And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

2 KINGS 2:16KJV
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2 Kings 2:16 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 2:16 mean?

2 Kings 2:16 shows a group of prophets asking Elisha for permission to send fifty strong men to search for Elijah, fearing that the Spirit of the LORD may have taken Elijah up and dropped him on a mountain or in a valley. Elisha tells them not to send anyone.

The verse takes place just after Elijah has been taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. The prophets, unsure of what happened, speak to Elisha—Elijah’s successor—and suggest a search party in case Elijah was set down somewhere by the Spirit of the LORD. Elisha, knowing Elijah’s true fate, tells them not to go.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 2:16

  • "Spirit" (רוּחַ, ruach): This word means "wind," "breath," or "spirit." Here, it refers to the powerful, mysterious activity of the LORD, which the prophets believe could physically move a person.
  • "Cast" (שָׁלַךְ, shalak): This word means "to throw" or "to cast." The prophets imagine Elijah might have been picked up and then set down somewhere remote, showing their uncertainty about what happened.
  • "Seek" (בָּקַשׁ, baqash): This word means "to search" or "to seek." The prophets are eager to look for Elijah, reflecting their confusion and desire for closure.

Why 2 Kings 2:16 matters

  • This verse highlights the uncertainty and limited understanding of the prophets about Elijah’s departure, even though they witnessed a miraculous event.
  • It shows Elisha’s confidence in what he knows about Elijah’s fate, setting him apart as the true successor with insight others lack.
  • The verse connects to the larger story of prophetic succession and trust in God’s actions, emphasizing that not everything God does will be immediately understood by everyone.

Where else these words appear

“valley” Hebrew H1516 · used in 54 verses

  • Numbers 21:20 And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.
  • 1 Chronicles 18:12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.
  • Jeremiah 2:23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

“cast” Hebrew H7993 · used in 121 verses

  • Genesis 21:15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
  • 2 Kings 2:21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
  • Isaiah 19:8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.

“be” Hebrew H3426 · used in 129 verses

  • Genesis 18:24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
  • 1 Samuel 21:8 And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
  • Psalms 135:17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

“fifty” Hebrew H2572 · used in 141 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • Numbers 4:30 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.
  • 1 Chronicles 5:21 And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.