Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, May 4th, 2025
the Third Sunday after Easter
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

New Life Version

2 Kings 2:2

Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, I ask you. For the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ascension;   Elisha;   Oath;   Servant;   Students;   Translation;   Thompson Chain Reference - Beth-El;   Constancy;   Elisha;   Friendship;   Friendship-Friendlessness;   Social Duties;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Elisha;   Gilgal;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Elijah;   Elisha;   Oath;   Prophecy, prophet;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elijah;   Miracle;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Heaven;   Prophet;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Elijah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Bethel;   Ebal;   Elisha;   Gilgal;   Shechem (1);   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ascension;   Bethel;   Elijah;   Hell;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bethel;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Elijah;   Elisha;   Gilgal;   Oath;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Beth'el;   Gil'gal;   Jer'icho;   Prophet;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Preaching;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Israel;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Elijah;   Gilgal;   Oath;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
and Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me on to Bethel.”
Hebrew Names Version
Eliyah said to Elisha, Please wait here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Beit-El. Elisha said, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Beit-El.
King James Version
And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
English Standard Version
And Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
New Century Version
Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here. The Lord has told me to go to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as you live, I won't leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
New English Translation
Elijah told Elisha, "Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As certainly as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
Amplified Bible
And Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha replied, "As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
New American Standard Bible
And Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Eliiah saide to Elisha, Tarie here, I pray thee: for the Lorde hath sent me to Bethel. But Elisha said, As the Lord liueth, and as thy soule liueth, I will not leaue thee. So they came downe to Beth-el.
Legacy Standard Bible
And Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here please, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you." So they went down to Bethel.
Contemporary English Version
Elijah said to Elisha, "The Lord wants me to go to Bethel, but you must stay here." Elisha replied, "I swear by the living Lord and by your own life that I will stay with you no matter what!" And he went with Elijah to Bethel.
Complete Jewish Bible
when Eliyahu said to Elisha, "Please wait here, because Adonai has sent me all the way to Beit-El." But Elisha said, "As Adonai lives, and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Beit-El.
Darby Translation
And Elijah said to Elisha, Abide here, I pray thee; for Jehovah has sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee! So they went down to Bethel.
Easy-to-Read Version
Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, because the Lord told me to go to Bethel." But Elisha said, "I promise, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So the two men went down to Bethel.
George Lamsa Translation
And Elijah said to Elisha, Wait for me here, for the LORD has sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Beth-el.
Good News Translation
and on the way Elijah said to Elisha, "Now stay here; the Lord has ordered me to go to Bethel." But Elisha answered, "I swear by my loyalty to the living Lord and to you that I will not leave you." So they went on to Bethel.
Lexham English Bible
Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for Yahweh has sent me up to Bethel." Elisha said, "As Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, I will certainly not leave you!" So they went down to Bethel.
Literal Translation
And Elijah said to Elisha, Please stay here, for Jehovah has sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said, As Jehovah lives, and your soul lives, I will not leave you. And they went down to Bethel.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Elias sayde to Eliseus: Tary thou here I praye the, for the LORDE hath sent me vnto Bethel. But Eliseus sayde: As truly as the LORDE liueth, and as truly as thy soule lyueth, I wyll not forsake the. And whan they came downe vnto Bethel,
American Standard Version
And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me as far as Beth-el. And Elisha said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.
Bible in Basic English
And Elijah said to Elisha, Come no farther for the Lord has sent me to Beth-el. But Elisha said, As the Lord is living and as your soul is living, I will not be parted from you. So they went down to Beth-el.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Elias saide vnto Elisa: Tary here I praye thee, for the Lorde hath sent me to Bethel. Elisa saide vnto him: As the Lorde lyueth, and as thy soule liueth, I will not leaue thee. And they came downe to Bethel,
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Elijah said unto Elisha: 'Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me as far as Beth-el.' And Elisha said: 'As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.' So they went down to Beth-el.--
King James Version (1611)
And Elijah said vnto Elisha, Tarie here, I pray thee: for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel: and Elisha said vnto him, As the Lord liueth, and as thy soule liueth, I wil not leaue thee. So they went downe to Bethel.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Eliu said to Elisaie, Stay here, I pray thee; for God has sent me to Baethel. And Elisaie said, As the Lord lives and thy soul lives, I will not leave thee; so they came to Baethel.
English Revised Version
And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me as far as Beth–el. And Elisha said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth–el.
Berean Standard Bible
and Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel." But Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Elie seide to Elisee, Sitte thou here, for the Lord sente me til into Bethel. To whom Elisee seide, The Lord lyueth and thi soule lyueth, for Y schal not forsake thee. And whanne thei hadden come doun to Bethel,
Young's Literal Translation
and Elijah saith unto Elisha, `Abide, I pray thee, here, for Jehovah hath sent me unto Beth-El;' and Elisha saith, `Jehovah liveth, and thy soul liveth, if I leave thee;' and they go down to Beth-El.
Update Bible Version
And Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you; for Yahweh has sent me as far as Beth-el. And Elisha said, As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Beth-el.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said, [As] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.
World English Bible
Elijah said to Elisha, Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel. Elisha said, As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel.
New King James Version
Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they went down to Bethel.
New Living Translation
And Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Bethel." But Elisha replied, "As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!" So they went down together to Bethel.
New Revised Standard
Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said Elijah unto Elisha - Tarry here, I pray thee, for, Yahweh, hath sent me as far as Bethel. And Elisha said, By the life of Yahweh and by the life of thine own soul, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Elias said to Eliseus: Stay thou here, because the Lord hath sent me as far as Bethel. And Eliseus said to him: As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And when they were come down to Bethel,
Revised Standard Version
And Eli'jah said to Eli'sha, "Tarry here, I pray you; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Eli'sha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

Contextual Overview

1 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a wind-storm, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, I ask you. For the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. 3 Then the sons of the men who spoke for God at Bethel came out to Elisha. They said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take Elijah from you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know. Say no more." 4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, I ask you to stay here. For the Lord has sent me to Jericho." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the men who spoke for God at Jericho came to Elisha. They said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take Elijah from you today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know. Say no more." 6 Then Elijah said to him, "I ask you to stay here. For the Lord has sent me to the Jordan." And Elisha said, "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. 7 Now fifty sons of the men who tell what will happen in the future went and stood on the other side of the Jordan River a long way off from the two of them who were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his coat and rolled it up and hit the water. And the water divided to one side and to the other, so the two of them crossed the Jordan on dry ground.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Tarry here: Ruth 1:15, Ruth 1:16, 2 Samuel 15:19, 2 Samuel 15:20, John 6:67, John 6:68

As the Lord: 2 Kings 2:4, 2 Kings 2:6, 2 Kings 4:30, 1 Samuel 1:26, 1 Samuel 17:55, 1 Samuel 25:26, Jeremiah 4:2

I will not: Ruth 1:16-18, 2 Samuel 15:21, 1 John 2:19

Bethel: Genesis 28:19, 1 Kings 12:29, 1 Kings 12:33, 1 Kings 13:1, 1 Kings 13:2

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 20:3 - but truly 2 Samuel 14:19 - As thy soul Amos 2:11 - I raised

Cross-References

Genesis 1:31
God saw all that He had made and it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 2:8
The Lord God planted a garden to the east in Eden. He put the man there whom He had made.
Genesis 2:11
The name of the first is Pishon. It flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold.
Exodus 23:12
You will work six days and rest on the seventh day. So your bull and your donkey may rest. And the son of your female servant, and the stranger, may get their strength again.
Exodus 31:17
It is something special between Me and the people of Israel forever. For the Lord made heaven and earth in six days. But He stopped working and rested on the seventh day."
Deuteronomy 5:14
But the seventh day is a Day of Rest to the Lord your God. You, your son, your daughter, your man servant, your woman servant, your bull, donkey or any of your cattle, or the traveler who stays with you, must not do any work on this day. So your man servant and woman servant may rest as well as you.
Isaiah 58:13
"If you keep from doing what pleases you on the Day of Rest, on My holy day and call the Day of Rest a happy time, and respect the holy day of the Lord, and if you honor it by turning from your own ways, and from following your own desire and by not talking in a foolish way,
John 5:17
Jesus said to them, "My Father is still working all the time so I am working also."
Hebrews 4:4
In the Holy Writings He said this about the seventh day when He made the whole world, "God rested on the seventh day from all He had made."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Elijah said unto Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee,.... Seemingly unwilling he should go with him, and be present at his assumption; which was either out of modesty, not affecting the spread of the honour and glory to be conferred upon him; or to prevent the grief of Elisha at his departure, or to try whether Elisha knew any thing of it, and what affection he had for him:

for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel; to give some comfort and some instruction and advice to the college of prophets there:

and Elisha said unto him, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee; being determined to see the last of him, and to have the benefit of his company and conversation, his heavenly discourse, and instruction from him as long as he could, and in hope of receiving a blessing from him at parting:

so they went down to Bethel; together, which, according to Bunting h, was six miles.

h Travels, &c. p. 205.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Tarry here - Elijah’s motive in making this request is not clear. Perhaps he thought that so awful and sacred a scene as that which he was led to expect 2 Kings 2:9, should be kept as secret as possible.

The Lord hath sent me to Bethel - Elijah may have been directed to Bethel, because of the “School of the prophets” there, that the sight of him - if not his words - might console and encourage them before they lost him forever.

As the Lord liveth ... - This double oath, repeated three times 2 Kings 2:4, 2 Kings 2:6, is very remarkable. The two clauses of it are separately used with some frequency (see Judges 8:19; Ruth 3:13; 1 Samuel 1:26, etc.), but it is comparatively seldom that they are united (see the marginal references).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 2:2. Tarry here, I pray thee — He either made these requests through humility, not wishing any person to be witness of the honour conferred on him by God, or with the desire to prove the fidelity of Elisha, whether he would continue to follow and serve him.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile