2 Kings 7:19

17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.

18 And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:

And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

20 And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.

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 the officer had answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” So Elisha had replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!”
KJV
And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
WEB
and that captain answered the man of God, and said, “Now, behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, might such a thing be?” and he said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.”
ASV
and that captain answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if Jehovah should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? and he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof:
DARBY
And the captain answered the man of God and said, Behold, if Jehovah should make windows in the heavens, would such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
BLB
And that officer had answered the man of God and said, “And behold, [if] YHWH should make windows in the heavens, could this word come to pass?” And he had said, “Behold, you shall see [it] with your eyes, and from there you shall not eat.”
ÅB
da svarte høvedsmannen den Guds mann: Om så Herren gjorde luker på himmelen, hvordan skulle det kunne gå slik til? Han svarte: Du skal få se det med egne øyne, men ikke få spise derav.
OTB
Da hadde offiseren svart Guds mann og sagt, "Nå se, om Herren skulle lage vinduer i himmelen, kunne en slik ting skje?" Og han sa, "Se, du skal få se det med dine egne øyne, men du skal ikke spise noe av det."
B1930
da svarte høvedsmannen den Guds mann: Om så Herren gjorde luker på himmelen, hvorledes skulde det kunne gå således til? Han svarte: Du skal få se det med egne øine, men ikke få ete derav.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Kings 7:2

    Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

    Read in context