2 Kings 10 · Verse 5

2 Kings 10:5

And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.
2 Kings 10:5, King James Version

2 Kings 10:5 in other translations

BSBSo the palace administrator, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you say. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your sight.”
WEBHe who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who raised the children, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and will do all that you ask us. We will not make any man king. You do that which is good in your eyes.”
ASVAnd he that was over the household, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and they that brought up the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any man king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.
YLTAnd he who is over the house, and he who is over the city, and the elders, and the supporters, send unto Jehu, saying, ‘Thy servants we are, and all that thou sayest unto us we do; we do not make any one king--that which is good in thine eyes do.'
DARBYAnd he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, and the elders, and the guardians sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any one king; do what is good in thy sight.
BBESo the controller of the king's house, with the ruler of the town, and the responsible men, and those who had the care of Ahab's sons, sent to Jehu, saying, We are your servants and will do all your orders; we will not make any man king; do whatever seems best to you.
WebsterAnd he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and those who brought up the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thy eyes.

What does 2 Kings 10:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. he that was over the house--the governor or chamberlain of the palace. the bringers-up of the children--Anciently, and still also in many Eastern countries, the principal grandees were charged with the support and education of the royal princes. This involved a heavy expense which they were forced to bear, but for which they endeavored to find some compensation in the advantages of their connection with the court.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 He that was over the house, etc. - Thus all the constituted authorities agreed to submit. Will do all that thou shalt bid us - They made no conditions, and stood pledged to commit the horrid murders which this most execrable man afterwards commanded.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Kings 10:1-14

In the most awful events, though attended by the basest crimes of man, the truth and justice of God are to be noticed; and he never did nor can command any thing unjust or unreasonable. Jehu destroyed all that remained of the house of Ahab; all who had been partners in his wickedness. When we think upon the sufferings and miseries of mankind, when we look forward to the resurrection and last judgment, and think upon…

Read the full comment on 2 Kings 10:1-14 →

2 Kings 10:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣חvai.yish.Lachand he sentH7971
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-[the one] whoH834
עַל\־'al-[was] overH5921
הַבַּ֣יִתha.Ba.yitthe houseH1004
וַאֲשֶׁ֪רva.'a.Sherand [the one] whoH834
עַל\־'al-[was] overH5921
הָעִ֟ירha.'Irthe cityH5892
וְהַזְּקֵנִים֩ve.ha.ze.ke.Nimand the eldersH2205
וְהָאֹמְנִ֨יםve.ha.'o.me.Nimand the guardiansH539
אֶל\־'el-toH413
יֵה֤וּא\׀ye.Hu'JehuH3058
לֵאמֹר֙le.Mor<to> sayingH559
עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ'a.va.Dei.kha[are] servants yourH5650
אֲנַ֔חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuweH587
וְכֹ֛לve.Kholand allH3605
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-thatH834
תֹּאמַ֥רto.Maryou will sayH559
אֵלֵ֖ינוּ'e.Lei.nuto usH413
נַעֲשֶׂ֑הna.'a.Sehwe will doH6213
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
נַמְלִ֣יךְnam.Likhwe will make kingH4427
אִ֔ישׁ'IshanyoneH376
הַטּ֥וֹבha.Tovthe goodH2896
בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָbe.'ei.Nei.khain view yourH5869
עֲשֵֽׂה\׃'a.SehdoH6213

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Kings 10:5

  • 1 Kings 20:4

    And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.

  • 1 Kings 20:32

    So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben–hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.

  • Joshua 9:11

    Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.

  • Joshua 9:8

    And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?

  • 2 Kings 18:14

    And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

  • Joshua 9:24-25

    And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the Lord thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.

  • Jeremiah 27:7-8

    And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him. And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the Lord, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

  • Jeremiah 27:17

    Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?

  • John 12:26

    If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
We are thy servants.
18:14; Jos 9:11,24,25; 1Ki 20:4,32; Jer 27:7,8,17; Joh 12:26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Kings 10:4

    But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

  • 2 Kings 10:5

    And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.

  • 2 Kings 10:6

    Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.

Read all of 2 Kings 10

2 Kings 10:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y el mayordomo, y el presidente de la ciudad, y los ancianos, y los ayos, enviaron á decir á Jehú: Siervos tuyos somos, y haremos todo lo que nos mandares: no elegiremos por rey á ninguno; tú harás lo que bien te pareciere.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et celui qui était préposé sur la maison, et celui qui était préposé sur la ville, et les anciens, et les gouverneurs des enfants, envoyèrent à Jéhu, disant: Nous sommes tes serviteurs, et tout ce que tu nous diras, nous le ferons; nous n’établirons roi personne; fais ce qui est bon à tes yeux.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und der über das Haus und der über die Stadt war und die Ältesten und die Erzieher sandten hin zu Jehu und ließen ihm sagen: Wir sind deine Knechte, und alles, was du zu uns sagen wirst, wollen wir tun; wir wollen niemand zum König machen; tue, was gut ist in deinen Augen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Miserunt ergo præpositi domus, et præfecti civitatis, et majores natu, et nutritii, ad Jehu, dicentes: Servi tui sumus: quæcumque jusseris faciemus, nec constituemus nobis regem: quæcumque tibi placent, fac.