2 Kings 15:16 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 15:16 mean?

2 Kings 15:16 describes how Menahem, a king of Israel, attacked the city of Tiphsah and its surrounding area because the people there did not surrender to him. In his anger, he killed everyone in the city, including pregnant women, showing the extreme violence he used to force submission.

This verse is part of a historical account about Menahem’s reign, showing his harsh response to resistance. The passage records a specific incident where Menahem, after leaving Tirzah, punished Tiphsah for refusing to open its gates to him. The description of violence, especially against pregnant women, highlights the brutality that sometimes marked ancient warfare and the seriousness of Menahem’s actions.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 15:16

• "smote" (נָכָה, nākhāh): This word means to strike or kill, often with the sense of a decisive or deadly blow. Here, it emphasizes the completeness of Menahem’s attack on Tiphsah.
• "coasts" (גְּבוּל, gevul): This word refers to boundaries or territory. The verse shows that Menahem’s violence extended not just to the city itself but also to the surrounding region.
• "opened" (פָּתַח, patach): This word means to open, as in opening a gate or city to someone. The refusal to "open" to Menahem is presented as the reason for his violent response.
• "child" (הָרָה, harah) and "up" (בָּקַע, baqa): "harah" means pregnant, and "baqa" means to rip open. Together, they describe the particularly cruel act against pregnant women, underscoring the severity of the violence.

Why 2 Kings 15:16 matters

• This verse clears up any idea that all Israelite kings acted with restraint; it records a moment of shocking brutality by Menahem, contrasting with other rulers.
• The detail about the city refusing to "open" its gates shows that the violence was a response to resistance, not random or unprovoked.
• The verse sets the tone for the rest of Menahem’s reign, helping readers understand why his rule is often remembered negatively in the biblical record.