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.

And Elisha {H477} said {H559} unto him, Go {H3212}, say {H559} unto him, Thou mayest certainly {H2421} recover {H2421}: howbeit the LORD {H3068} hath shewed {H7200} me that he shall surely {H4191} die {H4191}.

Elisha answered, "Go and say to him, 'You will surely recover'- even though ADONAI has shown me that he will surely die."

Elisha answered, “Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But the LORD has shown me that in fact he will die.”

And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou shalt surely recover; howbeit Jehovah hath showed me that he shall surely die.

Commentary

2 Kings 8:10 records a pivotal and somewhat enigmatic exchange between the prophet Elisha and Hazael, a servant of Ben-hadad, the ailing king of Syria. Ben-hadad had sent Hazael to inquire of the man of God whether he would recover from his sickness.

Context

At this time, Elisha, the renowned prophet, had traveled to Damascus, the capital of Syria. King Ben-hadad, suffering from an illness, heard of Elisha's presence and, despite being an adversary of Israel, sought divine counsel through him. This highlights Elisha's widespread reputation and the acknowledgment of God's power even among foreign nations. Hazael, a high-ranking official, was dispatched with a lavish gift to present the king's question: "Shall I recover of this disease?"

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Foreknowledge and Sovereignty: Elisha's response reveals God's absolute knowledge of future events, even the specific manner of a king's death. While Ben-hadad's illness itself was not fatal, God had already determined his end. This underscores the sovereignty of God over all human affairs, including the fates of rulers.
  • Prophetic Truth and Human Agency: The prophet's answer is twofold and seemingly contradictory: "Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die." The first part addresses the illness itself, implying it was not unto death. The second part, introduced by "howbeit" (meaning "nevertheless" or "however"), reveals God's ultimate decree concerning Ben-hadad's life. This foreshadows Hazael's subsequent actions, where he murders Ben-hadad and takes the throne, fulfilling God's foreknowledge.
  • The Nature of Prophecy: This verse illustrates that prophecy can reveal both potential outcomes (the illness itself was not deadly) and divine decrees (the king would surely die). It also hints at the dark path Hazael would take, which Elisha immediately perceives and laments in the following verses (2 Kings 8:11-13).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "howbeit" serves as a strong conjunction, emphatically introducing the contrasting divine revelation. It signals a shift from what *could* happen to what *will* happen according to God's ultimate plan, despite the immediate circumstances. This linguistic pivot is crucial to understanding the complexity of Elisha's message and the certainty of God's revealed will.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that God's plans and knowledge extend far beyond our immediate circumstances or human expectations. Even when things appear to be one way, God's ultimate purposes are always at work. It also highlights the solemn responsibility of those who receive prophetic insight or divine revelation. For believers today, it reinforces the truth that God is in control, even amidst political intrigue, illness, or deception, and His foreknowledge is perfect. It encourages us to trust in His overarching plan, even when individual events seem complex or challenging to understand.

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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

  • Amos 7:7 (2 votes)

    Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall [made] by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.

  • Amos 7:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, [it was] the latter growth after the king's mowings.

  • Ezekiel 18:13 (2 votes)

    Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

  • Revelation 22:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

  • 2 Kings 1:16 (2 votes)

    And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, [is it] not because [there is] no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

  • 2 Kings 1:4 (2 votes)

    Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

  • 1 Kings 22:15 (2 votes)

    ¶ So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king.