2 Kings 2:10

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Elijah said, "You have asked for a difficult thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not."

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִקְשִׁ֣יתָ לִשְׁא֑וֹל אִם־תִּרְאֶ֨ה אֹתִ֜י לֻקָּ֤ח מֵֽאִתָּךְ֙ יְהִֽי־לְךָ֣ כֵ֔ן וְאִם־אַ֖יִן לֹ֥א יִהְיֶֽה׃

Transliteration

And wayyō'mer, hiqšîtā to-liš'ôl; if-tir'eh me luqqāḥ from-with-you yəhî-to-you so, and if-'ayin not yihyeh.

Grammar Details

• *wayyō'mer*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular of *'āmar* - and he said
• *hiqšîtā*: hiphil perfect 2nd masculine singular of *qāšâ* - you have made hard/difficult
• *liš'ôl*: preposition *lə* + qal infinitive construct of *šā'al* - to ask
• *tir'eh*: qal imperfect 2nd masculine singular of *rā'â* - you will see
• *luqqāḥ*: pual participle masculine singular of *lāqaḥ* - being taken
• *yəhî*: qal jussive 3rd masculine singular of *hāyâ* - let it be
• *'ayin*: particle of negation - not/nothing
• *yihyeh*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular of *hāyâ* - it will be

Word Meanings

• *hiqšîtā* to-*liš'ôl*: you have asked a difficult thing/you have made hard to ask
• *luqqāḥ*: being taken/being received
• *yəhî*-to-you so: may it be so for you/it shall be for you thus
• *'ayin*: there is not/nothing/no
• *lō' yihyeh*: it will not be/it shall not happen

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And he said, You have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so unto you; but if not, it shall not be so.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he said,{H559} Thou hast asked{H7592} a hard thing:{H7185} [nevertheless], if thou see{H7200} me when I am taken{H3947} from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Thou hast asked{H7592}{(H8800)} a hard thing{H7185}{(H8689)}: nevertheless, if thou see{H7200}{(H8799)} me when I am taken{H3947}{(H8795)} from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  He sayde: Thou hast desyred an harde thinge: neuertheles yf thou shalt se me wha I am taken awaye from the, it shal be so: Yf no, the shal it not be.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And he saide, Thou hast asked an hard thing: yet if thou see me when I am taken from thee, thou shalt haue it so: & if not, it shal not be.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And he said, Thou hast asked an hard thing: Neuerthelesse, if thou see me whe I am taken away from thee, thou shalt haue it so: yf thou do not, it shall not be.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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].

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He said, You have asked a hard thing: [nevertheless], if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so to you; but if not, it shall not be so.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and he saith, `Thou hast asked a hard thing; if thou dost see me taken from thee, it is to thee so; and if not, it is not.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he said, You have made a hard request: still, if you see me when I am taken from you, you will get your desire; but if not, it will not be so.

• World English Bible (2000)

  He said, "You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Elijah replied,“That’s a difficult request! If you see me taken from you, may it be so, but if you don’t, it will not happen.”

Referenced Verses

• 2 Kgs 2:12 : 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, 'My father, my father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!' And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
• Mark 11:22-24 : 22 Jesus replied to them, 'Have faith in God.' 23 'Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.' 24 'Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.'
• John 16:24 : 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be full.
• Acts 1:9-9 : 9 After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. 10 As they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, suddenly two men in white robes stood beside them.