1 Kings 19:17
New International Version
Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.

New Living Translation
Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha!

English Standard Version
And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

King James Bible
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

New King James Version
It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.

New American Standard Bible
And it shall come about that the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.

NASB 1995
“It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.

NASB 1977
“And it shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.

Legacy Standard Bible
And it will be that the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.

Amplified Bible
It shall come about that Jehu shall put to death whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, and Elisha shall put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

Contemporary English Version
Hazael will start killing the people who worship Baal. Jehu will kill those who escape from Hazael, and Elisha will kill those who escape from Jehu.

English Revised Version
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If anyone escapes from Hazael's sword, Jehu will kill him. And if anyone escapes from Jehu's sword, Elisha will kill him.

Good News Translation
Anyone who escapes being put to death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and anyone who escapes Jehu will be killed by Elisha.

International Standard Version
Whoever escapes from Hazael's sword Jehu will execute, and whoever escapes from Jehu's sword Elisha will put to death.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

NET Bible
Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael's sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu's sword.

New Heart English Bible
It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

World English Bible
He who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it has been, he who has escaped from the sword of Hazael, Jehu puts to death, and he who has escaped from the sword of Jehu, Elisha puts to death;

Young's Literal Translation
'And it hath been, him who is escaped from the sword of Hazael, put to death doth Jehu, and him who is escaped from the sword of Jehu put to death doth Elisha;

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was him escaping from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu kill: and him escaping from the sword of Jehu, shall Elisha.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall escape the sword of Hazael, shall be slain by Jehu: and whosoever shall escape the sword of Jehu, shall be slain by Eliseus.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And this shall be: whoever will have escaped from the sword of Hazael, will be slain by Jehu. And whoever will have escaped from the sword of Jehu, will be put to death by Elisha.

New American Bible
Anyone who escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill. Anyone who escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.

New Revised Standard Version
Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it shall come to pass, that him who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And whomever will escape from the sword of Khazail, Yehu shall kill, and whomever will escape from the sword of Yehu, Elisha shall kill.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapes from the sword of Azael, Ju shall slay; and him that escapes from the sword of Ju, Elisaie shall slay.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Speaks to Elijah at Horeb
16You are also to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. 18Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”…

Cross References
2 Kings 8:12
“Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”

2 Kings 9:7
And you are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD shed by the hand of Jezebel.

2 Kings 10:11
So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.

2 Kings 10:17
When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down everyone belonging to Ahab who remained there, until he had destroyed them, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to Elijah.

2 Kings 10:28-31
Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel, / but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. / Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.” ...

Hosea 1:4
Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.

2 Kings 2:24
Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

2 Kings 13:3
So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them continually into the hands of Hazael king of Aram and his son Ben-hadad.

2 Kings 13:25
Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times, and so recovered the cities of Israel.

2 Kings 14:25
This Jeroboam restored the boundary of Israel from Lebo-hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word that the LORD, the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.

Romans 11:4
And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

Romans 11:5
In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

Romans 11:2-3
God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel: / “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”?

Luke 4:25-26
But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land. / Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon.

Matthew 17:3
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

And it shall come to pass, that him that escapes the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

him that escapeth

Isaiah 24:17,18
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth…

Amos 2:14
Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:

Amos 5:19
As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

the sword of Hazael

2 Kings 8:12
And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

2 Kings 10:32
In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;

2 Kings 13:3,22
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days…

the sword of Jehu

2 Kings 2:23,24
And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head…

Isaiah 11:4
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Jeremiah 1:10
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Jump to Previous
Death Elisha Eli'sha Escape Escaped Escapes Escapeth Gets Hazael Haz'ael Jehu Kill Safe Slay Sword
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Death Elisha Eli'sha Escape Escaped Escapes Escapeth Gets Hazael Haz'ael Jehu Kill Safe Slay Sword
1 Kings 19
1. Elijah, threatened by Jezebel, flees to Beersheba
4. In the desert, being weary of his life, he is comforted by an angel
9. At Horeb God appears unto him, sending him to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha
19. Elisha, taking leave of his friends, follows Elijah














Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael
Jehu, anointed as king of Israel, is a key figure in fulfilling God's judgment against the house of Ahab. His role is to execute divine justice, continuing the work initiated by Hazael, king of Aram. This reflects the biblical theme of God's sovereignty in using nations and leaders to accomplish His purposes. Jehu's actions are a direct response to the idolatry and wickedness of Ahab's lineage, as prophesied by Elijah. The sword symbolizes judgment and the execution of divine will, a recurring motif in the Old Testament. Jehu's zeal for the Lord is evident in his decisive actions, aligning with God's command to eradicate Baal worship from Israel.

and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu
Elisha, the prophet and successor of Elijah, represents the continuation of prophetic ministry and divine authority. His role in this passage underscores the spiritual dimension of God's judgment. While Jehu's sword is literal, Elisha's "sword" is metaphorical, signifying the power of God's word and prophetic pronouncement. Elisha's ministry is marked by miracles and the demonstration of God's power, serving as a type of Christ in his role as a mediator between God and the people. This phrase highlights the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, ensuring that no one escapes accountability. Elisha's involvement signifies the importance of spiritual leadership in guiding and correcting the nation according to God's will.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hazael
Anointed by God to be king over Aram, Hazael is used as an instrument of judgment against Israel. His role signifies God's sovereignty in using foreign powers to fulfill His purposes.

2. Jehu
Anointed as king over Israel, Jehu is tasked with eradicating the house of Ahab and purging Baal worship from Israel. His zeal for the Lord's commands is both commendable and cautionary.

3. Elisha
The prophet who succeeds Elijah, Elisha continues the prophetic ministry with a focus on miracles and guidance for the kings of Israel. His role in this verse highlights the continuation of God's judgment and mercy through prophetic leadership.

4. Sword
Symbolic of judgment and divine retribution, the sword represents God's justice executed through human agents.

5. Israel
The northern kingdom, often straying from God's commandments, is the primary focus of the judgments pronounced in this passage.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Judgment
God uses both believers and non-believers to accomplish His purposes. Understanding this can help us trust in His ultimate plan, even when it involves difficult circumstances.

The Role of Prophetic Leadership
Prophets like Elisha are crucial in guiding God's people back to righteousness. We should seek and value godly counsel in our lives.

The Consequences of Disobedience
The judgment executed by Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha serves as a warning of the serious consequences of turning away from God. It calls us to examine our own lives for areas of disobedience.

Zeal for God's Commands
Jehu's actions remind us of the importance of zeal in following God's commands, but also the need for wisdom and humility in our zeal.

The Continuity of God's Plan
The transition from Elijah to Elisha shows the continuity of God's work through different leaders. We can trust that God's purposes will continue through successive generations.(17) Him that escapeth the sword of Hazael.--The vengeance wrought by Hazael and Jehu on the faithlessness of Israel speaks for itself; it is marked in bloody letters on the history (2 Kings 10). But Elisha's mission was obviously not one of such vengeance. He had to destroy enmity, but not to slay the enemies of God. The difficulty, such as it is, is one of the many marks of historic accuracy in the whole passage. Probably Elisha's mission is here described in the terms in which Elijah would best understand it. His spirit was for war; he could hardly have conceived how the completion of his mission was to be wrought out by the weapons of peace in the hand of his successor. (Comp. 2Corinthians 10:3-6.)

Verse 17. - And it Shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael [See 2 Kings 8:12, 28; 2 Kings 10:32; 2 Kings 13:3, 22] shall Jehu slay [2 Kings 9:24-33; 2 Kings 10. passim. Cf. Isaiah 66:16]: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. [Elijah might reasonably interpret the commission to "anoint" Hazael, etc., as a figure, seeing there is an undoubted figure of speech here. Elisha was a man of peace. His sword was the "sword of the Spirit, the word of God." It was by "the breath of his lips he slew the wicked" (Isaiah 2:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Hosea 6:5). Not only are vers. 16, 17 an interpretation, in some sort, of the vision, but they are an answer to Elijah's complaint (vers. 10, 14). The "children of Israel" who had forsaken the covenant should be punished by Hazael (cf. 2 Kings 8:12, "I know what thou wilt do unto the children of Israel," and cf. 1 Kings:32); the king and queen who had thrown down the altars and slain the prophets should be slain, one by the sword of Syria, the other at the command of Jehu; while to his allegation that the prophets were extinct and he was left alone is opposed the ordination of a successor, and the mention of the "seven thousand" in ver. 18.]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then
וְהָיָ֗ה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

Jehu
יֵה֑וּא (yê·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3058: Jehu -- 'the LORD is He', the name of several Israelites

will put to death
יָמִ֣ית (yā·mîṯ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

whoever escapes
הַנִּמְלָ֛ט (han·nim·lāṭ)
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4422: To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks

the sword
מֵחֶ֥רֶב (mê·ḥe·reḇ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

of Hazael,
חֲזָאֵ֖ל (ḥă·zā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2371: Hazael -- 'God sees', a king of Aram (Syria)

and Elisha
אֱלִישָֽׁע׃ (’ĕ·lî·šā‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 477: Elisha -- 'God is salvation', a well-known Israelite prophet

will put to death
יָמִ֥ית (yā·mîṯ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

whoever escapes
וְהַנִּמְלָ֛ט (wə·han·nim·lāṭ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4422: To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks

the sword
מֵחֶ֥רֶב (mê·ḥe·reḇ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

of Jehu.
יֵה֖וּא (yê·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3058: Jehu -- 'the LORD is He', the name of several Israelites


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OT History: 1 Kings 19:17 It shall happen that he who escapes (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 19:16
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