2 Kings 3:9

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, nor for the beasts that followed them.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֵּלֶךְ֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל וּמֶֽלֶך־יְהוּדָה֙ וּמֶ֣לֶךְ אֱד֔וֹם וַיָּסֹ֕בּוּ דֶּ֖רֶךְ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים וְלֹא־הָיָ֨ה מַ֧יִם לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה וְלַבְּהֵמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרַגְלֵיהֶֽם׃

Transliteration

wa-yēlek king-of-Yiśrāʾēl and-king-of-Yĕhûdāh and-king-of-ʾĔdôm, wa-yāsōbbû derek seven yāmîm; and-not-hāyāh water for-the-camp and-for-the-beasts which at-their-feet.

Grammar Details

*wa-yēlek*: conjunction + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he went
*Yiśrāʾēl*: proper name - Israel
*Yĕhûdāh*: proper name - Judah
*ʾĔdôm*: proper name - Edom
*wa-yāsōbbû*: conjunction + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine plural - and they went around/circuitous route
*derek*: masculine singular construct - way of/journey of
*šibʿat yāmîm*: construct + masculine plural noun - seven days
*hāyāh*: qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - there was
*maḥăneh*: masculine singular noun with prefixed preposition - for the camp
*bĕhēmāh*: feminine singular noun with prefixed preposition - for the beasts/animals

Word Meanings

*wa-yāsōbbû*: went around/made a circuit/took a roundabout journey
*derek*: way/journey/route
*bĕhēmāh*: beasts/animals/livestock

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

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Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

1 Kgs 22:47 : 47 And there was no king in Edom: a deputy was king.
Exod 11:8 : 8 And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
Exod 15:22 : 22 And Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
Exod 17:1 : 1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to the commandment of Jehovah, and encamped in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.
Num 20:2 : 2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
Num 20:4 : 4 And why have ye brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our beasts?
Num 21:5 : 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
Num 33:14 : 14 And they journeyed from Alush, and encamped in Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.
Judg 4:10 : 10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh; and there went up ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
1 Kgs 22:27 : 27 and say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

2 Kgs 3:6-8
3 verses
84%
6And king Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time, and mustered all Israel.
7And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.
8And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way of the wilderness of Edom.
2 Kgs 3:10-13
4 verses
78%
10And the king of Israel said, Alas! for Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
11But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah, that we may inquire of Jehovah by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.
12And Jehoshaphat said, The word of Jehovah is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay; for Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
Judg 11:16-18
3 verses
77%
16but when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness unto the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh;
17then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land; but the king of Edom hearkened not. And in like manner he sent unto the king of Moab; but he would not: and Israel abode in Kadesh.
18Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they came not within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
Exod 15:22
75%
22And Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
2 Kgs 3:20-22
3 verses
74%
20And it came to pass in the morning, about the time of offering the oblation, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
21Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all that were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood on the border.
22And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water over against them as red as blood:
2 Kgs 3:26
73%
26And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew sword, to break through unto the king of Edom; but they could not.
Exod 17:1
73%
1And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to the commandment of Jehovah, and encamped in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.
Num 20:17-21
5 verses
73%
17Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king's highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border.
18And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee.
19And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof: let me only, without [doing] anything [else], pass through on my feet.
20And he said, Thou shalt not pass through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
21Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
Num 21:4
71%
4And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
Jer 14:3
71%
3And their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are put to shame and confounded, and cover their heads.
Deut 10:7
71%
7From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of brooks of water.
Deut 2:1
71%
1Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as Jehovah spake unto me; and we compassed mount Seir many days.
Num 33:14
71%
14And they journeyed from Alush, and encamped in Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.
1 Kgs 22:2
70%
2And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.
1 Kgs 22:29
70%
29So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
1 Kgs 18:5
70%
5And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go through the land, unto all the fountains of water, and unto all the brooks: peradventure we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
Deut 2:8
70%
8So we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion-geber. And we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
1 Kgs 13:9
70%
9for so was it charged me by the word of Jehovah, saying, Thou shalt eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that thou camest.
Amos 4:8
70%
8So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.
Num 21:22
69%
22Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn aside into field, or into vineyard; we will not drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's highway, until we have passed thy border.
2 Chr 18:28
69%
28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
Deut 1:2
69%
2It is eleven days' [journey] from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.
Num 10:33
69%
33And they set forward from the mount of Jehovah three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting-place for them.
1 Kgs 13:17
69%
17for it was said to me by the word of Jehovah, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.
Isa 48:21
69%
21And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
2 Chr 18:32
69%
32And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
Exod 8:27
68%
27We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Jehovah our God, as he shall command us.
Judg 3:28
68%
28And he said unto them, Follow after me; for Jehovah hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over.
2 Chr 21:9
68%
9Then Jehoram passed over with his captains, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites that compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots.
1 Kgs 17:7
68%
7And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
2 Kgs 8:21
68%
21Then Joram passed over to Zair, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites that compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots; and the people fled to their tents.
1 Kgs 22:33
68%
33And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
2 Chr 18:3
68%
3And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and [we will be] with thee in the war.
Judg 5:4
68%
4Jehovah, when thou wentest forth out of Seir, When thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water.
Deut 3:1
68%
1Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, unto battle at Edrei.
Deut 1:19
68%
19And we journeyed from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which ye saw, by the way to the hill-country of the Amorites, as Jehovah our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.