2 Kings 9:18

New Century Version

The horseman rode out to meet Jehu, and he said, "This is what the king says: ‘Is all in order?'" Jehu said, "Why bother yourself with order? Come along behind me." The lookout reported, "The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So a horseman went to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Do you come in peace?’”

Hebrew Names Version
So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus says the king, Is it shalom? Yehu said, What have you to do with shalom? turn you behind me. The watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he isn't coming back.

King James Version
So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.

English Standard Version
So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, "Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?'" And Jehu said, "What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me." And the watchman reported, saying, "The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back."

New English Translation
So the horseman went to meet him and said, "This is what the king says, ‘Is everything all right?'" Jehu replied, "None of your business! Follow me." The watchman reported, "The messenger reached them, but hasn't started back."

Amplified Bible
So the horseman went to meet him and said, "Thus says the king: 'Do you come in peace?'" And Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Rein in behind me." And the watchman reported, "The messenger approached them, but he has not returned."

New American Standard Bible
So a horseman went to meet him and said, "This is what the king says: 'Is your intention peace?'" But Jehu said, "How is peace any business of yours? Turn and follow me." And the watchman reported, "The messenger came to them, but he did not return."

Geneva Bible (1587)
So there went one on horseback to meete him, and sayde, Thus sayth the King, Is it peace? And Iehu sayd, What hast thou to do with peace? Turne behinde me. And the watchman tolde, saying, The messenger came to them, but he commeth not againe.

Legacy Standard Bible
So a horseman went to meet him and said, "Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?'" And Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Turn behind me." And the watchman declared saying, "The messenger came to them, but he did not return."

Contemporary English Version
One of the soldiers rode out and said to Jehu, "King Joram wants to know if this is a friendly visit." "What's it to you?" Jehu asked. "Just stay behind me with the rest of my troops!" About the same time the guard in the watchtower said, "Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn't coming back."

Complete Jewish Bible
So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, "The king asks if you are coming in peace." Yehu answered, "Peace? What business is that of yours? Turn around, and get behind me!" The watchman reported, "The messenger reached them, but he isn't coming back."

Darby Translation
So there went one on horseback to meet him; and he said, Thus saith the king: Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told saying, The messenger came to them, and he does not return.

Easy-to-Read Version
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."

George Lamsa Translation
So there went a horseman to meet him and said to him, Thus says the king: Is it peace? And Jehu said. What have you to do with peace? Turn behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he did not return.

Good News Translation
The messenger rode out to Jehu and said to him, "The king wants to know if you come as a friend." "That's none of your business!" Jehu answered. "Fall in behind me." The guard on the watchtower reported that the messenger had reached the group but was not returning.

Lexham English Bible
So the rider of the horse went out to meet him, and he said, "Thus the king asks, ‘Is it peace?'" Then Jehu said, "What do you have to do with peace? Turn after me." Then the watchman reported, saying, "The messenger went up to them, but he did not return."

Literal Translation
And the rider on the horse went to meet him, and said, So says the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What have you to do with peace? Turn behind me. And the watchman spoke, saying,The messenger came to them, and he has notreturned.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the charetman rode to mete them, and sayde: Thus sayeth the kynge: Is it peace? Iehu sayde: What hast thou to do with peace? Turne the behynde me. The watchman tolde it, and sayde: The messaunger is come vnto them, and cometh not agayne.

American Standard Version
So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not back.

Bible in Basic English
So a horseman went out to them and said, The king says, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What have you to do with peace? come after me. And the watchman gave them word, saying, The horseman went up to them, but has not come back.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And so there went one on horsbacke to meete him, and sayde: Thus sayth the king: is it peace? And Iehu sayd: What hast thou to do with peace? turne thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying: The messenger came to them, but he commeth not againe.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said: 'Thus saith the king: Is it peace?' And Jehu said: 'What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me.' And the watchman told, saying: 'The messenger came to them, but he cometh not back.'

King James Version (1611)
So there went one on horsebacke to meete him, and said, Thus sayth the king, Is it peace? And Iehu said, What hast thou to doe with peace? turne thee behinde me. And the watchman tolde, saying, The messenger came to them, but he commeth not againe.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And there went a horseman to meet them, and said, Thus says the king, Peace. And Ju said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn behind me. And the watchman reported, saying, The messenger came up to them, and has not returned.

English Revised Version
So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.

Berean Standard Bible
So a horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, "This is what the king asks: 'Have you come in peace?'" "What do you know about peace?" Jehu replied. "Fall in behind me." And the watchman reported, "The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor he, that stiede on the chare, yede in to the meetyng of hym, and seide, The kyng seith these thingis, Whether alle thingis ben peesid? And Hieu seide to hym, What to thee and to pees? Passe thou, and sue me. And the aspiere telde, and seide, the messanger cam to hem, and he turneth not ayen.

Young's Literal Translation
and the rider on the horse goeth to meet him, and saith, `Thus said the king, Is there peace?' and Jehu saith, `What -- to thee and to peace? turn round behind me.' And the watchman declareth, saying, `The messenger came unto them, and he hath not returned.'

Update Bible Version
So one went on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus says the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What have you to do with peace? turn behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he didn't come back.

Webster's Bible Translation
So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, [Is it] peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he doth not return.

World English Bible
So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus says the king, Is it peace? Jehu said, What have you to do with peace? turn you behind me. The watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he isn't coming back.

New King James Version
So the horseman went to meet him, and said, "Thus says the king: "Is it peace?"' And Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me." So the watchman reported, saying, "The messenger went to them, but is not coming back."

New Living Translation
So a horseman went out to meet Jehu and said, "The king wants to know if you are coming in peace." Jehu replied, "What do you know about peace? Fall in behind me!" The watchman called out to the king, "The messenger has met them, but he's not returning."

New Life Bible
So a horseman went to meet him and said, "The king asks, ‘Do you come in peace?'" And Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Get behind me." Then the watchman told Joram, "The horseman came to them, but he did not return."

New Revised Standard
So the horseman went to meet him; he said, "Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?'" Jehu responded, "What have you to do with peace? Fall in behind me." The sentinel reported, saying, "The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So the horseman went to meet him, and said - Thus, saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said - What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came up to them, but hath not turned back.

Douay-Rheims Bible
So there went one in a chariot to meet him, and said: Thus saith the king: Are all things peaceable? And Jehu said: What hast thou to do with peace? go behind and follow me. And the watchman told, saying: The messenger came to them, but he returneth not.

Revised Standard Version
So a man on horseback went to meet him, and said, "Thus says the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Turn round and ride behind me." And the watchman reported, saying, "The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back."

THE MESSAGE
The horseman rode out to meet Jehu and said, "The king wants to know if there's anything wrong." Jehu said, "What's it to you whether things are right or wrong? Fall in behind me." The sentry said, "The messenger reached them, but he's not returning."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So a horseman went to meet him and said, "Thus says the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Turn behind me." And the watchman reported, "The messenger came to them, but he did not return."

Contextual Overview

¹⁶ Then he got into his chariot and set out for Jezreel, where Joram was resting. Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him. ¹⁷ The lookout was standing on the watchtower in Jezreel when he saw Jehu's troops coming. He said, "I see some soldiers!" Joram said, "Take a horseman and send him to meet them. Tell him to ask, ‘Is all in order?'" ¹⁸ The horseman rode out to meet Jehu, and he said, "This is what the king says: ‘Is all in order?'" Jehu said, "Why bother yourself with order? Come along behind me." The lookout reported, "The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back." ¹⁹ Then Joram sent out a second horseman. This rider came to Jehu's group and said, "This is what the king says: ‘Is all in order?'" Jehu answered, "Why bother yourself with order? Come along behind me." ²⁰ 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!" ²¹ Joram said, "Get my chariot ready." Then the servant got Joram's chariot ready. Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite. ²² When Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is all in order, Jehu?" Jehu answered, "There will never be any order as long as your mother Jezebel worships idols and uses witchcraft." ²³ Joram turned the horses to run away and yelled to Ahaziah, "It's a trick, Ahaziah!" ²⁴ Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between his shoulders. The arrow went through Joram's heart, and he fell down in his chariot. ²⁵ Jehu ordered Bidkar, his chariot officer, "Pick up Joram's body, and throw it into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember when you and I rode together with Joram's father Ahab. The Lord made this prophecy against him:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

What hast thou to do: 2 Kings 9:19, 2 Kings 9:22, Isaiah 48:22, Isaiah 59:8, Jeremiah 16:5, Romans 3:17

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 2:13 - Comest 2 Kings 9:31 - peace

Cross-References

Genesis 9:23
Then Shem and Japheth got a coat and, carrying it on both their shoulders, they walked backwards into the tent and covered their father. They turned their faces away so that they did not see their father's nakedness.

Genesis 9:25
he said, "May there be a curse on Canaan! May he be the lowest slave to his brothers."

Genesis 9:27
May God give more land to Japheth. May Japheth live in Shem's tents, and may Canaan be their slave."

Genesis 10:1
This is the family history of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah. After the flood these three men had sons.

Genesis 10:6
The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

1 Chronicles 1:4
The sons of Noah were Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, thus saith the king, is it peace?.... Are things well in the army, or any disturbance in the kingdom? are you come as friends or enemies?

and Jehu said, what hast thou to do with peace? or to ask such a question:

turn thee behind me; which he was obliged to do, Jehu having such a company of soldiers with him; and this he did, that he might carry no tidings to Joram, that he might not know as yet who he and his company were:

and the watchman told, saying, the messenger came to them, but he cometh not again; of this he sent word to the king what he had observed.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

What hast thou to do with peace? - i. e., “What does it matter to thee whether my errand is one of peace or not?”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 9:18. What hast thou to do with peace? — "What is it to thee whether there be peace or war? Join my company, and fall into the rear."