2 Kings 8:14

KJV

So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me [that] thou shouldest surely recover.

KJV (with Strong's)

So he departed {H3212} from Elisha {H477}, and came {H935} to his master {H113}; who said {H559} to him, What said {H559} Elisha {H477} to thee? And he answered {H559}, He told {H559} me that thou shouldest surely {H2421} recover {H2421}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then he left Elisha and returned to his master, who asked him, "What did Elisha say to you?" "He told me you would surely recover."

Berean Standard Bible

So Hazael left Elisha and went to his master, who asked him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he replied, “He told me that you would surely recover.”

American Standard Version

Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou wouldest surely recover.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse records the pivotal moment when Hazael, an officer of King Ben-Hadad of Aram, returns from his encounter with the prophet Elisha and delivers a meticulously crafted, deceptive report to his ailing master. This verse captures Hazael's calculated omission of Elisha's dire prophecy that Ben-Hadad would die by Hazael's own hand, choosing instead to relay only the reassuring news of the king's recovery from his illness. This act of dissimulation immediately precedes Hazael's violent usurpation of the throne, setting in motion the grim fulfillment of divine foreknowledge and starkly illustrating the dangerous interplay of human ambition, treachery, and the manipulation of truth.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the immediate aftermath and crucial turning point following the intense and revelatory interaction between Elisha and Hazael, detailed in [2 Kings 8:7-13](/2_kings/8-7-13 "2 Kings 8:7-13 - Elisha's Prophecy to Hazael and Hazael's Reaction"). King Ben-Hadad, suffering from an illness, dispatched Hazael to inquire of Elisha, who was in Damascus. Elisha's response was multifaceted: he first stated that Ben-Hadad would recover from his illness, but immediately added the chilling divine revelation that the Lord had shown him Ben-Hadad would nevertheless die. More profoundly, Elisha wept as he prophesied the immense evil Hazael would inflict upon Israel as its future king. Verse 14 depicts Hazael's swift return to the king, where he selectively reports only the first, comforting part of Elisha's message, thereby laying the insidious groundwork for his subsequent betrayal. This moment is a critical narrative bridge, demonstrating Hazael's immediate embrace of the dark destiny Elisha revealed, culminating in the grim fulfillment of the prophecy in [2 Kings 8:15](/2_kings/8-15 "2 Kings 8:15 - Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad and Becomes King").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The narrative unfolds in Damascus, the formidable capital of Aram (Syria), a persistent adversary to the kingdom of Israel. King Ben-Hadad III (or possibly Ben-Hadad II, depending on scholarly dating) was a powerful monarch in the ancient Near East. It was a common and expected practice for kings in this era, especially when facing grave illness or significant decisions, to consult prophets, seers, or oracles to ascertain divine will or future events. Elisha's presence in Damascus, a foreign capital, powerfully underscores his widespread reputation and the universal reach of God's prophetic word, extending even beyond the conventional boundaries of Israel. Hazael's high-ranking position, likely a general or trusted chamberlain, signifies his close proximity and significant influence with the king, rendering his impending betrayal particularly egregious. The cultural expectation of unwavering loyalty to one's sovereign makes Hazael's swift and calculated treachery, driven by ambition, an even more shocking and morally reprehensible act within the societal norms of the time.
* **Key Themes:** The events encapsulated in [2 Kings 8:14](/2_kings/8-14 "2 Kings 8:14 - Hazael's Deceptive Report") are rich with profound theological and narrative themes. A central theme is **Deception and the Peril of Partial Truths**. Hazael's deliberate omission of the latter, crucial part of Elisha's prophecy serves as a stark illustration of how a partial truth can be a more insidious and effective form of manipulation than an outright lie, leveraging credibility while fundamentally distorting reality. This act immediately foreshadows his character and future actions. Another prominent theme is **Human Ambition and Treachery**. Hazael's swift move to capitalize on Elisha's prophecy by deceiving Ben-Hadad and then executing his murder (as vividly depicted in [2 Kings 8:15](/2_kings/8-15 "2 Kings 8:15 - Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad")) powerfully illustrates the corrupting influence of unchecked ambition and the depths of human depravity. Finally, the passage profoundly underscores **Divine Foreknowledge and Sovereignty**. Despite Hazael's wicked intentions and actions, the events unfold precisely as God, through Elisha, had foretold. This reinforces the immutable biblical truth that God's sovereign plan and comprehensive knowledge encompass even the evil deeds of humanity, demonstrating His ultimate control over the unfolding of history and the rise and fall of nations and rulers, a concept echoed in passages such as [Daniel 2:21](/daniel/2-21 "Daniel 2:21 - God Changes Times and Seasons") and [Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "Proverbs 21:1 - The King's Heart is in the Hand of the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **departed (Hebrew, _yâlak'_):** This primitive root (H3212) signifies a purposeful movement, "to walk" or "to go," often with the connotation of "to depart" or "to go away." Hazael's immediate departure from Elisha's presence, without hesitation, suggests a swift internal decision to act upon the prophetic revelation, particularly the part concerning his own ascent to power. It implies a transition from passive reception of information to active initiation of a plan.
* **master (Hebrew, _ʼâdôwn'_):** Derived from an unused root meaning "to rule," this term (H113) denotes a "sovereign," "controller," "lord," or "owner," emphasizing the hierarchical relationship between Hazael and Ben-Hadad. Hazael is presented as a servant, ostensibly bound by loyalty and duty to his king. His subsequent betrayal is thus a profound violation of this established and expected relationship, making his act of regicide even more heinous and culturally shocking.
* **surely recover (Hebrew, _châyâh'_):** This primitive root (H2421) means "to live," "to revive," or "to recover." In the KJV text, the Hebrew employs an infinitive absolute construction (a repetition of the root verb, as seen in the Strong's numbers `H2421{(H8800)} recover{H2421}{(H8799)}`), which in Hebrew strongly emphasizes the certainty and intensity of the action – "you shall surely live" or "you shall certainly recover." This grammatical emphasis highlights precisely the part of Elisha's complex and nuanced message that Hazael chose to report, underscoring his selective communication and the manipulative power of a carefully chosen partial truth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"So he departed from Elisha":** This clause marks Hazael's physical separation from the prophet immediately after their intense and private conversation. The swiftness implied by "departed" suggests a mind already actively processing the prophetic words and formulating a plan, particularly regarding the part that served his own burgeoning ambition. It is the first physical step in his journey towards treachery.
* **"and came to his master;":** Hazael returns directly to King Ben-Hadad, who is anxiously awaiting news of his prognosis. This immediate return sets the stage for the crucial interaction where Hazael will deliver his report, and it subtly underscores the king's dependence on Hazael and his inherent trust in him as a loyal and reliable servant.
* **"who said to him, What said Elisha to thee?":** Ben-Hadad's question is direct, urgent, and filled with a palpable eagerness, reflecting his deep concern for his own health and his reliance on the prophet's perceived divine insight. This question provides Hazael with the perfect, anticipated opening to deliver his carefully constructed, deceptive message, highlighting the king's vulnerability and trust, which Hazael is about to exploit.
* **"And he answered, He told me [that] thou shouldest surely recover.":** This is the core of Hazael's profound deception. He reports only the positive, reassuring part of Elisha's two-part prophecy, deliberately omitting the crucial second part that Ben-Hadad would, despite recovering from his illness, nevertheless die by other means (specifically, by Hazael's hand). The KJV's bracketed "[that]" clarifies that Hazael is purporting to relay Elisha's exact words, further emphasizing the selective and manipulative nature of his communication. This partial truth is meticulously designed to lull Ben-Hadad into a false sense of security, paving the way for Hazael's murderous plot.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative of [2 Kings 8:14](/2_kings/8-14 "2 Kings 8:14 - Hazael's Deceptive Report") masterfully employs several literary devices to heighten its dramatic tension and thematic impact. **Dramatic Irony** is profoundly evident, as the reader is privy to the full, chilling scope of Elisha's prophecy to Hazael (detailed in [2 Kings 8:10-13](/2_kings/8-10-13 "2 Kings 8:10-13 - Elisha's Full Prophecy and Hazael's Reaction")), while King Ben-Hadad remains tragically unaware of the impending doom and his trusted officer's treacherous intentions. This creates a powerful tension, as the audience anticipates the inevitable and grim fulfillment of the prophecy. **Foreshadowing** is also powerfully at play; Hazael's immediate act of calculated deception in this verse strongly hints at the more violent and treacherous actions he will undertake in the very next verse ([2 Kings 8:15](/2_kings/8-15 "2 Kings 8:15 - Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad")). The stark **Contrast** between Elisha's full, nuanced, and divinely revealed prophecy and Hazael's truncated, self-serving report underscores the pervasive theme of deception and highlights Hazael's manipulative and ruthless character. Furthermore, the scene functions as a **Peripeteia** or turning point, as Hazael's decision to deceive marks his decisive step towards fulfilling the dark prophecy and seizing power, irrevocably altering the course of events for both Aram and Israel.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[2 Kings 8:14](/2_kings/8-14 "2 Kings 8:14 - Hazael's Deceptive Report") profoundly illustrates the complex tension between divine foreknowledge and human free will, particularly in the context of sin and moral responsibility. God, through His prophet Elisha, reveals a future event—Ben-Hadad's death and Hazael's ascent to power—that involves human agency and wicked intent. This revelation does not imply divine causation or endorsement of Hazael's evil; rather, it demonstrates God's sovereign knowledge and His ability to incorporate even human sin into His overarching purposes, without diminishing human accountability. Hazael's deliberate deception underscores the destructive nature of falsehood and the insidious power of partial truths to manipulate and betray. It serves as a stark reminder that unchecked ambition, fueled by deceit, inevitably leads to violence, moral decay, and tragic consequences. The narrative also highlights the inherent vulnerability of those in positions of power to betrayal, especially when trust is misplaced. Ultimately, this passage affirms God's ultimate sovereignty over the affairs of nations and individuals, demonstrating that His plans will prevail regardless of human machinations, even the darkest and most treacherous intentions.

* [Proverbs 12:22](/proverbs/12-22 "Proverbs 12:22 - Lying Lips are Abomination to the Lord")
* [Jeremiah 17:9](/jeremiah/17-9 "Jeremiah 17:9 - The Deceitfulness of the Heart")
* [Romans 9:17-18](/romans/9-17-18 "Romans 9:17-18 - God's Sovereignty and Pharaoh")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The chilling account of Hazael's calculated deception in [2 Kings 8:14](/2_kings/8-14 "2 Kings 8:14 - Hazael's Deceptive Report") offers profound and enduring lessons for our lives today. It serves as a powerful warning against the seductive allure of ambition that compromises integrity and the grave dangers inherent in wielding partial truths. In a world saturated with information and often rife with misinformation, discerning truth from manipulation is more critical than ever. We are called to cultivate a spirit of unwavering honesty and transparency, recognizing that even subtle omissions, convenient silences, or artful distortions can lead to devastating consequences, both for ourselves and for those within our sphere of influence. Hazael's story reminds us that while God's sovereign plan unfolds, our choices remain our profound responsibility, and we are held accountable for the integrity of our words and the righteousness of our actions. It challenges us to examine our own hearts for any seeds of self-serving ambition or a willingness to compromise the truth for personal gain. Instead, we are encouraged to pursue righteousness and truthfulness in all our dealings, trusting that God's way, though sometimes challenging and demanding, is always the path to genuine life, lasting blessing, and true flourishing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific situations might I be tempted to use partial truths or selective communication to my advantage, and what are the potential spiritual and relational consequences of such actions?**
* **How can I actively cultivate a deeper commitment to integrity and transparency in all my relationships, professional responsibilities, and personal interactions?**
* **How does understanding God's ultimate sovereignty, even over human sin and evil, impact my perspective on difficult, unjust, or seemingly chaotic situations in the world around me?**
* **What practical steps can I take to become more discerning of manipulative tactics and partial truths in the information I consume daily, whether from media, social interactions, or other sources?**

### FAQ

**Why did Elisha tell Hazael that Ben-Hadad would recover if he knew he would die?**

Answer: Elisha's statement in [2 Kings 8:10](/2_kings/8-10 "2 Kings 8:10 - Elisha's Nuanced Prophecy") is crucial for understanding this apparent paradox. He actually delivered a nuanced, two-part prophecy to Hazael: "Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die." Elisha clarified that Ben-Hadad's illness itself was not fatal, and he would indeed recover from it. However, God had also revealed to Elisha that Ben-Hadad's ultimate demise would come by other means—specifically, through Hazael's hand. Hazael's profound deception in [2 Kings 8:14](/2_kings/8-14 "2 Kings 8:14 - Hazael's Deceptive Report") was in reporting only the first, comforting part ("thou shouldest surely recover") and deliberately omitting the second, critical part about the king's ultimate, violent demise. Elisha delivered the full, divinely revealed truth, but Hazael chose to manipulate it for his own treacherous purposes.

**Does this passage imply that God caused or approved of Hazael's wicked actions?**

Answer: No, the passage does not imply that God caused or approved of Hazael's wickedness. Instead, it powerfully demonstrates God's **foreknowledge** and **sovereignty**. God, through Elisha, revealed what Hazael *would* do, not what God *made* him do. Hazael's actions were a direct result of his own free will, unchecked ambition, and sinful choices. The Bible consistently teaches that God is holy and does not tempt anyone to evil ([James 1:13](/james/1-13 "James 1:13 - God Does Not Tempt Anyone to Evil")). However, God is sovereign over all human affairs, meaning He knows all things, and He can even permit and use the wicked choices of humanity to accomplish His ultimate, righteous purposes, without Himself being the author or approver of evil. This is a complex theological point, but it highlights God's ability to work His will and bring about His plans even amidst human sin and rebellion, as seen in other biblical narratives like the betrayal of Joseph by his brothers, which Joseph himself later affirmed was intended for good by God ([Genesis 50:20](/genesis/50-20 "Genesis 50:20 - Joseph's Forgiveness and God's Plan")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Hazael's deception and his ascent to power through treachery, though divinely foretold by Elisha, finds its ultimate contrast and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Hazael embodied the deceitful, self-serving ambition that leads to death and destruction, seizing an earthly kingdom through manipulation and violence. In stark and glorious contrast, Jesus is the very embodiment of truth, declaring, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). While Hazael employed partial truths to orchestrate a king's demise and seize power, Jesus came to expose all darkness and usher in eternal life, not through manipulation or force, but through self-sacrificial love and perfect obedience. The divine foreknowledge demonstrated through Elisha's prophecy points forward to the countless prophecies meticulously fulfilled in Christ, revealing God's perfectly orchestrated plan for salvation from eternity past ([Ephesians 1:4](/ephesians/1-4 "Ephesians 1:4 - Chosen in Christ Before the Foundation of the World")). Unlike Hazael, who brought suffering, devastation, and a reign of terror, Jesus, the true and eternal King, establishes His kingdom not by earthly might or deceit, but by humbly laying down His life, conquering sin and death on the cross, and offering reconciliation to all who believe ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Delivered from Darkness into His Kingdom")). He is the sovereign Lord who truly recovers us from our spiritual illness and ultimately delivers us from the bondage of sin and death, not by a partial truth, but by the full, glorious, and life-giving truth of His resurrection ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Raised with Christ to New Life")) and His triumphant reign.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 8:10

And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die.

2 Kings 5:25

But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence [comest thou], Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

Matthew 26:16

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.