2 Kings 7:19

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.

And that lord ^{H7991} answered ^{H6030} the man ^{H376} of God ^{H430}, and said ^{H559}, Now, behold, if the LORD ^{H3068} should make ^{H6213} windows ^{H699} in heaven ^{H8064}, might such a thing ^{H1697} be? And he said ^{H559}, Behold, thou shalt see ^{H7200} it with thine eyes ^{H5869}, but shalt not eat ^{H398} thereof.

the servant had answered the man of God, "Why, this couldn't happen even if ADONAI made windows in heaven!" and Elisha had said, "All right, you yourself will see it with your own eyes; but you won't eat any of it!"

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!”

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:

Commentary

Context of 2 Kings 7:19

This verse is set during a desperate time in ancient Israel, specifically the siege of Samaria by the Syrian army. The famine within the city was so severe that people resorted to extreme measures, including cannibalism, as depicted in 2 Kings 6:29. In this dire situation, the prophet Elisha, the "man of God," delivers a miraculous prophecy in 2 Kings 7:1: within 24 hours, food would be so abundant and cheap that prices would plummet. The "lord" mentioned here is a high-ranking officer, perhaps the king's aide or captain, who expresses profound skepticism at Elisha's seemingly impossible prediction.

Key Themes and Messages

Disbelief vs. Divine Promise: The lord's response ("Now, behold, [if] the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?") highlights human incredulity when faced with a promise that defies all natural logic and current circumstances. He questions God's ability to intervene so dramatically.
God's Omnipotence and Sovereignty: Elisha's prophecy and the subsequent events powerfully demonstrate that God is not limited by human reasoning or the most dire situations. He can provide abundantly even when it seems utterly impossible, opening "windows in heaven" to pour out blessings. This phrase echoes divine provision seen in Genesis 7:11 and promises of blessing in Malachi 3:10.
Consequences of Unbelief: Elisha's stark reply, "Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof," serves as a direct prophetic judgment. It underscores that rejecting God's word, even when delivered through His chosen messenger, carries severe consequences.
Certainty of God's Word: Despite the lord's scoffing, Elisha's word is firm. God's promises, whether of blessing or judgment, are sure to be fulfilled.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "windows in heaven" (Hebrew: ʼărubbōṯ haššāmayim) is a powerful metaphor for God's direct, extraordinary, and abundant intervention, often associated with a deluge or an overwhelming outpouring. In this context, it emphasizes the sheer impossibility from a human perspective of the promised provision, yet it is precisely how God chooses to act.

Prophetic Fulfillment and Application

The prophecy in 2 Kings 7:19 was fulfilled with chilling precision. The very next night, the Syrian army fled in panic, leaving behind all their provisions (see 2 Kings 7:6-7). The people of Samaria plundered the Syrian camp, and food became incredibly abundant and cheap, exactly as Elisha had foretold (2 Kings 7:16). The lord, who had doubted, was indeed present at the city gate to maintain order, but he was trampled to death by the surging crowd rushing for food, thus seeing the abundance but not partaking of it (2 Kings 7:17-20). This narrative powerfully illustrates the unwavering truth of God's word and the severe cost of unbelief.

Practical Application

For a general audience, 2 Kings 7:19 serves as a timeless reminder about the nature of faith and doubt.

Trust in God's Promises: Even when circumstances seem utterly hopeless or God's promises appear impossible to fulfill, this verse encourages us to place our faith in God's power and word, not in our limited understanding or current reality.
Beware of Cynicism: The lord's sarcastic disbelief led to his demise. This warns against a cynical attitude towards divine truth or the miraculous, reminding us that God's ways are higher than our ways.
God's Sovereignty in Provision: God remains sovereign over all circumstances, able to provide in ways beyond human comprehension. This should inspire hope and confidence in His ability to meet our needs.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

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.