2 Kings 2:11

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֗י הֵ֣מָּה הֹלְכִ֤ים הָלוֹךְ֙ וְדַבֵּ֔ר וְהִנֵּ֤ה רֶֽכֶב־אֵשׁ֙ וְס֣וּסֵי אֵ֔שׁ וַיַּפְרִ֖דוּ בֵּ֣ין שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיַּ֙עַל֙ אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ בַּֽסְעָרָ֖ה הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

Transliteration

And wayəhî they hōlkîm hālôk and-dabbēr, and-hinnēh rekeb-'ēš and-sûsê 'ēš, and wayyapridû between šənêhem; and wayya'al 'ēlîyāhû in-the-sə'ārâ the-šāmayim.

Grammar Details

• *wayəhî*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular of *hāyâ* - and it came to pass
• *hōlkîm*: qal participle masculine plural of *hālak* - going/walking
• *hālôk*: qal infinitive absolute of *hālak* - going (intensifier)
• *dabbēr*: piel infinitive absolute of *dābar* - speaking
• *hinnēh*: demonstrative particle - behold/look
• *rekeb*: masculine singular construct of *rekeb* - chariot of
• *'ēš*: feminine singular noun - fire
• *sûsê*: masculine plural construct of *sûs* - horses of
• *wayyapridû*: waw-consecutive + hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine plural of *pārad* - and they separated
• *šənêhem*: numeral + 3rd masculine plural suffix - both of them/the two of them
• *wayya'al*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular of *'ālâ* - and he went up
• *sə'ārâ*: feminine singular noun - storm/whirlwind/tempest
• *šāmayim*: masculine plural noun - heavens/sky

Word Meanings

• *hōlkîm* *hālôk* and-*dabbēr*: going along and talking/walking continuously and speaking
• *hinnēh*: behold/look/see
• *rekeb*-*'ēš*: chariot of fire/fiery chariot
• *sûsê* *'ēš*: horses of fire/fiery horses
• *wayyapridû*: they separated/divided/made separation
• *sə'ārâ*: whirlwind/storm/tempest
• *šāmayim*: heavens/sky

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

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

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, as they still{H1980} went on,{H1980} and talked,{H1696} that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot{H7393} of fire,{H784} and horses{H5483} of fire,{H784} which parted{H6504} them both{H8147} asunder;{H996} and Elijah{H452} went up{H5927} by a whirlwind{H5591} into heaven.{H8064}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, as they still{H1980}{(H8800)} went on{H1980}{(H8802)}, and talked{H1696}{(H8763)}, that, behold, there appeared a chariot{H7393} of fire{H784}, and horses{H5483} of fire{H784}, and parted{H6504}{(H8686)} them both{H8147} asunder{H996}; and Elijah{H452} went up{H5927}{(H8799)} by a whirlwind{H5591} into heaven{H8064}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And as they were goinge together, and he talked, there came a fyrie charet with horses of fyre, and parted the both asunder. And so wente Elias vp to heauen in the storme.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And as they went walking and talking, beholde, there appeared a charet of fire, and horses of fire, and did separate them twaine. So Eliiah went vp by a whirle winde into heauen.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And it fortuned, that as they went walking and talking: beholde, there appeared a charet of fyre, and horses of fyre, & parted them both a sunder, and Elias went vp through the whorle winde into heauen.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both apart; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And it cometh to pass, they are going, going on and speaking, and lo, a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and they separate between them both, and Elijah goeth up in a whirlwind, to the heavens.

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And while they went on their way, going on talking together, suddenly there were carriages and horses of fire separating them from one another and Elijah went up to heaven in a great wind.

• World English Bible (2000)

  It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a fiery chariot pulled by fiery horses appeared. They went between Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah went up to heaven in a windstorm.

Referenced Verses

• 2 Kgs 6:17 : 17 Then Elisha prayed, "LORD, please open his eyes so that he may see." The LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.
• Ps 104:3-4 : 3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot and walks on the wings of the wind. 4 He makes His messengers winds, His servants flames of fire.
• Ps 68:17 : 17 Why do you gaze with envy, you many-peaked mountains, at the mountain God has chosen for His dwelling? Yes, the LORD will dwell there forever.
• Heb 1:14 : 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation?
• Gen 5:24 : 24 Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God took him.
• 2 Kgs 2:1 : 1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
• Ezek 1:4-9 : 4 I looked, and there was a stormy wind coming from the north, a great cloud with flashing fire inside it and a bright light surrounding it. From within the fire there was something that gleamed like amber. 5 From its center came the likeness of four living creatures, and this was their appearance: they had a human-like form. 6 Each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of a calf’s foot, gleaming like polished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. All four of them had faces and wings. 9 Their wings touched one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead. 10 Their faces had this appearance: Each of the four had the face of a human, on the right side the face of a lion, on the left side the face of an ox, and each also had the face of an eagle. 11 Their faces and their wings were spread out above. Each had two wings touching those of another and two covering their bodies. 12 Each went straight ahead in the direction the spirit was guiding them. They did not turn as they moved. 13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the living creatures. It was radiant, and lightning flashed out of it. 14 The living creatures darted back and forth like flashes of lightning. 15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of the four living creatures. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their construction was like the gleam of beryl, and all four looked alike. Their appearance and structure were as if a wheel were within a wheel. 17 They could move in any of the four directions without turning as they moved. 18 Their rims were tall and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around. 19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. 20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when they stood still, the wheels stood still; and when they rose from the ground, the wheels rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 22 Over the heads of the living creatures there was something like an expanse, gleaming like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads. 23 Under the expanse, their wings were spread out straight, one toward another, and each creature had two wings covering its body on one side and two wings covering its body on the other side. 24 When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of mighty waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the noise of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 A voice came from above the expanse over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered. 26 Above the expanse over their heads was something like a throne, resembling a sapphire stone. And on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a human seated above it. 27 I saw something like a gleaming metal, as if it were glowing amber, with a fiery appearance all around it. From what appeared to be his waist upward, and from his waist downward, I saw an appearance like fire and a brilliant radiance surrounding him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell face down and heard the voice of one speaking.
• Ezek 10:9-9 : 9 I looked, and I saw four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub. The appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of a beryl stone. 10 All four wheels looked alike in their appearance, resembling a wheel within a wheel. 11 When they moved, they went in any of the four directions without turning as they went. They followed the direction the head faced and did not turn as they moved. 12 Their entire bodies, backs, hands, wings, and the wheels were completely covered with eyes all around—the wheels belonged to all four of them. 13 I heard the wheels being called 'whirling wheels' in my hearing. 14 Each cherub had four faces: one was the face of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. 15 The cherubim rose upward; they were the living beings I had seen by the Kebar River. 16 When the cherubim moved, the wheels would go beside them, and when the cherubim lifted their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not turn away but stayed close to them. 17 When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when they rose, the wheels rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them. 18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. 19 As I watched, the cherubim lifted their wings and rose from the ground, with the wheels beside them. They stopped at the entrance to the eastern gate of the LORD's house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. 20 These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River, and I realized that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings was what looked like human hands. 22 Their faces looked like those I had seen by the Kebar River. Each one moved straight ahead, in the direction of its face.
• Hab 3:8 : 8 Was the LORD angry with the rivers? Was Your wrath against the streams? Was Your rage against the sea when You rode with Your horses, Your victorious chariots?
• Zech 3:8 : 8 Listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your associates sitting before you, who are symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.
• Zech 6:1-8 : 1 I looked up again and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains made of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot had black horses, 3 the third chariot had white horses, and the fourth chariot had dappled, strong horses. 4 Then I asked the angel who was speaking with me, 'What are these, my lord?' 5 The angel answered me, 'These are the four winds of heaven, going out after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth.' 6 The chariot with the black horses is going toward the land of the north; the white horses are going after them, and the dappled horses are heading to the land of the south. 7 The strong horses went out, eager to go and patrol the earth. And He said, 'Go, patrol the earth.' So they patrolled the earth. 8 Then He called to me and said, 'Look, those going toward the land of the north have given rest to My Spirit in the land of the north.'
• Mark 16:19 : 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.