2 Kings 10:4

Contemporary English Version

The officials and leaders read the letters and were very frightened. They said to each other, "Jehu has already killed King Joram and King Ahaziah! We have to do what he says."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
However, they were terrified and reasoned, “Look, two kings couldn’t stand against him; how can we?”

Hebrew Names Version
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, the two kings didn't stand before him: how then shall we stand?

King James Version
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

English Standard Version
But they were exceedingly afraid and said, "Behold, the two kings could not stand before him. How then can we stand?"

New Century Version
But the officers and leaders of Jezreel were frightened. They said, "Two kings could not stand up to Jehu, so how can we?"

New English Translation
They were absolutely terrified and said, "Look, two kings could not stop him! How can we?"

Amplified Bible
But they were extremely afraid and said, "Look, the two kings did not stand before Jehu; so how can we stand?"

New American Standard Bible
But they feared greatly and said, "Behold, the two kings did not stand firm before him; how then can we stand?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
But they were exceedingly afraid, and saide, Behold two Kings coulde not stande before him, how shall we then stand?

Legacy Standard Bible
But they feared exceedingly greatly and said, "Behold, the two kings did not stand before him; how then can we stand?"

Complete Jewish Bible
They were panic-stricken and said, "If the other two kings couldn't withstand him, how will we?"

Darby Translation
And they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, the two kings stood not before him; and how shall we stand?

Easy-to-Read Version
But the rulers and leaders of Jezreel were very afraid. They said, "The two kings could not stop Jehu. So we cannot stop him either!"

George Lamsa Translation
But when they heard the letter, they were exceedingly afraid and said, Behold, two kings could not stand before Jehu; how then shall we stand before him?

Good News Translation
The rulers of Samaria were terrified. "How can we oppose Jehu," they said, "when neither King Joram nor King Ahaziah could?"

Lexham English Bible
But they were very afraid, and they said, "Look, two kings could not stand before him; how can we stand?"

Literal Translation
And they were greatly afraid, and said, Behold, the two kings have not stood before him, and how shall we stand?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Neuertheles they were sore afrayed, and sayde: Beholde, two kynges were not able to stonde before him, how wyl we then endure?

American Standard Version
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, the two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

Bible in Basic English
But they were full of fear, and said, The two kings have gone down before him: how may we keep our place?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But they were exceedingly afrayde, & sayde: See, two kinges were not able to stande before him: howe shall we then be able to stande?

JPS Old Testament (1917)
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said: 'Behold, the two kings stood not before him; how then shall we stand?'

King James Version (1611)
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And they feared greatly, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: and how shall we stand?

English Revised Version
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, the two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

Berean Standard Bible
But they were terrified and reasoned, "If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei dredden greetli, and seiden, Lo! twei kyngis myyten not stonde bifor hym, and how schulen we mowe ayenstonde hym?

Young's Literal Translation
And they fear very greatly, and say, `Lo, the two kings have not stood before him, and how do we stand -- we?'

Update Bible Version
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Look, the two kings didn't stand before him: how then shall we stand?

Webster's Bible Translation
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

World English Bible
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, the two kings didn't stand before him: how then shall we stand?

New King James Version
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, "Look, two kings could not stand up to him; how then can we stand?"

New Living Translation
But they were paralyzed with fear and said, "We've seen that two kings couldn't stand against this man! What can we do?"

New Life Bible
But they were filled with fear, and said, "See, the two kings could not stand in front of him. How can we stand?"

New Revised Standard
But they were utterly terrified and said, "Look, two kings could not withstand him; how then can we stand?"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then feared they very greatly, and said, Lo! two kings, stood not before him; how then, should, we, stand?

Douay-Rheims Bible
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said: Behold two kings could not stand before him, and how shall we be able to resist?

Revised Standard Version
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, "Behold, the two kings could not stand before him; how then can we stand?"

THE MESSAGE
They were absolutely terrified at the letter. They said, "Two kings have already been wiped out by him; what hope do we have?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But they feared greatly and said, "Behold, the two kings did not stand before him; how then can we stand?"

Contextual Overview

¹ Ahab still had seventy descendants living in Samaria. So Jehu wrote a letter to each of the important leaders and officials of the town, and to those who supported Ahab. In the letters he wrote: ² Your town is strong, and you're protected by chariots and an armed cavalry. And I know that King Ahab's descendants live there with you. So as soon as you read this letter, ³ choose the best person for the job and make him the next king. Then be prepared to defend Ahab's family. ⁴ The officials and leaders read the letters and were very frightened. They said to each other, "Jehu has already killed King Joram and King Ahaziah! We have to do what he says." ⁵ The prime minister, the mayor of the city, as well as the other leaders and Ahab's supporters, sent this answer to Jehu, "We are your servants, Your Majesty, and we will do whatever you tell us. But it's not our place to choose someone to be king. You do what you think is best." ⁶ Jehu then wrote another letter which said, "If you are on my side and will obey me, then prove it. Bring me the heads of the descendants of Ahab! And be here in Jezreel by this time tomorrow." The seventy descendants of King Ahab were living with some of the most important people of the city. ⁷ And when these people read Jehu's second letter, they called together all seventy of Ahab's descendants. They killed them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jezreel. ⁸ When Jehu was told what had happened, he said, "Put the heads in two piles at the city gate, and leave them there until morning." ⁹ The next morning, Jehu went out and stood where everyone could hear him, and he said, "You people are not guilty of anything. I'm the one who plotted against Joram and had him killed. But who killed all these men? ¹⁰ Listen to me. Everything the Lord 's servant Elijah promised about Ahab's family will come true."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Behold: 2 Kings 9:24, 2 Kings 9:27

how then shall: Isaiah 27:4, Jeremiah 49:19, Nahum 1:6, Luke 14:31

Reciprocal: Job 41:8 - General Luke 14:32 - and desireth

Cross-References

Numbers 24:24
Ships will come from Cyprus, bringing people who will invade the lands of Assyria and Eber. But finally, Cyprus itself will be ruined."

Isaiah 23:1
This is a message from distant islands about the city of Tyre: Cry, you seagoing ships! Tyre and its houses lie in ruins.

Isaiah 23:12
The Lord has said to the people of Sidon, "Your celebrating is over— you are crushed. Even if you escape to Cyprus, you won't find peace."

Ezekiel 27:12
Merchants from southern Spain traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your products.

Ezekiel 27:25
Large, seagoing ships carried your goods wherever they needed to go. You were like a ship loaded with heavy cargo

Daniel 11:30
Ships from the west will come to attack him, and he will be discouraged. Then he will start back to his own country and take out his anger on the religion of God's faithful people, while showing kindness to those who are unfaithful.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But they were exceedingly afraid,.... They were intimidated at once; for they saw the purport of those letters, that should they attempt anything of this kind, he would come upon them with his forces:

and said, behold, two kings stood not before him; the kings of Israel and Judah, Joram and Ahaziah; but they were unarmed, and therefore how should they stand before an armed body of men Jehu had with him? this shows the pusillanimity of these men to make use of such an argument as this:

how then shall we stand? that is, before Jehu; but they were in much better circumstances than the two kings, as they are truly represented in 2 Kings 10:2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Two kings - literally, “the two kings,” i. e., Jehoram and Ahaziah 2 Kings 9:21-28.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 10:4. Two kings stood not before him — That is Joram and Ahaziah.