Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

2 Kings 6:31

Next

Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.

Then he said {H559}, God {H430} do {H6213} so and more {H3254} also to me, if the head {H7218} of Elisha {H477} the son {H1121} of Shaphat {H8202} shall stand {H5975} on him this day {H3117}.

Then he said, "May God do terrible things to me, and worse ones too, if the head of Elisha the son of Shafat remains on his body by day's end."

He announced, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders through this day!”

Then he said, God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.

Commentary

Context

This verse captures a moment of extreme desperation during the severe Aramean siege of Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. The city was experiencing a devastating famine, so dire that people resorted to unthinkable acts, including cannibalism (as revealed in the preceding verses). King Jehoram, son of Ahab and Jezebel, was walking on the city wall when a woman cried out to him, exposing the horrific reality of the famine. His initial reaction was one of grief and despair, tearing his clothes to reveal sackcloth underneath, a sign of mourning and repentance (2 Kings 6:30). However, this grief quickly turned into irrational anger and blame, directed not at himself or the nation's idolatry, but at the prophet Elisha, whom he held responsible for the ongoing suffering.

Meaning and Key Themes

  • Extreme Desperation and Blame: King Jehoram's vow is born out of profound distress and a misdirected sense of responsibility. Unable to alleviate the suffering of his people, he lashes out at God's messenger, Elisha, rather than seeking God's intervention or repenting of the nation's sins. This highlights the human tendency to blame others when facing overwhelming hardship.
  • A Solemn Oath: The phrase "God do so and more also to me" is a common and powerful oath formula in the Old Testament, signifying a solemn vow or curse upon oneself if the stated action is not carried out. In this instance, it underscores the king's fierce determination to execute Elisha. It reveals the depth of his anger and his belief that Elisha, perhaps through his prayers or prophecies, was somehow causing or prolonging the famine.
  • Conflict of Authority: This verse sets up a dramatic confrontation between the earthly king and God's prophet. Jehoram attempts to assert his royal authority over Elisha, unaware or unwilling to acknowledge that Elisha operates under a higher, divine authority. This foreshadows God's imminent intervention to protect His prophet and demonstrate His power.
  • Lack of Faith: Despite witnessing numerous miracles performed by Elisha (such as the splitting of the Jordan, the healing of Naaman, or the floating axe head), King Jehoram displays a profound lack of faith in God's ability or willingness to deliver Israel through His prophet. His focus is on immediate, human solutions or scapegoats, rather than divine provision.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "God do so and more also to me" (koh ya'aseh Elohim ve'koh yosiph) is a strong self-imprecatory oath. It literally means "thus may God do to me and thus may He add," implying a curse of unspecified but severe consequences if the speaker fails to fulfill their vow. It emphasizes the speaker's absolute commitment to the declared action, in this case, the execution of Elisha.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of how easily despair can lead to misplaced blame and irrational decisions. In times of crisis, it's easy to look for a scapegoat rather than seeking divine wisdom or examining our own actions. Instead of reacting with anger and threats, we are called to trust in God's sovereignty and His appointed messengers, even when circumstances seem bleak. Just as God protected Elisha and subsequently delivered Samaria (as seen in 2 Kings 7:1), He remains faithful to those who trust in Him, even when human leaders fail to do so.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Ruth 1:17 (4 votes)

    Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, [if ought] but death part thee and me.

  • 1 Kings 19:2 (4 votes)

    Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

  • John 11:50 (2 votes)

    Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

  • 2 Samuel 3:35 (2 votes)

    And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

  • Jeremiah 37:15 (2 votes)

    Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.

  • Jeremiah 37:16 (2 votes)

    When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;

  • 1 Samuel 25:22 (2 votes)

    So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that [pertain] to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.