2 Kings 2 · Verse 9

2 Kings 2:9

And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
2 Kings 2:9, King James Version

2 Kings 2:9 in other translations

BSBAfter they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken away from you?” “Please, let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
WEBWhen they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me.”
ASVAnd it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass, at their passing over, that Elijah hath said unto Elisha, ‘Ask, what do I do for thee before I am taken from thee?' and Elisha saith, ‘Then let there be, I pray thee, a double portion of thy spirit unto me;'
DARBYAnd it came to pass when they had gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
BBEAnd when they had come to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, Say what you would have me do for you before I am taken from you. And Elisha said, Be pleased to let a special measure of your spirit be on me.
WebsterAnd it came to pass, when they had gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

What does 2 Kings 2:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee--trusting either that it would be in his power to bequeath it, or that God, at his entreaty, would grant it. let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me--This request was not, as is commonly supposed, for the power of working miracles exceeding the magnitude and number of his master's, nor does it mean a higher endowment of the prophetic spirit; for Elisha was neither superior to, nor perhaps equally great with, his predecessor. But the phrase, "a double portion," was applied to the first-born [De 21:17], and therefore Elisha's request was, simply, to be heir to the prophetic office and gifts of his master.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 A double portion of thy spirit be upon me - This in reference to the law, Deu 21:17 : He shall acknowledge the first-born, by giving him a Double Portion of all that he hath-the right of the first-born is his. Elisha considered himself the only child or first-born of Elijah, as the disciples of eminent teachers were called their children; so here he claims a double portion of his spiritual influence, any other disciples coming in for a single share only. Sons of the prophets means no more than the disciples or scholars of the prophets. The original words פי שנים pi shenayim, mean rather two parts, than double the quantity.

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 in a fiery chariot. Many questions might be asked about this, which could not be answered. Let it suffice that we are told, what his Lord, when he came, found him doing. He was engaged in serious discourse, encouraging and directing Elisha about the kingdom of God among men. We mistake, if we think preparation for heaven is carried on only by contemplation and acts of devotion. The chariot and horses appeared like fire, something very glorious, not for burning, but brightness. By the manner in which Elijah and Enoch were taken from this world, God gave a glimpse of the eternal life brought to light by the gospel, of the glory reserved for the bodies of the saints, and of the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers. It was also a figure of Christ's ascension. Though Elijah was gone triumphantly to heaven, yet this world could ill spare him. Surely their hearts are hard, who feel not, when God, by taking away faithful, useful men, calls for weeping and mourning. Elijah was to Israel, by his counsels, reproofs, and prayers, better than the strongest force of chariot and horse, and kept off the judgments of God. Christ bequeathed to his disciples his precious gospel, like Elijah's mantle; the token of the Divine power being exerted to overturn the empire of Satan, and to set up the kingdom of God in the world. The same gospel remains with us, though the miraculous powers are withdrawn, and it has Divine strength for the conversion and salvation of sinners.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Kings 2:9 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.

וַיְהִ֣יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
כְעָבְרָ֗םkhe.'a.ve.Ramwhen had passed over theyH5674
וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּve.'E.li.Ya.huand ElijahH452
אָמַ֤ר'a.Marhe saidH559
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אֱלִישָׁע֙'e.li.Sha'ElishaH477
שְׁאַל֙she.'AlaskH7592
מָ֣הmahwhat?H4100
אֶֽעֱשֶׂה\־'e.'e.seh-will I doH6213
לָּ֔ךְLakhfor you
בְּטֶ֖רֶםbe.Te.rem<in> beforeH2962
אֶלָּקַ֣ח'e.la.KachI will be takenH3947
מֵעִמָּ֑ךְme.'i.Makhfrom with <the> youH5973
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֱלִישָׁ֔ע'e.li.Sha'ElishaH477
וִֽיהִי\־vi.hi-and may it beH1961
נָ֛אna'pleaseH4994
פִּֽי\־pi-a mouth ofH6310
שְׁנַ֥יִםshe.Na.yimtwoH8147
בְּרוּחֲךָ֖be.ru.cha.Khain spirit yourH7307
אֵלָֽי\׃'e.Laito meH413

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

Cross references for 2 Kings 2:9

  • Numbers 11:17

    And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

  • Deuteronomy 21:17

    But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

  • John 16:7

    Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

  • Acts 20:25-36

    And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. …

  • Zechariah 12:8

    In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.

  • Acts 8:17

    Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

  • Numbers 11:25

    And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

  • Acts 1:8

    But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

  • 1 Timothy 5:17

    Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

  • John 14:12-14

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

  • 1 Kings 3:9

    Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

  • Zechariah 9:12

    Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ask what.
13:14-19; Nu 27:16-23; De 34:9; 1Ch 29:18,19; Ps 72:1,20
Lu 24:45-51; Joh 17:9-13; Ac 1:8; 8:17; 20:25-36
Elisha said.
Nu 11:17,25; 1Ki 3:9; 2Ch 1:9,10; Joh 14:12-14; 16:7; 1Co 12:31
a double portion.This probably refers to the law respecting the first-born, who had a double portion of the property of his father. As Elisha may have considered himself as the first-born of Elijah, so he requested a double portion of his spiritual influence.
Nu 27:20; De 21:17; Zec 9:12; 12:8; 1Ti 5:17

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

Context

  • 2 Kings 2:8

    And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

  • 2 Kings 2:9

    And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

  • 2 Kings 2:10

    And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

Read all of 2 Kings 2

2 Kings 2:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y como hubieron pasado, Elías dijo á Eliseo: Pide lo que quieres que haga por ti, antes que sea quitado de contigo. Y dijo Eliseo: Ruégote que las dos partes de tu espíritu sean sobre mí.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arriva, quand ils eurent passé, qu’Élie dit à Élisée: Demande ce que je ferai pour toi avant que je sois enlevé d’avec toi. Et Élisée dit: Qu’il y ait, je te prie, une double mesure de ton esprit sur moi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah, als sie hinübergegangen waren, da sprach Elia zu Elisa: Begehre, was ich dir tun soll, ehe ich von dir genommen werde. Und Elisa sprach: So möge mir doch ein zwiefaches Teil von deinem Geiste werden!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cumque transissent, Elias dixit ad Eliseum: Postula quod vis ut faciam tibi, antequam tollar a te. Dixitque Eliseus: Obsecro ut fiat in me duplex spiritus tuus.