2 Kings 2:9

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

After they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" Elisha replied, "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit."

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֣י כְעָבְרָ֗ם וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּ אָמַ֤ר אֶל־אֱלִישָׁע֙ שְׁאַל֙ מָ֣ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֔ךְ בְּטֶ֖רֶם אֶלָּקַ֣ח מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֔ע וִֽיהִי־נָ֛א פִּֽי־שְׁנַ֥יִם בְּרוּחֲךָ֖ אֵלָֽי׃

Transliteration

And wayəhî as-kə'ābərām and-'ēlîyāhû 'āmar to-'ĕlîšā', šə'al what 'e'ĕśeh-to-you before 'ellāqaḥ from-with-you. And wayyō'mer 'ĕlîšā', wîhî-nā' pî-šənayim in-rûḥăkā to-me.

Grammar Details

• *wayəhî*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular of *hāyâ* - and it came to pass
• *kə'ābərām*: preposition *kə* + qal infinitive construct + 3rd masculine plural suffix of *'ābar* - as they crossed over
• *'āmar*: qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - said/spoke
• *šə'al*: qal imperative masculine singular of *šā'al* - ask
• *'e'ĕśeh*: qal imperfect 1st person singular of *'āśâ* - I shall do
• *'ellāqaḥ*: niphal imperfect 1st person singular of *lāqaḥ* - I am taken
• *wayyō'mer*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular of *'āmar* - and he said
• *wîhî*: jussive 3rd masculine singular of *hāyâ* - let there be
• *nā'*: particle of entreaty - please/now
• *pî*: masculine singular construct of *peh* - mouth of/portion of
• *šənayim*: numeral - two
• *rûḥăkā*: feminine singular noun + 2nd masculine singular suffix - your spirit

Word Meanings

• *wayəhî*: and it happened/came to pass
• *kə'ābərām*: as they crossed over/when they had crossed
• *'e'ĕśeh*-to-you: I shall do for you
• *'ellāqaḥ* from-with-you: I am taken from you
• *wîhî*-*nā'* *pî*-*šənayim*: let there please be a double portion/mouth of two
• *rûḥăkā*: your spirit/wind/breath

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And it happened, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken away from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, when they were gone over,{H5674} that Elijah{H452} said{H559} unto Elisha,{H477} Ask{H7592} what I shall do{H6213} for thee, before I am taken{H3947} from thee. And Elisha{H477} said,{H559} I pray thee, let a double{H8147} portion{H6310} of thy spirit{H7307} be upon me.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, when they were gone over{H5674}{(H8800)}, that Elijah{H452} said{H559}{(H8804)} unto Elisha{H477}, Ask{H7592}{(H8798)} what I shall do{H6213}{(H8799)} for thee, before I be taken away{H3947}{(H8735)} from thee. And Elisha{H477} said{H559}{(H8799)}, I pray thee, let a double{H8147} portion{H6310} of thy spirit{H7307} be upon me.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And whan they were come ouer, Elias sayde vnto Eliseus: Axe what I shall do for the, afore I be taken awaye from the. Eliseus saide: That thy sprete maye be vpo me to speake twyse as moch.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Nowe when they were passed ouer, Eliiah saide vnto Elisha, Aske what I shall doe for thee before I be taken from thee; Elisha saide, I pray thee, let thy Spirit be double vpon me.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And it fortuned, that assoone as they were ouer, Elias saide vnto Elisa: Aske what I shal do for thee, yer I be taken away from thee. And Elisa saide: I pray thee let thy spirite be double vpon me.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  It happened, when they had gone over, that 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.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And 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;'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And 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.

• World English Bible (2000)

  It happened, when they had gone over, that 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."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha,“What can I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha answered,“May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you.”

Referenced Verses

• Deut 21:17 : 17 Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all he has. That son is the firstfruits of his strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.
• Num 11:17 : 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it alone.
• Num 11:25 : 25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but they never did so again.
• 1 Tim 5:17 : 17 The elders who lead well should be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
• Num 27:16-23 : 16 May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all humankind, appoint a man over the assembly 17 to go out and come in before them, to lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd. 18 The LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. 19 Set him before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly, and commission him in their sight. 20 Transfer some of your authority to him so that the whole assembly of the Israelites will follow him. 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will inquire for him by the decision of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they will go out, and at his command they will come in, both he and all the Israelites with him, the entire assembly. 22 Moses did as the LORD commanded. He took Joshua, set him before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly, 23 laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, as the LORD directed through Moses.
• Deut 34:9 : 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.
• 1 Kgs 3:9 : 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between good and evil, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?
• 2 Kgs 13:14-19 : 14 Now Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die. Joash king of Israel came down to him, wept over him, and said, 'My father, my father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!' 15 Elisha said to him, 'Take a bow and arrows.' So he took a bow and arrows. 16 Elisha said to the king of Israel, 'Place your hand on the bow.' So he placed his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. 17 Elisha said, 'Open the east window.' So he opened it. Elisha then said, 'Shoot!' And he shot. Elisha declared, 'This is the LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram! You will strike the Arameans in Aphek until you completely destroy them.' 18 Then Elisha said, 'Take the arrows.' So he took them. Elisha told the king of Israel, 'Strike the ground.' He struck the ground three times and stopped. 19 The man of God became angry with him and said, 'You should have struck the ground five or six times! Then you would have defeated Aram completely, but now you will defeat them only three times.'
• 1 Chr 29:18-19 : 18 LORD, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep these intentions and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and direct their hearts toward you. 19 And give my son Solomon an undivided heart to keep your commandments, your statutes, and your decrees, and to carry out all these plans, building the temple for which I have made preparations.
• 2 Chr 1:9-9 : 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?
• Ps 72:1 : 1 God, grant your judgments to the king and your righteousness to the king's son.
• Ps 72:20 : 20 The prayers of David, son of Jesse, are ended.
• Zech 9:12 : 12 Return to your stronghold, prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore to you double.
• Zech 12:8 : 8 On that day, the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The weakest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord going before them.
• Luke 24:45-51 : 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 And repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high. 50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and raising his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he departed from them and was taken up to heaven.
• John 14:12-14 : 12 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 And whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
• John 16:7 : 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your benefit that I am going away. If I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
• John 17:9-9 : 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine. And I have been glorified in them. 11 I will no longer be in the world, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and guarded them by Your name, the name You gave Me. None of them has been lost except the son of destruction, so that Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to You, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them.
• Acts 1:8 : 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
• Acts 8:17 : 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
• Acts 20:25-36 : 25 'And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.' 26 Therefore, I testify to you today that I am innocent of the blood of everyone. 27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole plan of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. 29 I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from among your own group, men will rise up, speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples to follow them. 31 Therefore, be watchful, remembering that for three years I never stopped admonishing each one of you with tears, night and day. 32 And now, I entrust you, brothers, to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver, gold, or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine provided for my needs and those of my companions. 35 In all this, I have shown you that by working hard in this way, we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' 36 After saying this, Paul knelt down with them all and prayed.
• 1 Cor 12:31 : 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you a more excellent way.