2 Kings 7:16 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 7:16 mean?

2 Kings 7:16 describes how the people of Samaria went out and took goods from the abandoned Syrian camp, leading to an immediate drop in food prices just as God had promised. The verse shows that the word of the LORD about the end of the famine and the sudden availability of food came true exactly as stated.

The setting is the city of Samaria, which had been under siege by the Syrians and suffering from severe famine. After God caused the Syrians to flee, the people found the enemy camp deserted and full of supplies. This sudden abundance fulfilled the prophecy Elisha had given earlier, showing both the reliability of God's word and the dramatic reversal of the city's situation.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 7:16

• "Spoiled" (בָּזַז, bazaz) means to plunder or take as loot. This word highlights that the people did not just find the goods but actively took them from the enemy’s tents, emphasizing the total reversal of fortune.
• "Measure" (סְאָה, se'ah) refers to a specific unit of dry measure, showing that the prices were now normal and affordable, not inflated by scarcity.
• "Word" (דָּבָר, davar) means a spoken thing, matter, or command. The verse stresses that what happened was in direct fulfillment of what God had declared through His prophet.
• "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH) is the personal name of Israel’s God, underlining that this event was not random but orchestrated by the God of Israel.

Why 2 Kings 7:16 matters

• This verse clears up any doubt about whether the prophecy given earlier in the chapter would come true, showing that God’s promises are trustworthy even when circumstances seem impossible.
• The verse emphasizes the dramatic change from famine to abundance, highlighting how quickly God can change a desperate situation.
• 2 Kings 7:16 connects to the wider story by confirming Elisha’s role as a true prophet and reinforcing the theme of God’s power over nations and events.