2 Kings 6:4 — Word Study
WLCוַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אִתָּ֑ם וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה וַֽיִּגְזְר֖וּ הָעֵצִֽים׃
BSAwith themʼêth [in close relationship, near] and when they camebôwʼ▸ [to enter, to approach] to the JordanYardên [the river, a key location] they began to cut downgâzar▸ [to start, to initiate, to divide, to separate] some treesʻêts [wood, a strong and firm object]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ | and he went | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אִתָּ֑ם | with them | Preposition, suffix |
| וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ | and they came | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה | the Jordan towards | Particle, noun proper, suffix |
| וַֽיִּגְזְר֖וּ | and they cut down | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| הָעֵצִֽים׃ | trees | Particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So Elisha went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they began to cut down some trees. |
| KJV | So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. |
| ASV | So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. |
| YLT | And he goeth with them, and they come in to the Jordan, and cut down the trees, |
| WEB | So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. |
| BBE | So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they got to work cutting down trees. |
Where they part company is וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two subordinate clauses that detail the actions taken by Elisha and the group.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbהלך
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 2 Kings 6:4
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Story of Elisha and the Axe Headgenerated
2 Kings 6:4 describes Elisha's journey with a group of prophets to the Jordan River, where they intended to cut down trees for a building project. This context highlights Elisha's leadership and the communal effort of the prophets, emphasizing their dedication to their work and the importance of the location.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 19:5 | If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 29:11 | your children and wives, and the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water— |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הלך, vai.Ye.lekhgenerated
The verb הלך (halak) means 'to go' or 'to walk' and is used in various contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible. It signifies not just physical movement, but can also imply spiritual journeys or moral conduct.
In this verse, the form is a sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, indicating that Elisha actively went with the group. The use of this verb conveys a sense of purpose in his movement, aligning with his role as a prophet guiding his followers.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the sentence is וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (and he went), which governs the entire clause. The structure consists of a main clause followed by a series of phrases that detail the actions taken.
The sentence flows from Elisha's action of going with them to their arrival at the Jordan, leading to the action of cutting down trees. This sequential structure highlights the progression of events.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הלך as ἐπορεύθη, which means 'he went.' This choice maintains the action of movement but may imply a more formal or narrative style compared to the Hebrew.
The choice of ἦλθον for וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ also emphasizes the coming or arriving aspect, aligning with the Hebrew meaning while adapting it for a Greek-speaking audience.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Kings 6:4 tells us that Elisha went with a group of prophets to the Jordan River, where they began to cut down trees. This action shows their commitment to building a place for worship and study.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Elisha accompanied the prophets to support them in their task of cutting down trees for a building project, demonstrating his leadership and commitment to their mission.
The Jordan River is a key location in biblical history, often associated with significant events, including the Israelites' crossing into the Promised Land and the baptism of Jesus.
Cutting down trees symbolizes the prophets' dedication to creating a space for worship and study, reflecting their commitment to their spiritual community.
This verse illustrates Elisha's role as a leader and mentor to the prophets, emphasizing his involvement in their practical needs and spiritual growth.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I support others in their spiritual journeys, as Elisha supported the prophets?
- How does understanding the significance of locations like the Jordan River enhance my reading of biblical narratives?
- What does the act of cutting down trees teach me about commitment to community projects?
- How can I apply the lessons from Elisha's leadership in my own life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers comment on Elisha's actions, interpreting them in the context of God's providence and the symbolism of water and wood.
Elisha, by casting a stick into the river Jordan, recovered the iron part of the axe with which the sons of the prophets had gone to cut down trees to build the house in which they wished to read and study the law and commandments of God;Early Church Fathers on 2 Kings 6 →
And accordingly Elisha, having taken “wood” and cast it into that place where the iron had been submerged, forthwith it rose and swam on the surface, and the “wood” sank, which the sons of the prophets recovered.Early Church Fathers on 2 Kings 6 →
This is a symbol signifying the fall of Adam. For water represents the type of sin. Indeed, through water, sin was redeemed by the deluge at the time of Noah and at the fulfillment of times.Early Church Fathers on 2 Kings 6 →
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Kings 6:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleSo he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. Trees which grew upon the banks of it, to build their house with, at least for the rafters and flooring of it, supposing the walls to be built of stone.
Read John Gill on 2 Kings 6 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Kings 6 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments2 Kings 6:4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.Ver. 4. They cut down wood.] Wherewith they set up such huts or cabins as they could: being of his mind who said, I find no content but in a book and a nook. Tho. de Ken.
Read John Trapp on 2 Kings 6 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) Wood.—Heb., the timber: scil., which they required.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Kings 6 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4. when they came to Jordan] From what follows we see that they went close to the river. Probably the timber would be best grown at the water’s edge.
Read Cambridge on 2 Kings 6 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
So Elisha went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they began to cut down some trees.
So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood.
So Elisha went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they began to cut down some trees.
So he went with them. When they arrived at the Jordan, they started cutting down trees.
Tyndale line
So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood.
So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
So he went with them, and when they came to Iorden, they cut downe wood.
Strictly literal
And he went with them. And they came to the Jordan and cut down the trees.
And he goeth with them, and they come in to the Jordan, and cut down the trees,
And he goes with them, and they come to the Jordan, and cut down the trees,
So he went with them; and they came to the Jordan, and they cut down trees.
So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they began to cut down trees.
From the Latin
So he went with them. And when they were come to the Jordan they cut down wood.
Simplified
So he went with them. When they got to the Jordan, they started cutting down trees.
So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they got to work cutting down trees.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in the wording of this verse, with five of the six words matched. The Septuagint's structure, however, reflects its own grammatical style and word order.
וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אִתָּ֑ם וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה וַֽיִּגְזְר֖וּ הָעֵצִֽים׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 2 Kings 6:4
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.
הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk
Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך
lit.
of persons
Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
in like manner of inanimate things
The inf. abs. is often used
as in other vbs., quite independently
to intensify meaning of finite form
most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.
with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance
twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
quite by itself
13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
In combination with other verbal forms
Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:
pass away, die
H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons
. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
. in like manner of inanimate things
. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently
. to intensify meaning of finite form
. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance
. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
. quite by itself
. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
. In combination with other verbal forms
1980 halak haw-lak'
akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety
of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,
apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,
depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,
forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,
out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,
march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),
be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,
still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,
on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,
(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.
see HEBREW for 03212
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.
: went/go[away]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.
: come[nearer]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.
: walk/move
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
Hc/Vqw3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
The Hebrew word אֵת (eth) is a preposition indicating nearness or proximity, often translated as 'with' or 'near.' It conveys a sense of companionship or association, distinguishing itself from similar terms by expressing closer relationships. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including possession and memory, but do not provide specific verse references.
אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity
Of companionship, together with
Of localities
אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially
in one's possession or keeping
in one's knowledge or memory
מֵאֵת from proximity with
Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.
base
H854 אֵת with—prep. denoting proximity . Of companionship, together with
. Of localities
. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially . in one's possession or keeping
. in one's knowledge or memory
. מֵאֵת from proximity with
Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.
854 'eth ayth
probably from 579; properly, nearness (used only as a
preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by,
at, among, etc.:--against, among, before, by, for, from,
in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional
prefix.
see HEBREW for 0579
אֵת (et) — with.
1) with, near, together with
1a) with, together with
1b) with (of relationship)
1c) near (of place)
1d) with (poss.)
1e) from...with, from (with other prep)
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp
בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
come in
come (approach, arrive)
go, i.e. walk, associate with
go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
be brought in (of pers. and things)
be brought
be introduced, put
base
H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in
. come (approach, arrive)
. go, i.e. walk, associate with
. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
. . be brought in (of pers. and things)
. be brought
. be introduced, put
935 bow' bo
a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of
applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +
besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X
certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,
upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,
(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be
fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),
grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken
(in age), X surely, take (in), way.
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.
: come/go_in
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
1a5) to go
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead in
1b2) to carry in
1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
1b4) to bring to pass
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought, brought in
1c2) to be introduced, be put
לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).
This name means to go in, enter
Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.
: towards/entrance
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
יַרְדֵן (Yarden) refers to the Jordan River, named for its meaning 'descender.' It is the main river in Palestine, flowing approximately 200 miles from Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea. The entries consistently identify it as a geographical feature without significant disagreement.
יַרְדֵן 182 n.pr.fl. Jordan
base
H3383 יַרְדֵן Jordan
3383 Yarden yar-dane'
from 3381; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of
Palestine:--Jordan.
see HEBREW for 03381
יַרְדֵּן (yar.den) — Jordan.
Jordan = "descender"
the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km)
Also named: Iordanēs (Ἰορδάνης "Jordan" G2446)
Art | N-proper | Suff — Particle · noun proper · suffixHTd/Npl/Sd
גָּזַר (gazár) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cut or divide. It encompasses a range of actions including cutting down, cutting off, and making decrees. The word can also imply destruction or exclusion. Notably, it is used in contexts such as dividing the Red Sea, indicating its significance in biblical narratives.
גָּזַר vb. cut, divide
Qal
divide, cut in two
divide the Red Sea
cut down
cut off (piece of meat to eat, but obj. not expr.)
cut off, i.e. destroy, exterminate
decree
Niph.
be cut off, separated, excluded
be cut off = destroyed, exterminate
be decreed
base
H1504 גָּזַר cut, divide .. divide, cut in two
. divide the Red Sea
. cut down
. cut off (piece of meat to eat, but obj. not expr.)
. cut off, i.e. destroy, exterminate
. decree
. . be cut off, separated, excluded
. be cut off = destroyed, exterminate
. be decreed
1504 gazar gaw-zar'
a primitive root; to cut down or off; (figuratively) to
destroy, divide, exclude, or decide:--cut down (off), decree,
divide, snatch.
גָּזַר (ga.zar) — to cut.
1) to cut, divide, cut down, cut off, cut in two, snatch, decree
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cut in two, divide
1a2) to cut down
1a3) to cut off, destroy, exterminate
1a4) to decree
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be cut off, separated, excluded
1b2) to be destroyed, cut off
1b3) to be decreed
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
עֵץ (ets) refers to a tree or wood, encompassing various forms such as timber, sticks, and planks. It can denote both singular and plural trees, as well as specific uses like gallows and firewood. The word is derived from a root meaning firmness, indicating its solid nature.
עֵץ 329 n.m. tree, trees, wood
(c. 150 t.)
a standing tree
coll. trees
(c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)
base
H6086 עֵץ tree, trees, wood . (c. 150 t.) . a standing tree
. coll. trees
. (c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)
6086 `ets ates
from 6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural
sticks):--+ carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff,
stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.
see HEBREW for 06095
עֵץ (ets) — tree: wood.
: wood
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree.
: tree
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree: stick.
: stick/log
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree: stake.
: stake/shaft
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree: carpenter.
: carpenter/wood(worker)
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ncmpa
Were frequently used as types of kings, or men of wealth and power, Ps 37:35 Isa 2:13 Da 4:10-26 Zec 11:1,2. The "tree of knowledge of good and evil" bore the forbidden fruit, by eating of which Adam fatally increased his knowledge—of good by its loss, of sin and woe by actual experience, Ge 2:9,17. The "tree of life" may have been both an assurance and a means of imparting life, a seal of eternal holiness and bliss, if man had not sinned. Compare Re 22:2.