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Monday, July 14th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Easy-to-Read Version

2 Kings 9:20

The guard told Joram, "The second messenger went to the group, but he has not come back yet. There is a man driving his chariot like a mad man. He is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ahaziah;   Church and State;   Conspiracy;   Decision;   Driving;   Jehu;   Jezreel;   Joram;   Nimshi;   Usurpation;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Chariots;   Kings;   Watchmen;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jezebel;   Jezreel;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ahaziah;   Jehoram;   Jehu;   Jezreel;   Phoenicia;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Jezebel;   Jezreel;   Watches;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Chronology;   Jehu;   Rechab;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Nimshi;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Government;   Jehu;   Nimshi;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ahaziah ;   Jehu ;   Jezebel ;   Jezreel ;   Joram, Jehoram;   Nimshi ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Jehu;   Ramothgilead;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Chariot,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Jehu;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Jehoshaphat (1);   Jehu;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Again the watchman reported, “He reached them but hasn’t started back. Also, the driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a madman.”
Hebrew Names Version
The watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and isn't coming back: and the driving is like the driving of Yehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.
King James Version
And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.
English Standard Version
Again the watchman reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."
New Century Version
The lookout reported, "The second man reached them, but he is not coming back. The man in the chariot is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi. He drives as if he were crazy!"
New English Translation
The watchman reported, "He reached them, but hasn't started back. The one who drives the lead chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi; he drives recklessly."
Amplified Bible
And the watchman reported, "He approached them, but he has not returned; and the driving [of the chariot] is like that of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."
New American Standard Bible
And the watchman reported, "He came up to them, but he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the watchman tolde, saying, He came to them also, but commeth not againe, and the marching is like the marching of Iehu the sonne of Nimshi: for he marcheth furiously.
Legacy Standard Bible
And the watchman declared saying, "He came up to them, but he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives in madness."
Contemporary English Version
The guard in the watchtower said, "Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn't coming back either. Wait a minute! That one man is a reckless chariot driver—it must be Jehu!"
Complete Jewish Bible
The watchman reported, "He reached them, but he isn't coming back. Also, it looks like the driving of Yehu Nimshi's [grand]son — he's driving like a maniac!"
Darby Translation
And the watchman told saying, He came to them, and does not return. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.
George Lamsa Translation
And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Jimshi; for he drives furiously.
Good News Translation
Once more the guard reported that the messenger had reached the group but was not returning. And he added, "The leader of the group is driving his chariot like a madman, just like Jehu!"
Lexham English Bible
So the sentinel reported, saying, "He went up to them, but he did not return, and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives with madness."
Literal Translation
And the watchman spoke, saying, He came to them, and he has not returned. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives madly.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the watchman tolde it, and sayde: He is come to them: and commeth not agayne, and the goynge is as it were the goynge of Iehu the sonne of Nimsi: for he dryueth on as he were mad.
American Standard Version
And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not back: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.
Bible in Basic English
And the watchman gave them word, saying, He went up to them and has not come back again; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu, son of Nimshi, for he is driving violently.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the watchman tolde, saying: He came to them also, and commeth not againe: And the driuing, is lyke the driuing of Iehu the sonne of Nimsi: for he driueth the charet as he were mad.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the watchman told, saying: 'He came even unto them, and cometh not back; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.'
King James Version (1611)
And the watchman tolde, saying, He came euen vnto them, and commeth not againe: and the driuing is like the driuing of Iehu the sonne of Nimshi; for he driueth furiously.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the watchman reported, saying, He came up to them, and has not returned: and the driver drives Ju the son of Namessi, for it is with furious haste.
English Revised Version
And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.
Berean Standard Bible
Again the watchman reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the charioteer is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi-he is driving like a madman!"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sotheli the aspiere telde, and seide, He cam `til to hem, and he turneth not ayen; forsothe the goyng is as the goyng of Hieu, sone of Namsi; sothely he goith faste.
Young's Literal Translation
And the watchman declareth, saying, `He came unto them, and he hath not returned, and the driving [is] like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi, for with madness he driveth.'
Update Bible Version
And the watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and didn't come back: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and doth not return? and the driving [is] like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.
World English Bible
The watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and isn't coming back: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.
New King James Version
So the watchman reported, saying, "He went up to them and is not coming back; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously!"
New Living Translation
The watchman exclaimed, "The messenger has met them, but he isn't returning either! It must be Jehu son of Nimshi, for he's driving like a madman."
New Life Bible
The watchman told Joram, "He came to them, and he did not return. The leader goes in his war-wagon like a mad man, just like Jehu."
New Revised Standard
Again the sentinel reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. It looks like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi; for he drives like a maniac."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the watchman told, saying, He came up to them, but hath not turned back, - and, the driving, is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi; for, with mad haste, doth he drive.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the watchman told, saying: He came even to them, but returneth not: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu, the son of Namsi; for he drives furiously.
Revised Standard Version
Again the watchman reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously."
THE MESSAGE
The sentry said, "The messenger reached them, but he's not returning. The driving is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi—crazy!"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The watchman reported, "He came even to them, and he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."

Contextual Overview

16 Joram was resting in Jezreel, so Jehu got in his chariot and drove to Jezreel. King Ahaziah of Judah had also come to Jezreel to see Joram. 17 A guard was standing on the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu's large group coming. He said, "I see a large group of people!" Joram said, "Send someone on a horse to meet them. Tell this messenger to ask if they come in peace." 18 So the messenger rode on a horse to meet Jehu. The messenger said, "King Joram says, ‘Do you come in peace?'" Jehu said, "You have nothing to do with peace. Come and follow me." The guard told Joram, "The messenger went to the group, but he has not come back yet." 19 Then Joram sent out a second messenger on a horse. This man came to Jehu's group and said, "King Joram says, ‘Peace.'" Jehu answered, "You have nothing to do with peace. Come and follow me." 20 The guard told Joram, "The second messenger went to the group, but he has not come back yet. There is a man driving his chariot like a mad man. He is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi." 21 Joram said, "Get me my chariot!" So the servant got Joram's chariot. Both King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah got their chariots and drove out to meet Jehu. They met him at the property of Naboth from Jezreel. 22 Joram saw Jehu and asked, "Do you come in peace, Jehu?" Jehu answered, "There is no peace as long as your mother Jezebel does many acts of prostitution and witchcraft." 23 Joram turned the horses to run away. He said to Ahaziah, "It is a trick, Ahaziah!" 24 But Jehu grabbed his bow and shot Joram in the middle of his back, through the heart. Joram fell dead in his chariot. 25 Jehu said to his chariot driver Bidkar, "Take Joram's body up and throw it into the field of Naboth from Jezreel. Remember when you and I rode together with Joram's father Ahab, the Lord said this would happen to him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

driving: or, marching, Habakkuk 1:6, Habakkuk 3:12

for he driveth: 2 Kings 10:16, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Isaiah 54:16, Daniel 11:44

furiously: Heb. in madness

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 18:27 - thinketh

Cross-References

Genesis 3:23
So the Lord God forced the man out of the Garden of Eden to work the ground he was made from.
Genesis 4:2
Eve gave birth again to Cain's brother Abel. Abel became a shepherd, and Cain became a farmer.
Genesis 5:29
Lamech named his son Noah. Lamech said, "We work very hard as farmers because God cursed the ground. But Noah will bring us rest."
Genesis 9:18
Noah's sons came out of the boat with him. Their names were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.)
Genesis 9:19
These three men were Noah's sons. And all the people on earth came from these three sons.
Genesis 9:24
Later, Noah woke up. (He was sleeping because of the wine.) When he learned what his youngest son Ham had done to him,
Genesis 9:26
Noah also said, "May the Lord , the God of Shem, be praised! May Canaan be Shem's slave.
Deuteronomy 20:6
Is there any man here who has planted a vineyard but has not yet gathered any of the grapes? That man should go back home. If that man dies in the battle, someone else will enjoy the fruit from his field.
Deuteronomy 28:30
"You will be engaged to a woman, but another man will have sexual relations with her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not gather anything from it.
Proverbs 10:11
The words of good people are like a spring of fresh water, but the words of the wicked only hide their violent plans.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the watchman told, saying, he came even unto them, and cometh not again,.... Was detained, as the other was:

and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for, coming nearer, the watchman could discern the manner of his driving:

for he driveth furiously; in great haste, making much speed, being a man of a very warm and active spirit; and now being eager to come up with Joram, and seize him unprepared, and ascend the throne; the Targum is the reverse,

"for he driveth quietly or slowly,''

being desirous of drawing Joram out of the city, and get him into his hands, and slay him, that he might not have the trouble of besieging the place, which was able to hold out some time against him; and besides, he remembered the prophecy of Elisha, that Naboth's blood would be requited in the field of Jezreel, 2 Kings 9:26, and therefore was desirous of drawing him out of the city, in order to slay him there.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The driving ... furiously - The word translated “driving” means “leading” or “conducting” a band. The watchman observed that the “company” (or, multitude) was led forward madly, and associated this strange procedure with the known character of Jehu. It is curious that some versions, as well as Josephus, give an opposite sense: “he driveth quietly.”

Jehu was properly “the grandson” of Nimshi, who was probably a more famous person than Jehoshaphat 2 Kings 9:2.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 9:20. He driveth furiously — Jehu was a bold, daring, prompt, and precipitate general. In his various military operations he had established his character; and now it was almost proverbial.


 
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