2 Kings 3:17

¹⁵ But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha

¹⁶ and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’

For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’

¹⁸ This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.

¹⁹ And you shall attack every fortified city and every city of importance. You shall cut down every good tree, stop up every spring, and ruin every good field with stones.”

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: For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’
KJV: For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
WEB: For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind, neither will you see rain, yet that valley will be filled with water, and you will drink, both you and your livestock and your other animals.
ASV: For thus saith Jehovah, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, and ye shall drink, both ye and your cattle and your beasts.
DARBY: For thus saith Jehovah: Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet this valley shall be filled with water, and ye shall drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
BLB: For thus says YHWH, ‘You⁺ shall not see wind, nor shall you⁺ see rain, and that valley shall be filled with water so that you⁺ may drink—you⁺ and your⁺ cattle and your⁺ animals.’

ÅB: For sa sier Herren: Dere skal ikke se vind og ikke se regn, men allikevel skal denne dal fylles med vann, så dere får drikke, både dere selv og deres buskap og deres kløvdyr.
OTB: For dette sier Herren:
Dere vil verken se vind eller regn,
likevel vil denne dalen bli fylt med vann,
og dere, deres kveg og deres dyr vil drikke.
B1930: For sa sier Herren: I skal ikke se vind og ikke se regn, men allikevel skal denne dal fylles med vann, så I får drikke, både I selv og eders buskap og eders kløvdyr.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 107:35
He turns a desert into pools of water and a dry land into flowing springs.
Read in context
Isaiah 41:17–18
The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
Read in context
Isaiah 48:21
They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.
Read in context
Isaiah 43:19–20
Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
Read in context
Psalms 84:6
As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; even the autumn rain covers it with pools.
Read in context
Exodus 17:6
Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Read in context
Numbers 20:8–11
“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”
Read in context
1 Kings 18:36–39
At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command.
Read in context