And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:

2 KINGS 7:18KJV
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2 Kings 7:18 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 7:18 mean?

2 Kings 7:18 points back to Elisha’s words to the king and shows that they came true. During a severe food shortage in Samaria, Elisha had announced that grain would soon be available at prices people could afford.

The verse gives both the prices and the place: barley and fine flour would be sold “in the gate of Samaria.” The city gate was a public place where people gathered and business could be done.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 7:18

  • “measures” — סְאָה (se’ah): This word names a unit used to measure dry goods such as grain. The prices compare fixed quantities, not unspecified heaps of food.
  • “shekel” — שֶׁקֶל (sheqel): A shekel was a unit of weight used for payment, commonly in silver. The verse compares how much grain one could obtain for that amount.

Why 2 Kings 7:18 matters

  • The prices show a sharp change from the shortage. Earlier, 2 Kings 6:25 describes extreme prices for scarce food during the siege.
  • The two prices distinguish ordinary grain from finer food. A shekel would buy two measures of barley, but only one measure of fine flour.
  • The timing makes Elisha’s statement specific. “To morrow about this time” sets the expected change within roughly a day, rather than at some unknown future date.
  • The surrounding verses connect the fulfilled words with a warning. An officer who doubted Elisha’s announcement saw the food but died before he could eat any of it, as verses 19–20 describe.

Where else these words appear

“measures” Hebrew H5429 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
  • 1 Samuel 25:18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
  • 2 Kings 7:1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

“barley” Hebrew H8184 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 9:31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
  • Ruth 3:17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
  • 2 Chronicles 2:15 Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:

“flour” Hebrew H5560 · used in 52 verses

  • Genesis 18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
  • Numbers 6:15 And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.
  • Numbers 28:5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.

“morrow” Hebrew H4279 · used in 52 verses

  • Genesis 30:33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
  • Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
  • 1 Samuel 20:18 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.