2 Kings 6:18

¹⁶ “Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

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.

As the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Please strike these people with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha.

¹⁹ And Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.

²⁰ When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men that they may see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes, and they looked around and discovered that they were in Samaria.

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 the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Please strike these people with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha.
KJV: And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
WEB: When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” He struck them with blindness according to Elisha’s word.
ASV: And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto Jehovah, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
DARBY: And they came down to him; and Elisha prayed to Jehovah and said, Smite this nation, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
BLB: And they came down to him, and Elisha prayed to YHWH and said, “Strike, please, this people with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

ÅB: Da så syrerne kom ned til ham, ba Elisa til Herren og sa: Slå dette folk med blindhet! Og han slo dem med blindhet, som Elisa hadde bedt om.
OTB: Da de kom ned til ham, ba Elisja til Herren og sa, "Slå dette folket med blindhet, jeg ber." Så slo han dem med blindhet i samsvar med Elisjas ord.
B1930: Da så syrerne kom ned til ham, bad Elisa til Herren og sa: Slå dette folk med blindhet! Og han slo dem med blindhet, som Elisa hadde bedt om.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Acts 13:11
Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
Read in context
John 12:40
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”
Read in context
Genesis 19:11
And they struck the men at the entrance, young and old, with blindness, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the door.
Read in context
Job 5:14
They encounter darkness by day and grope at noon as in the night.
Read in context
John 9:39
Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”
Read in context
Zechariah 12:4
On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and every rider with madness. I will keep a watchful eye on the house of Judah, but I will strike with blindness all the horses of the nations.
Read in context
Romans 11:7
What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
Read in context
Deuteronomy 28:28
The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind,
Read in context