2 Kings 8:14

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.

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}.

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."

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.”

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

2 Kings 8:14 records a pivotal moment of deception following Hazael's encounter with the prophet Elisha. Hazael, an officer of King Ben-Hadad of Syria, returns to his ailing master with a carefully crafted, yet ultimately misleading, report from the prophet.

Context

King Ben-Hadad of Syria was seriously ill and, hearing of the prophet Elisha's presence in Damascus, sent Hazael to inquire if he would recover. Elisha had a private, intense conversation with Hazael, which is detailed in 2 Kings 8:10-13. In that exchange, Elisha revealed to Hazael that Ben-Hadad would recover from his illness, but also that he would surely die by other means—specifically, by Hazael's own hand, and that Hazael would become king and inflict great atrocities upon Israel. This verse, 2 Kings 8:14, describes Hazael's immediate action upon returning to Ben-Hadad, setting the stage for the fulfillment of Elisha's grim prophecy.

Key Themes

  • Deception and Partial Truths: Hazael deliberately omits the crucial second part of Elisha's message. He tells Ben-Hadad only what he wants to hear—that he would recover—while concealing the prophet's foretelling of his death and Hazael's own ascent to power. This highlights the danger of half-truths and calculated misinformation.
  • Human Ambition and Treachery: Hazael's immediate act of deception foreshadows his ruthless ambition. He quickly moves to seize power, demonstrating a willingness to betray and murder for personal gain, fulfilling Elisha's disturbing prophecy. The very next verse, 2 Kings 8:15, confirms Hazael's treachery.
  • Divine Foreknowledge: Despite Hazael's deceit, the events unfold exactly as Elisha, guided by God, had foreseen. This reinforces the theme of God's sovereign knowledge over human affairs, including the wicked intentions of individuals.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "He told me [that] thou shouldest surely recover" is precise in capturing Hazael's partial report. The Hebrew of Elisha's actual prophecy in 2 Kings 8:10 is nuanced: "Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die." Elisha conveyed two distinct points: recovery from the illness, but ultimate death. Hazael's answer in verse 14 omits the latter, crucial detail, demonstrating his manipulative intent. The bracketed [that] in the KJV text of verse 14 helps clarify that Hazael's statement is a report of what Elisha supposedly said, emphasizing the selective nature of his communication.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the destructive nature of deceit and unchecked ambition. We are cautioned to be discerning, recognizing that partial truths can be more dangerous than outright lies because they carry an air of credibility. It also underscores the biblical principle that while God allows human free will and even evil acts, His ultimate plan and foreknowledge remain supreme. For believers, it highlights the importance of integrity and the devastating consequences of succumbing to selfish desires, as Hazael did. Understanding such narratives can help us identify and resist manipulative tactics in our own lives and uphold truthfulness, as encouraged in Ephesians 4:25.

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 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.
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