And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
2 KINGS 6:30KJVWhat does 2 Kings 6:30 mean?
2 Kings 6:30 describes the king of Israel’s deep distress when he hears a woman’s desperate words during a siege. In response, he tears his clothes in grief, and as he walks along the city wall, the people see that he is wearing sackcloth underneath, a sign of mourning and humility.
The scene takes place during a severe famine in Samaria, where the king (likely Jehoram) is confronted by the horror of his people’s suffering. The act of tearing his clothes and wearing sackcloth shows his personal anguish and the seriousness of the crisis. The verse highlights the king’s visible sorrow and the desperate situation facing the people.
The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 6:30
- "rent" (קָרַע, qāraʿ): This word means to tear or rip apart, often used in the Bible to show intense grief or distress. The king’s action is a public sign of mourning.
- "sackcloth" (שַׂק, saq): Sackcloth was a rough, uncomfortable fabric worn as a symbol of sorrow, repentance, or humility. The king wearing it under his clothes shows his hidden, ongoing grief.
- "flesh" (בָּשָׂר, basar): This word means the body or skin. The verse notes the sackcloth was directly on the king’s flesh, emphasizing the depth of his mourning—it was not just for show.
Why 2 Kings 6:30 matters
- The verse shows the king’s personal involvement in the suffering of his people, not just as a ruler but as someone deeply affected by the crisis.
- The detail that the king wore sackcloth under his clothes suggests that his grief and repentance were not merely public gestures but something he carried privately.
- This moment sets the stage for the king’s actions in the following verses, revealing the pressure and despair that drive his decisions during the siege.