down trees, God's presence and purpose can be found. We should seek to honor Him in all aspects of life. Preparation for Growth The expansion of their dwelling place signifies readiness for growth. In our spiritual lives, we should prepare for God to expand our capacity to serve and receive His blessings. Obedience and Initiative The sons of the prophets took initiative to address their need for space, showing that faith often requires action and obedience to God's leading. Symbolism of the Jordan River The Jordan River is a place of transition and transformation. Reflect on personal "Jordan" moments where God has led you into new phases of life. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 6:4?2. How does 2 Kings 6:4 demonstrate God's involvement in daily activities? 3. What does Elisha's presence in 2 Kings 6:4 teach about spiritual leadership? 4. How can we invite God's guidance in our work, as seen in 2 Kings 6:4? 5. Compare Elisha's actions in 2 Kings 6:4 with Jesus' guidance in John 15:5. 6. How can we apply the teamwork seen in 2 Kings 6:4 to church projects? 7. What is the significance of Elisha's role in 2 Kings 6:4? 8. How does 2 Kings 6:4 demonstrate God's intervention in human affairs? 9. What historical context surrounds the events of 2 Kings 6:4? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 6? 11. What are the key events in Elisha's life? 12. What events are described in 2 Kings? 13. 2 Kings 6:18-20: How could Elisha strike an entire enemy force with blindness and then restore their sight? 14. What are the key events in 2 Kings? What Does 2 Kings 6:4 Mean So Elisha went with them- Elisha’s immediate agreement reflects a shepherd-hearted leader who moves toward his people, not away from them (see 1 Kings 19:19-21 where he was first called to serve others). - His presence tangibly reassures the sons of the prophets that their work is sanctioned by God, echoing the promise “My Presence will go with you” (Exodus 33:14). - Like Jesus later “went with” the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:15), Elisha models how God draws near in ordinary tasks, turning routine labor into fellowship. and when they came to the Jordan - The Jordan River is a recurring stage for fresh starts: Israel’s entrance into the land (Joshua 3), Elijah’s translation (2 Kings 2:8-11), and Naaman’s cleansing (2 Kings 5:14). - Arriving here signals that the prophets’ expansion project stands in continuity with God’s earlier miracles in the same locale, reminding us that past deliverances empower present obedience (Psalm 114:3-7). - Practical takeaway: when believers step toward growth, the Lord often brings them back to places where He has already proven faithful, so they remember and rely on Him again (Deuteronomy 8:2). they began to cut down some trees - The prophets act, not merely plan. Faith meets the grind of saw and axe, mirroring Paul’s charge to “excel still more” in practical love (1 Thessalonians 4:10-11). - Woodcutting supplies beams for the new dwelling (2 Kings 6:1-2). God provides resources within reach, yet He expects us to swing the axe. Compare Noah gathering gopher wood for the ark (Genesis 6:14-22). - Their united labor portrays the church body “joined and held together by every supporting ligament” (Ephesians 4:16). No lone ranger spirituality—growth happens shoulder to shoulder. summary 2 Kings 6:4 pictures cooperative obedience: Elisha’s presence assures, the Jordan recalls God’s faithful history, and the prophets’ axes demonstrate hands-on faith. Together the scene encourages believers to invite godly oversight, remember past mercies, and engage energetically in the work God places before them. (4) Wood.--Heb., the timber: scil., which they required.Verse 4. - So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan - i.e. to the river-bank - they cut down wood. They set to work, each felling his tree, and fashioning it into a rough beam.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So [Elisha] wentוַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk with them, אִתָּ֑ם (’it·tām) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among and when they came וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go to the Jordan, הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה (hay·yar·dê·nāh) Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 3383: Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine they began to cut down וַֽיִּגְזְר֖וּ (way·yiḡ·zə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1504: To cut down, off, to destroy, divide, exclude, decide some trees. הָעֵצִֽים׃ (hā·‘ê·ṣîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood Links 2 Kings 6:4 NIV2 Kings 6:4 NLT 2 Kings 6:4 ESV 2 Kings 6:4 NASB 2 Kings 6:4 KJV 2 Kings 6:4 BibleApps.com 2 Kings 6:4 Biblia Paralela 2 Kings 6:4 Chinese Bible 2 Kings 6:4 French Bible 2 Kings 6:4 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Kings 6:4 So he went with them (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
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