2 Kings 2:11

9 After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken away from you?” “Please, let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

10 “You have requested a difficult thing,” said Elijah. “Nevertheless, if you see me as I am taken from you, it will be yours. But if not, then it will not be so.”

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind.

12 As Elisha watched, he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And he saw Elijah no more. So taking hold of his own clothes, he tore them in two.

13 Elisha also picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah, and he went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

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
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind.
KJV
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
WEB
As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
ASV
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
DARBY
And it came to pass as they went on, and talked, that behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire; and they parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into the heavens.
BLB
And it came to pass, [as] they were walking, walking on and speaking, that behold a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and they separated between the two of them, and Elijah went up in the whirlwind into the heavens.
ÅB
Mens de så gikk og talte sammen, kom det med én gang en gloende vogn og gloende hester og skilte dem fra hverandre; og Elias fór i stormen opp til himmelen.
OTB
Mens de gikk og snakket sammen, dukket plutselig en ildvogn og ildhester opp og skilte de to, og Elia gikk opp til himmelen i en stormvind.
B1930
Mens de så gikk og talte sammen, kom det med én gang en gloende vogn og gloende hester og skilte dem fra hverandre; og Elias fór i stormen op til himmelen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Kings 6:17

    Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 104:3–4

    laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 1:14

    Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

    Read in context
  • Psalms 68:17

    The chariots of God are tens of thousands— thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 10:9–22

    Then I looked and saw four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub. And the wheels gleamed like a beryl stone.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 1:4–28

    I looked and saw a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire was a gleam like amber,

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 3:8

    Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch.

    Read in context
  • Mark 16:19

    After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

    Read in context