2 Kings 3:14

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, whom I serve, were it not for the presence of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, I would not pay attention to you or even look at you."

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֗ע חַי־יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָמַ֣דְתִּי לְפָנָ֔יו כִּ֗י לוּלֵ֛י פְּנֵ֛י יְהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה אֲנִ֣י נֹשֵׂ֑א אִם־אַבִּ֥יט אֵלֶ֖יךָ וְאִם־אֶרְאֶֽךָּ׃

Transliteration

wa-yōʾmer ʾĔlîšāʿ, ḥay-YHWH ṣĕbāʾôt whom I-ʿāmadtî before-him, that if-not pĕnê Yĕhôšāpāṭ king-of-Yĕhûdāh I nōśēʾ, if-I-ʾabbîṭ toward-you and-if-I-ʾerʾekkā.

Grammar Details

• *wa-yōʾmer*: conjunction + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *ʾĔlîšāʿ*: proper name - Elisha
• *ḥay-YHWH*: construct relationship - as YHWH lives
• *ṣĕbāʾôt*: masculine plural noun - hosts/armies
• *ʿāmadtî*: qal perfect, 1st common singular - I have stood
• *lûlê*: conditional particle - if not/were it not for
• *pĕnê*: construct plural noun - face of/presence of
• *Yĕhôšāpāṭ*: proper name - Jehoshaphat
• *Yĕhûdāh*: proper name - Judah
• *nōśēʾ*: qal participle, masculine singular - lifting up/regarding
• *ʾabbîṭ*: hiphil imperfect, 1st common singular - I would look
• *ʾerʾekkā*: qal imperfect, 1st common singular with 2nd masculine singular suffix - I would see you

Word Meanings

• *ḥay-YHWH*: as the LORD lives/by the life of the LORD
• *ṣĕbāʾôt*: of hosts/armies/heavenly forces
• *nōśēʾ*: regard/respect/pay attention to
• *ʾabbîṭ*: look at/pay attention to
• *ʾerʾekkā*: see you/notice you/acknowledge you

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And Elisha said, "As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you."

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Elisha{H477} said,{H559} As Jehovah{H3068} of hosts{H6635} liveth,{H2416} before{H6440} whom I stand,{H5975} surely, were it not that{H3884} I regard{H5375} the presence{H6440} of Jehoshaphat{H3092} the king{H4428} of Judah,{H3063} I would not look{H5027} toward thee, nor see{H7200} thee.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Elisha{H477} said{H559}{(H8799)}, As the LORD{H3068} of hosts{H6635} liveth{H2416}, before{H6440} whom I stand{H5975}{(H8804)}, surely, were it not that{H3884} I regard{H5375}{(H8802)} the presence{H6440} of Jehoshaphat{H3092} the king{H4428} of Judah{H3063}, I would not look{H5027}{(H8686)} toward thee, nor see{H7200}{(H8799)} thee.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Eliseus sayde: As truly as the LORDE Zebaoth lyueth, before whom I stode, yf I regarded not Iosaphat the kynge of Iuda, I wolde not regarde the, ner set oughte by ye.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then Elisha said, As the Lord of hostes liueth, in whose sight I stande, if it were not, that I regarde the presence of Iehoshaphat the King of Iudah, I woulde not haue looked towarde thee, nor seene thee.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And Elias saide: As the Lorde of hoastes liueth, in whose sight I stande, and it were not that I regarde the presence of Iehosaphat the king of Iuda, I would not loke towarde thee, nor yet see thee.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And Elisha said, [As] the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Elisha said, As Yahweh of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward you, nor see you.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Elisha saith, `Jehovah of Hosts liveth, before whom I have stood; for unless the face of Jehoshaphat king of Judah I am lifting up, I do not look unto thee, nor see thee;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Elisha said, As Jehovah of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Elisha said, As Jehovah of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Then Elisha said, By the life of the Lord of armies whose servant I am, if it was not for the respect I have for Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, I would not give a look at you, or see you.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Elisha said, "As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I respect the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward you, nor see you.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Elisha said,“As certainly as the LORD of Heaven’s Armies lives(whom I serve), if I did not respect King Jehoshaphat of Judah, I would not pay attention to you or acknowledge you.

Referenced Verses

• 1 Kgs 17:1 : 1 Elijah, the Tishbite from the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years, except by my word."
• 2 Kgs 5:16 : 16 But Elisha replied, 'As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.' Even though Naaman urged him, he refused.
• 2 Chr 17:3-9 : 3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the early ways of his ancestor David and did not seek after the Baals. 4 Instead, he sought the God of his father and obeyed His commands rather than following the practices of Israel. 5 The LORD established the kingdom under his control, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, so he had great riches and honor. 6 His heart was encouraged in the ways of the LORD, and moreover, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. 7 In the third year of his reign, he sent his officials—Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah—to teach in the cities of Judah. 8 With them were the Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught in Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went around to all the cities of Judah and instructed the people.
• 2 Chr 19:3-4 : 3 But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart to seek God. 4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he also went out among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their ancestors.
• Ps 15:4 : 4 Who despises a vile person in his eyes but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps his word even when it hurts and does not go back on his promise.
• Jer 1:18 : 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
• Dan 5:17-23 : 17 Then Daniel answered the king, 'You may keep your gifts or give your rewards to someone else; nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.' 18 'O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty, greatness, glory, and splendor.' 19 Because of the greatness that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed whomever he wanted, spared whomever he wanted, exalted whomever he wanted, and humbled whomever he wanted. 20 But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven away from people, his mind became like that of an animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of men and sets over it whomever He wishes. 22 But you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You had the vessels from His house brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives, and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which cannot see, hear, or understand. But the God who holds your breath in His hand and controls all your ways, you have not glorified.
• Matt 22:16 : 16 And they sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth. You do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you do not look at people’s appearances.'
• 1 Kgs 18:15 : 15 But Elijah said, "As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, whom I serve, I will show myself to him today."
• 1 Kgs 21:20 : 20 Ahab said to Elijah, 'So, have you found me, my enemy?' 'I have found you,' he answered, 'because you have devoted yourself to doing evil in the eyes of the LORD.'
• 1 Sam 15:26-31 : 26 But Samuel replied to Saul, 'I will not go back with you, because you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.' 27 As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore. 28 And Samuel said to him, 'The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors, someone better than you.' 29 Moreover, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind. 30 Saul replied, 'I have sinned, but please honor me now in front of the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so that I may worship the LORD your God.' 31 So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
• 1 Kgs 14:5-9 : 5 But the LORD had already told Ahijah, "The wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire about her son, for he is sick. You are to say such-and-such to her. When she arrives, she will be pretending to be someone else." 6 When Ahijah heard the sound of her feet coming to the doorway, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam! Why are you pretending to be someone else? I have been sent to give you harsh news. 7 Go and tell Jeroboam, 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler over My people Israel. 8 I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you. But you have not been like My servant David, who kept My commandments and followed Me with all his heart, doing only what was right in My eyes. 9 You have done more evil than all who came before you. You have gone and made other gods and cast images to provoke Me to anger, and you have turned your back on Me. 10 Therefore, I am bringing disaster on the house of Jeroboam. I will cut off every male in Jeroboam’s family, whether slave or free in Israel. I will sweep away the house of Jeroboam as one sweeps away dung until it is gone. 11 Anyone in Jeroboam’s family who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs; and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the sky, for the LORD has spoken. 12 Now, get up and go back to your house. When you set foot in the city, the boy will die. 13 All Israel will mourn him and bury him, for he alone of Jeroboam's family will come to the grave. He is the only one in whom the LORD, the God of Israel, found something good within the house of Jeroboam. 14 The LORD will raise up a king over Israel who will cut off the house of Jeroboam. This is the day! What indeed is even now happening! 15 The LORD will strike Israel as a reed sways in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that He gave to their ancestors and scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they made Asherah poles, angering the LORD. 16 He will give up Israel because of the sins Jeroboam committed and made Israel commit. 17 Jeroboam’s wife got up, left, and went to Tirzah. As soon as she stepped over the threshold of the house, the boy died. 18 They buried him, and all Israel mourned for him according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Ahijah the prophet.