2 Kings 2:9

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."

📖 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

Referenced Verses

• Deut 21:17 : 17 but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the hated, 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 I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit which is on you, and will put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you not bear it yourself alone.
• Num 11:25 : 25 Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders: and it happened that when the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more.
• 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 in teaching.
• Num 27:16-23 : 16 "Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Yahweh not be as sheep which have no shepherd." 18 Yahweh 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 commission him in their sight. 20 You shall put of your honor on him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation." 22 Moses did as Yahweh commanded him; and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: 23 and he laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, as Yahweh spoke by Moses.
• Deut 34:9 : 9 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 Yahweh commanded Moses.
• 1 Kgs 3:9 : 9 Give your servant therefore 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 was fallen sick of his sickness of which he died: and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him, and said, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" 15 Elisha said to him, "Take bow and arrows;" and he took to him bow and arrows. 16 He said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow;" and he put his hand [on it]. Elisha laid 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, "Yahweh's arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for you shall strike the Syrians in Aphek, until you have consumed 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 struck Syria until you had consumed it, whereas now you shall strike Syria just three times."
• 1 Chr 29:18-19 : 18 Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart for 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, Yahweh 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 Now give me 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 God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son.
• Ps 72:20 : 20 This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse. BOOK III A Psalm by Asaph.
• Zech 9:12 : 12 Turn 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 Yahweh will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He who is feeble among them at that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of Yahweh before them.
• Luke 24:45-51 : 45 Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. 46 He 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 the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send forth the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high." 50 He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 It happened, while he blessed them, that he withdrew from them, and was carried up into heaven.
• John 14:12-14 : 12 Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father. 13 Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.
• John 16:7 : 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Counselor won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
• John 17:9-9 : 9 I pray for them. I don't pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
• Acts 1:8 : 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts 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 "Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching the Kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all men, 27 for I didn't shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn't cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears. 32 Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one's silver, or gold, or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. 35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" 36 When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
• 1 Cor 12:31 : 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.