2 Kings 3:8

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Jehoram asked, "Which route shall we take?" And Jehoshaphat answered, "Through the wilderness of Edom."

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֵי־זֶ֥ה הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ נַעֲלֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר דֶּ֖רֶךְ מִדְבַּ֥ר אֱדֽוֹם׃

Transliteration

wa-yōʾmer, which ha-derek naʿăleh? wa-yōʾmer, derek wilderness-of-ʾĔdôm.

Grammar Details

• *wa-yōʾmer*: conjunction + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *ʾêy-zeh*: interrogative + demonstrative pronoun - which
• *ha-derek*: definite article + masculine singular noun - the way/road
• *naʿăleh*: qal imperfect, 1st common plural - we will go up
• *derek*: construct noun - way of/road of
• *midbar*: masculine singular construct - wilderness of
• *ʾĔdôm*: proper name - Edom

Word Meanings

• *ha-derek*: the way/road/route
• *naʿăleh*: shall we go up/advance/attack
• *midbar*: wilderness/desert/uninhabited region

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And he said, "Which way shall we go up?" And he answered, "The way through the wilderness of Edom."

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way of the wilderness of Edom.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And sayde morouer: Which waye wil we go vp? He sayde: by the waye in the wyldernesse of Edom.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then said he, What way shall we goe vp? And he answered, The way of the wildernesse of Edom.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And he saide: What way shall we go vp? And he aunswered: The way through the wildernesse of Edom.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He said, Which way shall we go up? He answered, The way of the wilderness of Edom.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And he saith, `Where `is' this -- the way we go up?' and he saith, `The way of the wilderness of Edom.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way of the wilderness of Edom.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way of the wilderness of Edom.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he said, Which way are we to go? And he said in answer, By the waste land of Edom.

• World English Bible (2000)

  He said, "Which way shall we go up?" He answered, "The way of the wilderness of Edom."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  He then asked,“Which invasion route are we going to take?” Jehoram answered,“By the road through the wilderness of Edom.”

Referenced Verses

• Num 21:4 : 4 They journeyed from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom, and the people became impatient along the way.
• Mal 1:2-3 : 2 I have loved you, says the LORD. But you ask, 'How have you loved us?' Wasn't Esau Jacob's brother? declares the LORD. Yet I have loved Jacob, 3 but Esau I have hated. I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and given his inheritance to the wild creatures of the desert.