2 Kings 2 · Verse 12

2 Kings 2:12

And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
2 Kings 2:12, King James Version

2 Kings 2:12 in other translations

BSBAs Elisha watched, he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And he saw Elijah no more. So taking hold of his own clothes, he tore them in two.
WEBElisha saw it, and he cried, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” He saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
ASVAnd Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof! And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
YLTAnd Elisha is seeing, and he is crying, ‘My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and its horsemen;' and he hath not seen him again; and he taketh hold on his garments, and rendeth them into two pieces.
DARBYAnd Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father! the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof! And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own garments and rent them in two pieces.
BBEAnd when Elisha saw it he gave a cry, My father, my father, the carriages of Israel and its horsemen! And he saw him no longer; and he was full of grief.
WebsterAnd Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

What does 2 Kings 2:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father--that is, spiritual father, as the pupils of the prophets are called their sons. the chariot of Israel, and the horseman thereof--that is, that as earthly kingdoms are dependent for their defense and glory upon warlike preparations, there a single prophet had done more for the preservation and prosperity of Israel than all her chariots and horsemen. took hold of his own clothes and rent them--in token of his grief for his loss.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 The chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof - The Chaldee translates these words thus: "My master, my master! who, by thy intercession, wast of more use to Israel than horses and chariots." This is probably the sense. In the Book of Ecclesiasticus 48:1, etc., the fiery horses and chariot are considered as an emblem of that burning zeal which Elijah manifested in the whole of his ministry: "Then stood up Elijah the prophet as fire, and his word burned as a lamp," etc. And rent them in two pieces - As a sign of sorrow for having lost so good and glorious a master.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Kings 2:9-12

That fulness, from whence prophets and apostles had all their supply, still exists as of old, and we are told to ask large supplies from it. Diligent attendance upon Elijah, particularly in his last hours, would be proper means for Elisha to obtain much of his spirit. The comforts of departing saints, and their experiences, help both to gild our comforts and to strengthen our resolutions. Elijah is carried to heaven…

Read the full comment on 2 Kings 2:9-12 →

2 Kings 2:12 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.

וֶאֱלִישָׁ֣עve.'e.li.Sha'and ElishaH477
רֹאֶ֗הro.'Eh[was] seeingH7200
וְה֤וּאve.Hu'and heH1931
מְצַעֵק֙me.tza.'Ek[was] crying outH6817
אָבִ֣י\׀'a.ViO father myH1
אָבִ֗י'a.Vifather myH1
רֶ֤כֶבRe.khev[the] chariotry ofH7393
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
וּפָ֣רָשָׁ֔יוu.Fa.ra.Shavand horsemen itsH6571
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
רָאָ֖הוּra.'A.huhe saw himH7200
ע֑וֹדodagainH5750
וַֽיַּחֲזֵק֙vai.ya.cha.Zekand he took holdH2388
בִּבְגָדָ֔יוbiv.ga.Davon clothes hisH899
וַיִּקְרָעֵ֖םvai.yik.ra.'Emand he tore themH7167
לִשְׁנַ֥יִםlish.Na.yiminto twoH8147
קְרָעִֽים\׃ke.ra.'ImpiecesH7168

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

Cross references for 2 Kings 2:12

  • 2 Kings 13:14

    Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

  • Isaiah 57:1-2

    The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

  • Proverbs 30:4

    Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

  • Acts 8:2

    And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

  • Isaiah 37:21

    Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:

  • John 3:13

    And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

  • Ephesians 4:8

    Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

  • Luke 24:51

    And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

  • Mark 16:19

    So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

  • Revelation 11:12

    And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:4

    For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

  • Acts 1:9

    And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
saw it.
10
My father.
13:14; Job 22:30; Pr 11:11; Ec 7:19; 9:16-18; Isa 37:4,15,21
Ac 27:24
he saw him.
Pr 30:4; Mr 16:19; Lu 2:15; 24:51; Joh 3:13; Ac 1:9; 2Co 5:2,4
Eph 4:8; Re 11:12
rent them.
Job 1:20,21; Isa 57:1,2; Ac 8:2

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

Context

  • 2 Kings 2:11

    And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

  • 2 Kings 2:12

    And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

  • 2 Kings 2:13

    He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

Read all of 2 Kings 2

2 Kings 2:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y viéndolo Eliseo, clamaba: ¡Padre mío, padre mío, carro de Israel y su gente de á caballo! Y nunca más le vió, y trabando de sus vestidos, rompiólos en dos partes.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et Élisée le vit, et s’écria: Mon père! mon père! Char d’Israël et sa cavalerie! Et il ne le vit plus. Et il saisit ses vêtements et les déchira en deux pièces;
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und Elisa sah es und schrie: Mein Vater, mein Vater! Wagen Israels und seine Reiter! Und er sah ihn nicht mehr. Da faßte er seine Kleider und zerriß sie in zwei Stücke.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Eliseus autem videbat, et clamabat: Pater mi, pater mi, currus Israël, et auriga ejus. Et non vidit eum amplius: apprehenditque vestimenta sua, et scidit illa in duas partes.