King James Version

What Does 2 Kings 6:18 Mean?

2 Kings 6:18 in the King James Version says “And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. A...” — study this verse from 2 Kings chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

2 Kings 6:18 · KJV

Prayer

Context

16

And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17

And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

18

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.

19

And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. follow: Heb. come ye after me

20

And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

Read 2 Kings 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 6: God's protection and provision for His servants. The divine name emphasizes Yahweh's covenant relationship with Israel and His sovereign control over historical events. The prophetic ministry served as God's primary means of covenant enforcement, calling both kings and people to faithfulness. During this period, Israel and Judah struggled with persistent idolatry, particularly Baal worship introduced under Ahab and Jezebel.

The narrative demonstrates God's justice in judging covenant unfaithfulness while maintaining His ultimate purposes for redemption.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Historical Setting: 2 Kings 6 takes place during the Elisha prophetic ministry, approximately 850-800 BCE. The chapter's theme (Miracles and Siege) reflects the historical reality of God's compassionate provision through prophetic miracles while both kingdoms struggled with persistent idolatry. Archaeological evidence from this period includes royal inscriptions, administrative documents, and material culture that corroborate the biblical account while providing additional context for understanding the political and social dynamics at work.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse contribute to understanding the theological message of 2 Kings 6 regarding god's protection and provision for his servants?
  2. What does this passage reveal about God's character, particularly His justice, mercy, and faithfulness to covenant promises?
  3. In what practical ways should this text shape contemporary Christian thinking about faithfulness, worship, and obedience to God?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וַיֵּֽרְדוּ֮1 of 17

“And when they came down”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

אֵלָיו֒2 of 17
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֨ל3 of 17

“prayed”

H6419

to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray

אֱלִישָֽׁע׃4 of 17

“of Elisha”

H477

elisha, the famous prophet

אֶל5 of 17
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָה֙6 of 17

“unto the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וַיֹּאמַ֔ר7 of 17

“and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

וַיַּכֵּ֥ם8 of 17

“And he smote”

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

נָ֥א9 of 17
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

אֶת10 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַגּוֹי11 of 17

“this people”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

הַזֶּ֖ה12 of 17
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

בַּסַּנְוֵרִ֖ים13 of 17

“I pray thee with blindness”

H5575

(in plural) blindness

וַיַּכֵּ֥ם14 of 17

“And he smote”

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

בַּסַּנְוֵרִ֖ים15 of 17

“I pray thee with blindness”

H5575

(in plural) blindness

כִּדְבַ֥ר16 of 17

“according to the word”

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

אֱלִישָֽׁע׃17 of 17

“of Elisha”

H477

elisha, the famous prophet

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Kings. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Kings 6:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Kings 6:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Acts 13:11John 12:40Genesis 19:11John 9:39Zechariah 12:4Romans 11:7

Test Your Knowledge

2 Kings 6 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter2 Kings Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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