Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?

2 KINGS 6:11KJV
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2 Kings 6:11 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 6:11 mean?

2 Kings 6:11 describes how the king of Syria became deeply upset and suspicious because his secret plans against Israel kept failing. He gathered his servants and demanded to know if someone among them was betraying him to the king of Israel.

In this verse, the king of Syria (also known as Aram) is speaking to his own officials after realizing that the Israelites seem to know his every move. The king’s frustration shows he believes there must be a spy in his inner circle. This moment sets up the following verses, where it is revealed that the prophet Elisha is the one warning Israel, not a traitor among the Syrians.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 6:11

  • "heart" (לֵבָב, levav): This word often refers to the inner self or the seat of emotions and thoughts. Here, it highlights the king’s deep emotional disturbance, not just a passing worry.
  • "troubled" (סָעַר, sa'ar): This word means to be stirred up or greatly agitated. The verse emphasizes that the king’s distress was intense and not just mild concern.
  • "thing" (דָּבָר, davar): This word can mean "word," "matter," or "event." In this context, it refers to the repeated failures of the Syrian king’s plans.
  • "shew" (נָגַד, nagad): This verb means to make something known or to report. The king is demanding a clear explanation or confession from his servants.

Why 2 Kings 6:11 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the king of Syria did not initially suspect supernatural involvement; he assumed human betrayal was the cause of his troubles.
  • The focus on the king’s "heart" being troubled shows the seriousness of the situation and sets a tense, suspicious atmosphere among his closest advisors.
  • Understanding this verse helps readers see the setup for the revelation about Elisha’s prophetic abilities, which is a key theme in the surrounding passage.

Where else these words appear

“troubled” Hebrew H5590 · used in 7 verses

  • Isaiah 54:11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
  • Jonah 1:11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
  • Habakkuk 3:14 Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.

“Syria” Hebrew H758 · used in 117 verses

  • Genesis 10:22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
  • 1 Kings 22:35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:23 And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, even threescore cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.