But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?

2 KINGS 6:32KJV
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2 Kings 6:32 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 6:32 mean?

2 Kings 6:32 describes the prophet Elisha sitting in his house with the elders when he becomes aware that the king of Israel has sent a messenger to kill him. Elisha warns the elders about the king’s intentions and instructs them to block the messenger at the door, noting that the king himself is following close behind.

Elisha is speaking to the elders of Israel who are gathered with him in his home during a time of crisis, as the city is under siege. The verse shows Elisha’s awareness of the king’s desperate and violent plan, calling the king “this son of a murderer,” likely referring to the king’s father, Ahab, who was known for violence. Elisha’s instructions to the elders reveal both his prophetic insight and the tense, dangerous atmosphere in Samaria at that time.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 6:32

  • “Elders” (זְקֵנִים, zᵊqēnîm): This word refers to respected leaders or officials in the community. Their presence with Elisha shows he was not isolated but had influence among Israel’s leadership.
  • “Messenger” (מַלְאָךְ, mal’ākh): This term can mean a human messenger or an angel, but here it clearly refers to a human agent sent by the king, highlighting the official and urgent nature of the threat.
  • “Son of a murderer” (בֶּן־הָרֹצֵחַ, ben-hārōtsēaḥ): Elisha uses this phrase to describe the king, connecting him to a legacy of violence, which would remind listeners of the bloody history of Israel’s royal family.
  • “Shut” (סָגַר, sāgar) and “hold fast” (דָּחַק, dāḥaq): These commands show Elisha’s practical response to danger, telling the elders to physically prevent the messenger from entering, which underlines the immediate threat to his life.

Why 2 Kings 6:32 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Elisha was not caught off guard by the king’s plot, but instead had supernatural awareness of what was happening, reinforcing his role as a true prophet.
  • The mention of the elders with Elisha shows he was respected and trusted by key leaders, not just acting alone, which adds weight to his words and actions in the crisis.
  • The verse connects the king’s actions to the violent history of Israel’s rulers, helping readers see the ongoing consequences of past sins and the tense relationship between prophets and kings in Israel’s history.

Where else these words appear

“fast” Hebrew H3905 · used in 18 verses

  • Exodus 3:9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
  • Judges 2:18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
  • 2 Kings 13:22 But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

“murderer” Hebrew H7523 · used in 40 verses

  • Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
  • Numbers 35:30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.
  • Joshua 21:27 And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.

“Elisha” Hebrew H477 · used in 52 verses

  • 1 Kings 19:16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
  • 2 Kings 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
  • 2 Kings 6:21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?

“door” Hebrew H1817 · used in 78 verses

  • Genesis 19:6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
  • 2 Kings 4:4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
  • Nehemiah 13:19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.