2 Kings 2:9

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.

📖 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

• 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."

• 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• 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 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated as the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he has; for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
• Num 11:17 : 17 And I will come down and talk with you there, and I will take of the Spirit which is upon you, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you do not bear it yourself alone.
• Num 11:25 : 25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it to the seventy elders; and it came to pass, that when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
• 1 Tim 5:17 : 17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
• Num 27:16-23 : 16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 Who may go out before them and who may come in before them, who may lead them out and who may bring them in; so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd. 18 And the LORD said to Moses, Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 And set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 20 And you shall impart some of your honor to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey. 21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask for him the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him, the entire congregation. 22 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation: 23 And he laid his hands on him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
• Deut 34:9 : 9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands on him: and the children of Israel listened to him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
• 1 Kgs 3:9 : 9 Therefore give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil: for who is able to judge this your great people?
• 2 Kgs 13:14-19 : 14 Now Elisha had fallen sick of the illness from which he died, and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, wept over him, and said, "O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!" 15 Elisha said to him, "Take a bow and arrows." And he took a bow and arrows. 16 He said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow." And he put his hand upon it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. 17 He said, "Open the window eastward." And he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot." And he shot. He said, "The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you shall smite the Syrians in Aphek, until you have destroyed them." 18 He said, "Take the arrows." And he took them. He said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground." And he struck three times and stopped. 19 The man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have smitten Syria until it was destroyed. But now you shall smite Syria only three times."
• 1 Chr 29:18-19 : 18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and prepare their heart towards You: 19 And give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.
• 2 Chr 1:9-9 : 9 Now, O LORD God, let your promise to David my father be established: for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this your people, that is so great?
• Ps 72:1 : 1 Give the king your judgments, O God, and your righteousness to the king's son.
• Ps 72:20 : 20 The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.
• Zech 9:12 : 12 Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope: even today I declare that I will restore double to you;
• Zech 12:8 : 8 In that day the LORD shall defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them in that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
• Luke 24:45-51 : 45 Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, 46 And said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are endowed with power from on high. 50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
• John 14:12-14 : 12 Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes in me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father. 13 And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, 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 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is beneficial for you that I go away: for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I leave, I will send him to you.
• John 17:9-9 : 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom you have given me; for they are yours. 10 And all mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name: those that you gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now I come to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
• Acts 1:8 : 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
• Acts 8:17 : 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
• Acts 20:25-36 : 25 And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" 36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
• 1 Cor 12:31 : 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.