2 Kings 6 · Verse 19

2 Kings 6:19

And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
2 Kings 6:19, King James Version

2 Kings 6:19 in other translations

BSBAnd Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.
WEBElisha said to them, “This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” He led them to Samaria.
ASVAnd Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. And he led them to Samaria.
YLTAnd Elisha saith unto them, ‘This is not the way, nor is this the city; come after me, and I lead you unto the man whom ye seek;' and he leadeth them to Samaria.
DARBYAnd Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. And he led them to Samaria.
BBEAnd Elisha said to them, This is not the way, and this is not the town: come after me so that I may take you to the man you are searching for. And he took them to Samaria.
WebsterAnd Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.

What does 2 Kings 6:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 6:19-23
19-23. This is not the way, neither is this the city--This statement is so far true that, as he had now left the place of his residence, they would not have got him by that road. But the ambiguity of his language was purposely framed to deceive them; and yet the deception must be viewed in the light of a stratagem, which has always been deemed lawful in war. he led them to Samaria--When they were arrived in the midst of the capital, their eyes, at Elisha's request, were opened, and they then became aware of their defenseless condition, for Jehoram had received private premonition of their arrival. The king, so far from being allowed to slay the enemies who were thus unconsciously put in his power, was recommended to entertain them with liberal hospitality and then dismiss them to their own country. This was humane advice; it was contrary to the usage of war to put war captives to death in cold blood, even when taken by the point of the sword, much more those whom the miraculous power and providence of God had unexpectedly placed at his disposal. In such circumstances, kind and hospitable treatment was every way more becoming in itself, and would be productive of the best effects. It would redound to the credit of the true religion, which inspired such an excellent spirit into its professors; and it would not only prevent the future opposition of the Syrians but make them stand in awe of a people who, they had seen, were so remarkably protected by a prophet of the Lord. The latter clause of 2Ki 6:23 shows that these salutary effects were fully realized. A moral conquest had been gained over the Syrians. 2Ki 6:24-33. Ben-hadad Besieges Samaria.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 I will bring you to the man whom ye seek - And he did so; he was their guide to Samaria, and showed himself to them fully in that city.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Kings 6:13-23

What Elisha said to his servant is spoken to all the faithful servants of God, when without are fightings, and within are fears. Fear not, with that fear which has torment and amazement; for they that are with us, to protect us, are more than they that are against us, to destroy us. The eyes of his body were open, and with them he saw the danger. Lord, open the eyes of our faith, that with them we may see thy…

Read the full comment on 2 Kings 6:13-23 →

2 Kings 6:19 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.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֲלֵהֶ֜ם'a.le.Hemto themH413
אֱלִישָׁ֗ע'e.li.Sha'ElishaH477
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
זֶ֣הzehthisH2088
הַדֶּרֶךְ֮ha.de.reKh[is] the wayH1870
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808
זֹ֣הzohthisH2090
הָעִיר֒ha.'Ir[is] the cityH5892
לְכ֣וּle.KhucomeH1980
אַחֲרַ֔י'a.cha.Raiafter meH310
וְאוֹלִ֣יכָהve.'o.Li.khahso let me leadH1980
אֶתְכֶ֔ם'et.Khem<obj.> youH853
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הָאִ֖ישׁha.'Ishthe manH376
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherwhomH834
תְּבַקֵּשׁ֑וּןte.va.ke.Shunyou seek !H1245
וַיֹּ֥לֶךְvai.Yo.lekhand he ledH1980
אוֹתָ֖ם'o.Tam<obj.> themH853
שֹׁמְרֽוֹנָה\׃sho.me.Ro.nahSamaria towardsH8111

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

Cross references for 2 Kings 6:19

  • 2 Samuel 16:18-19

    And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.

  • Mark 8:34

    And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Matthew 16:24

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Luke 24:16

    But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

  • Luke 9:23

    And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
follow me. Heb. come ye after me.
Mt 16:24; Mr 8:34; Lu 9:23
I will bring.
2Sa 16:18,19; Lu 24:16

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

Context

  • 2 Kings 6:18

    And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

  • 2 Kings 6:19

    And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.

  • 2 Kings 6:20

    And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

Read all of 2 Kings 6

2 Kings 6:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Después les dijo Eliseo: No es este el camino, ni es esta la ciudad; seguidme, que yo os guiaré al hombre que buscáis. Y guiólos á Samaria.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Élisée leur dit: Ce n’est pas ici le chemin, et ce n’est pas ici la ville; venez après moi, et je vous mènerai vers l’homme que vous cherchez. Et il les mena à Samarie.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Elisa sprach zu ihnen: Dies ist nicht der Weg, und dies nicht die Stadt; folget mir, und ich werde euch zu dem Manne führen, den ihr suchet. Und er führte sie nach Samaria.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixit autem ad eos Eliseus: Non est hæc via, neque ista est civitas: sequimini me, et ostendam vobis virum quem quæritis. Duxit ergo eos in Samariam: