2 Kings 1:13

¹¹ So the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. And the captain said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down at once!’”

¹² Again Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.

So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. And the third captain went up, fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, “Man of God, may my life and the lives of these fifty servants please be precious in your sight.

¹⁴ Behold, fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty, with all their men. But now may my life be precious in your sight.”

¹⁵ Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. And the third captain went up, fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, “Man of God, may my life and the lives of these fifty servants please be precious in your sight.
KJV: And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
WEB: Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, “Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty of your servants be precious in your sight.
ASV: And again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
DARBY: And again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him and said to him, Man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
BLB: And he turned and sent a third captain of fifty, and his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and he came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and he pleaded with him and said to him, “Man of God, let be precious, please, my life and the life of your servants—these fifty—in your eyes.

ÅB: Så sendte han igjen en tredje høvedsmann over femti med sine menn; og denne tredje høvedsmann gikk opp til Elias og falt på kne for ham og bønnfalt ham og sa til ham: Du Guds mann! La mitt liv og disse dine femti tjeneres liv være dyrt i dine øyne!
OTB: Så sendte kongen en tredje kaptein med sine femti menn. Denne tredje kapteinen gikk opp, falt på kne foran Elia, og ba ham, “Guds mann, vær så snill å ha omsorg for mitt liv og livet til disse femti tjenerne dine.
B1930: Så sendte han igjen en tredje høvedsmann over femti med sine menn; og denne tredje høvedsmann gikk op til Elias og falt på kne for ham og bønnfalt ham og sa til ham: Du Guds mann! La mitt liv og disse dine femti tjeneres liv være dyrt i dine øine!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 1:5
Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep rebelling? Your head has a massive wound, and your whole heart is afflicted.
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Psalms 72:14
He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.
Read in context
Proverbs 27:22
Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
Read in context
Isaiah 66:2
Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.
Read in context
Psalms 102:17
He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.
Read in context
Exodus 11:8
And all these officials of yours will come and bow before me, saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that, I will depart.” And hot with anger, Moses left Pharaoh’s presence.
Read in context
1 Samuel 26:21
Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”
Read in context
1 Kings 13:6
Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before.
Read in context