2 Kings 2:21

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please note, our lord, that the city’s location is good, as you can see. But the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.”

20 “Bring me a new bowl,” he replied, “and put some salt in it.” So they brought it to him,

and Elisha went out to the spring, cast the salt into it, and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will it cause death or unfruitfulness.’”

22 And the waters there have been healthy to this day, according to the word spoken by Elisha.

23 From there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking up the road, a group of boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”

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
and Elisha went out to the spring, cast the salt into it, and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will it cause death or unfruitfulness.’”
KJV
And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
WEB
He went out to the spring of the waters, and threw salt into it, and said, “The LORD says, ‘I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there any more death or barren wasteland.’”
ASV
And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast salt therein, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or miscarrying.
DARBY
And he went forth to the source of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith Jehovah: I have healed these waters: there shall not be from thence any more death or barrenness.
BLB
And he went out to the source of the waters, and he cast in there the salt and said, “Thus says YHWH, ‘I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there anymore death or barrenness.’”
ÅB
Og han gikk ut til det sted hvor vannet vellet fram, og kastet salt nedi og sa: Så sier Herren: Nå har jeg gjort dette vann godt; det skal ikke mere volde død eller for tidlige fødsler.
OTB
Så gikk han ut til kilden og kastet saltet i den, og sa, «Dette er hva Herren sier: Jeg har helbredet dette vannet. Aldri igjen skal det forårsake død eller gjøre landet ufruktbart.»
B1930
Og han gikk ut til det sted hvor vannet vellet frem, og kastet salt nedi og sa: Så sier Herren: Nu har jeg gjort dette vann godt; det skal ikke mere volde død eller for tidlige fødsler.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Exodus 15:25–26

    And Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log. And when he cast it into the waters, they were sweetened. There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He tested them,

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 4:41

    Then Elisha said, “Get some flour.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Pour it out for the people to eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 2:13

    And you shall season each of your grain offerings with salt. You must not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offering; you are to add salt to each of your offerings.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 21:4

    ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

    Read in context
  • Revelation 22:2–3

    down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 6:6

    “Where did it fall?” asked the man of God. And when he showed him the place, the man of God cut a stick, threw it there, and made the iron float.

    Read in context
  • John 9:6

    When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes.

    Read in context
  • Mark 9:50

    Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

    Read in context