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Thursday, August 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Amplified Bible

2 Kings 6:17

Then Elisha prayed and said, "LORD, please, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servants eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Angel (a Spirit);   Armies;   Chariot;   Clairvoyance;   Dothan;   Elisha;   Israel;   Joram;   Miracles;   Prayer;   Prophets;   Samaria;   Vision;   Scofield Reference Index - Bible Prayers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ancient Heroes;   Battle of Life;   Blindness-Vision;   Elisha;   Eyes Opened;   Heroes, Ancient;   Israel;   Protection, Divine;   Seven;   Vision;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Chariots;   Eye, the;   Temple, the First;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Horses;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Elisha;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Prophet, Prophetess, Prophecy;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Angel;   Chariot;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Angels;   Dothan;   Hagar;   Jacob;   Legion;   Michael;   Prayer;   Seraphim;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Angel;   Dothan;   Host of Heaven;   Jehoram;   Lord of Hosts;   Prayer;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Samaria;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Angels (2);   Observation;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Chariot;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Elisha;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Eli'sha;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Israel;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fire;   Intercession;   Jehoash;   Writing;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Couch;   Names of God;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Hebrew Names Version
Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, Please open his eyes, that he may see. The LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
King James Version
And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord , I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
English Standard Version
Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Lord , please open his eyes that he may see." So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
New Century Version
Then Elisha prayed, " Lord , open my servant's eyes, and let him see." The Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
New English Translation
Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord , open his eyes so he can see." The Lord opened the servant's eyes and he saw that the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
New American Standard Bible
Then Elisha prayed and said, "LORD, please, open his eyes so that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Elisha prayed, and saide, Lorde, I beseech thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lorde opened the eyes of the seruant, and he looked, and beholde, the mountaine was full of horses and charets of fyre round about Elisha.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Yahweh, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Contemporary English Version
Then he prayed, " Lord , please help him to see." And the Lord let the servant see that the hill was covered with fiery horses and flaming chariots all around Elisha.
Complete Jewish Bible
Elisha prayed, " Adonai , I ask you to open his eyes, so that he can see." Then Adonai opened the young man's eyes, and he saw: there before him, all around Elisha, the mountain was covered with horses and fiery chariots.
Darby Translation
And Elisha prayed and said, Jehovah, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And Jehovah opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw; and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Elisha prayed and said, " Lord , I ask you, open my servant's eyes so that he can see." The Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and the servant saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire. They were all around Elisha.
George Lamsa Translation
And Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, O LORD, open his eyes that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw; and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Good News Translation
Then he prayed, "O Lord , open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord answered his prayer, and Elisha's servant looked up and saw the hillside covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Lexham English Bible
Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Yahweh, please open his eyes that he may see," and Yahweh opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw, and look, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Literal Translation
And Elisha prayed and said, I beg You, O Jehovah, open his eyes so that he may see. And Jehovah opened the eyes of the young man. And he looked, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Eliseus prayed & sayde: LORDE open his eyes, yt he maye se. Then the LORDE opened ye childes eyes, yt he sawe, & beholde, ye mount was full of fyrie horses & charettes roude aboute Eliseus.
American Standard Version
And Elisha prayed, and said, Jehovah, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And Jehovah opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Bible in Basic English
Then Elisha made a prayer to the Lord, saying, Lord, let his eyes be open so that he may see. And the Lord made the young man's eyes open; and he saw that all the mountain was full of horses and carriages of fire round Elisha.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Elisa prayed and sayd: Lord I besech thee open his eyes that he may see. And the Lorde opened the eyes of the young man, and he loked: and beholde the mountayne was full of horses, and charets of fire round about Elisa.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Elisha prayed, and said: 'LORD, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see.' And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw; and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
King James Version (1611)
And Elisha prayed, and sayde, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and hee saw: and behold, the mountaine was full of horses, and charets of fire round about Elisha.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Elisaie prayed, and said, Lord, open, I pray thee, the eyes of the servant, and let him see. And the Lord opened his eyes, and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses, and there were chariots of fire round about Elisaie.
English Revised Version
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Berean Standard Bible
Then Elisha prayed, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne Elisee hadde preied, he seide, Lord, opene thou the iyen of this child, that he se. And the Lord openyde the iyen of the child, and he siy. And, lo! the hil ful of horsis, and of charis of fier, in the cumpas of Elisee.
Young's Literal Translation
And Elisha prayeth, and saith, `Jehovah, open, I pray Thee, his eyes, and he doth see;' and Jehovah openeth the eyes of the young man, and he seeth, and lo, the hill is full of horses and chariots of fire, round about Elisha.
Update Bible Version
And Elisha prayed, and said, Yahweh, I pray you, open his eyes, that he may see. And Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, look, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain [was] full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.
World English Bible
Elisha prayed, and said, Yahweh, Please open his eyes, that he may see. Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
New King James Version
And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
New Living Translation
Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord , open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
New Life Bible
Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Lord, I pray, open his eyes, that he may see." And the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he saw. He saw that the mountain was full of horses and war-wagons of fire all around Elisha.
New Revised Standard
Then Elisha prayed: "O Lord , please open his eyes that he may see." So the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw; the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then prayed Elisha, and said, O Yahweh! open, I beseech thee, his eyes, that he may see. And Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and lo! the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire, round about Elisha.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Eliseus prayed, and said: Lord, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses, and chariots of fire round about Eliseus.
Revised Standard Version
Then Eli'sha prayed, and said, "O LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Eli'sha.
THE MESSAGE
Then Elisha prayed, "O God , open his eyes and let him see." The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha!
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Contextual Overview

13So he said, "Go and see where he is, so that I may send [men] and seize him." And he was told, "He is in Dothan." 14So he sent horses and chariots and a powerful army there. They came by night and surrounded the city. 15The servant of the man of God got up early and went out, and behold, there was an army with horses and chariots encircling the city. Elisha's servant said to him, "Oh no, my master! What are we to do?" 16Elisha answered, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17Then Elisha prayed and said, "LORD, please, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servants eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.18When the Arameans came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people (nation) with blindness." And God struck them with blindness, in accordance with Elisha's request. 19Then Elisha said to the Arameans, "This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me and I will lead you to the man whom you are seeking." And he led them to Samaria. 20When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men, so that they may see." And the LORD opened their eyes and they saw. Behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21When the king of Israel (Jehoram) saw them, he said to Elisha, "My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?" 22Elisha answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and bow? Serve them bread and water, so that they may eat and drink, and go back to their master [King Ben-hadad]."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

prayed: Psalms 91:15, James 5:16-18

open his eyes: 2 Kings 6:18-20, Psalms 119:18, Isaiah 42:7, Acts 26:18, Ephesians 1:18, Revelation 3:7

full of horses: 2 Kings 2:11, Psalms 34:7, Psalms 68:17, Psalms 91:11, Psalms 104:3, Ezekiel 1:13-16, Zechariah 1:8, Zechariah 6:1-7, Matthew 26:53, Hebrews 1:14, Revelation 19:11, Revelation 19:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:19 - General Genesis 32:2 - God's Numbers 22:23 - the ass saw Numbers 22:31 - opened 2 Kings 4:33 - prayed 2 Kings 6:20 - open the eyes 2 Kings 8:4 - all the great 1 Chronicles 21:16 - saw the angel 2 Chronicles 20:22 - to sing and to Psalms 104:4 - ministers Song of Solomon 3:7 - threescore Daniel 10:7 - alone Hosea 9:8 - with Matthew 18:10 - their Acts 9:8 - he saw Hebrews 1:7 - Who

Cross-References

Genesis 2:7
then the LORD God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit].
Genesis 6:3
Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive and remain with man forever, because he is indeed flesh [sinful, corrupt—given over to sensual appetites]; nevertheless his days shall yet be a hundred and twenty years."
Genesis 6:4
There were Nephilim (men of stature, notorious men) on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, and they gave birth to their children. These were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown (great reputation, fame).
Genesis 6:7
So the LORD said, "I will destroy (annihilate) mankind whom I have created from the surface of the earth—not only man, but the animals and the crawling things and the birds of the air—because it [deeply] grieves Me [to see mankind's sin] and I regret that I have made them."
Genesis 6:12
God looked on the earth and saw how debased and degenerate it was, for all humanity had corrupted their way on the earth and lost their true direction.
Genesis 6:13
God said to Noah, "I intend to make an end of all that lives, for through men the land is filled with violence; and behold, I am about to destroy them together with the land.
Genesis 6:14
"Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make in it rooms (stalls, pens, coops, nests, cages, compartments) and coat it inside and out with pitch (bitumen).
Genesis 6:20
"Of fowls and birds according to their kind, of animals according to their kind, of every crawling thing of the ground according to its kind—two of every kind shall come to you to keep them alive.
Genesis 6:21
"Also take with you every kind of food that is edible, and you shall collect and store it; and it shall be food for you and for them."
Genesis 6:22
So Noah did this; according to all that God commanded him, that is what he did.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see,.... Not the eyes of his body, which were not shut nor blinded, but the eyes of his mind; or, in other words, grant him a vision, represented in so strong a light, as to remove his fears:

and the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw; he had a vision of angels:

and, behold, the mountain; on which the city was built, or one near it:

was full of horses and chariots of fire; angels in this form, as in 2 Kings 2:11, and these were

round about Elisha; being round about the city where he was; or rather so in the vision it was represented to the young man, he saw his master surrounded with horses and chariots of fire, in the utmost safety.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Open his eyes that he may see - Elisha’s servant lacked the faith of his master. Elisha therefore prays that he may be given a vision of the spiritual world, and see, as if with the bodily eye, the angelic host (marginal references) which he himself knows to be present.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 6:17. Lord - open his eyes — Where is heaven? Is it not above, beneath, around us? And were our eyes open as were those of the prophet's servant, we should see the heavenly host in all directions. The horses and chariots of fire were there, before the eyes of Elisha's servant were opened.


 
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