Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
Attention!
For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

Complete Jewish Bible

2 Kings 10:4

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ahab;   Children;   Enthusiasm;   Government;   Homicide;   Jehu;   Massacre;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jezreel;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ahab;   Jehu;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Jezreel;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Letter;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jehu;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jezreel ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Jehu;  

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?"
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."
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 There were seventy descendants of Ach'av in Shomron. Yehu wrote letters and sent them to Shomron to the rulers of Yizre‘el, to the leaders, and to the guardians of Ach'av's sons. The letters said, 2 "You have with you your master's sons, also chariots and horses, as well as fortified cities and armor. So, as soon as this letter reaches you, 3 choose the best and most suitable of your master's sons, set him on his father's throne and fight for your master's dynasty." 4 They were panic-stricken and said, "If the other two kings couldn't withstand him, how will we?" 5 So the administrator of the palace, the governor of the city, the leaders and the children's guardians sent this message to Yehu: "We are your servants. We will do everything you ask us to; we won't appoint anyone king. Do as you see fit." 6 He wrote a second letter to them, which said, "If you are on my side, and if you are ready to obey my orders, then bring the heads of your master's sons to me in Yizre‘el by this time tomorrow." Now the seventy sons of the king were with the prominent men who had raised them. 7 When the letter reached them, they seized the king's sons and killed them, all seventy of them, put their heads in baskets and sent them to Yehu in Yizre‘el. 8 A messenger came and told him, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." He said, "Leave them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning." 9 When morning came, he went out, stood before the people and said, "You are not responsible [for the deaths of these men]. Yes, I conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these? 10 Understand, then, that no part of Adonai 's word which Adonai spoke concerning the dynasty of Ach'av falls to the ground; because Adonai has done what he said through his servant Eliyahu."

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
But ships will come from the coast of Kittim to subdue Ashur and subdue ‘Ever, but they too will come to destruction."
Isaiah 23:1
A prophecy about Tzor: Howl, you "Tarshish" ships, because the harbor is destroyed! On returning from Kittim, they discover they cannot enter it.
Isaiah 23:12
He has said, "Exult no more, oppressed virgin daughter of Tzidon. Arise, cross to Kittim; even there you will find no rest."
Ezekiel 27:12
"‘Tarshish did business with you because of the quantity and variety of your resources; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your goods.
Ezekiel 27:25
"Tarshish" ships transported your imports and exports. "‘So you were full, loaded down, surrounded by the sea.
Daniel 11:30
because ships from Kittim will come against him, so that his courage will fail him. Then, in retreat, he will take furious action against the holy covenant, again showing favor to those who abandon the holy covenant.

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.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile