2 Kings 3:15
New International Version
But now bring me a harpist.” While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came on Elisha

New Living Translation
Now bring me someone who can play the harp.” While the harp was being played, the power of the LORD came upon Elisha,

English Standard Version
But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him.

Berean Standard Bible
But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha

King James Bible
But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

New King James Version
But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

New American Standard Bible
But now bring me a musician.” And it came about, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

NASB 1995
“But now bring me a minstrel.” And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

NASB 1977
“But now bring me a minstrel.” And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

Legacy Standard Bible
So now bring me a musician.” And it came about, when the musician played, that the hand of Yahweh came upon him.

Amplified Bible
But now bring me a musician.” And it came about while the musician played, that the hand (power) of the LORD came upon Elisha.

Christian Standard Bible
Now, bring me a musician.” While the musician played, the LORD’s hand came on Elisha.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now, bring me a musician.” While the musician played, the LORD’s hand came on Elisha.

American Standard Version
But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of Jehovah came upon him.

Contemporary English Version
Then Elisha said, "Send for someone who can play the harp." The harpist began playing, and the LORD gave Elisha this message for Joram:

English Revised Version
But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But get me someone to play some music." While the musician was playing, the LORD's power came over Elisha.

Good News Translation
Now get me a musician." As the musician played his harp, the power of the LORD came on Elisha,

International Standard Version
Now bring me a musician." As the musician played, the hand of the LORD rested on Elisha,

Majority Standard Bible
But now, bring me a harpist.? And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha

NET Bible
But now, get me a musician." When the musician played, the LORD energized him,

New Heart English Bible
But now bring me a minstrel." It happened, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came on him.

Webster's Bible Translation
But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

World English Bible
But now bring me a musician.” When the musician played, Yahweh’s hand came on him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and now, bring a musician to me”; and it has been, at the playing of the musician, that the hand of YHWH is on him,

Young's Literal Translation
and now, bring to me a minstrel; and it hath been, at the playing of the minstrel, that the hand of Jehovah is on him,

Smith's Literal Translation
And now take to me a player on an instrument And it was when the player played, and the hand of Jehovah will be upon him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But now bring me hither a minstrel. And when the minstrel played, the hand of the Lord came upon him, and he said:

Catholic Public Domain Version
But now, bring a musician to me.” And while the musician was playing, the hand of the Lord fell upon him, and he said:

New American Bible
Now get me a minstrel.” When the minstrel played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha,

New Revised Standard Version
But get me a musician.” And then, while the musician was playing, the power of the LORD came on him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, the hand of the LORD came upon him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And now, bring to me a Minstrel!” And it was that when the Minstrel played, the hand of LORD JEHOVAH was upon him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But now bring me a minstrel.' And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now fetch me a harper. And it came to pass, as the harper harped, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joram Overcomes Moab's Rebellion
14Then Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not for my regard for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or acknowledge you. 15But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha 16and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’…

Cross References
1 Samuel 10:5-6
After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. / Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be transformed into a different person.

1 Chronicles 25:1-3
Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service: / From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. These sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. / From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all—under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, giving thanks and praise to the LORD.

1 Samuel 16:23
And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play. Then Saul would find relief and feel better, and the spirit of distress would depart from him.

2 Chronicles 5:13-14
The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud / so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

1 Samuel 19:20-24
he sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy. / When this was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they began to prophesy as well. So Saul tried again and sent messengers a third time, and even they began to prophesy. / Finally, Saul himself left for Ramah and came to the large cistern at Secu, where he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” “At Naioth in Ramah,” he was told. ...

2 Chronicles 20:21-22
Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.” / The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated.

1 Chronicles 13:8
David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

1 Chronicles 16:4-6
David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel. / Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals / and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

2 Chronicles 29:25-30
Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets. / The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. / And Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be sacrificed on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD and the trumpets began as well, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. ...

Psalm 33:2-3
Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings. / Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.

Psalm 150:3-5
Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre. / Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute. / Praise Him with clashing cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals.

Ephesians 5:18-19
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. / Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Acts 16:25-26
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. / Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

1 Corinthians 14:15
What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.


Treasury of Scripture

But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came on him.

1 Samuel 10:5
After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:

1 Samuel 16:23
And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

1 Samuel 18:10
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

the hand

1 Kings 18:46
And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Ezekiel 1:3
The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

Ezekiel 3:14,22
So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me…

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2 Kings 3
1. Jehoram's reign
4. Mesha rebels
6. Jehoram, with Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom, being distressed for want of water,
13. by Elisha obtains water, and promise of victory
21. The Moabites, deceived by the colour of the water, coming to spoil, are overcome
26. The king of Moab sacrifices his son, and raises the siege














But now
This phrase indicates a transition or a shift in the narrative. Elisha, the prophet, is about to engage in a prophetic act. The urgency and immediacy of the situation are underscored by these words, suggesting that divine intervention is imminent. In the Hebrew context, such transitions often signal a moment of divine revelation or action.

bring me a harpist
The request for a harpist is significant. In ancient Israel, music was often associated with prophecy and worship. The harp, a stringed instrument, was commonly used in temple worship and prophetic settings. The Hebrew word for harpist, "נגן" (nagan), implies a skilled musician. This request highlights the role of music in creating an atmosphere conducive to receiving divine revelation. It suggests that Elisha sought to prepare his spirit and the environment for the movement of the Holy Spirit.

While the harpist played
The act of playing music serves as a prelude to the prophetic experience. In the biblical tradition, music is not merely entertainment but a means of spiritual preparation and connection with God. The playing of the harp likely helped Elisha focus and attune himself to the voice of God. This reflects the broader biblical theme of worship and music as integral to spiritual life and prophetic ministry.

the hand of the LORD
This phrase is a powerful biblical metaphor for God's presence and power. The "hand of the LORD" signifies divine intervention and empowerment. In Hebrew, "יד יהוה" (yad Yahweh) conveys the idea of God's active involvement in human affairs. This expression is used throughout the Old Testament to describe moments when God exerts His will or imparts His power to individuals, especially prophets.

came upon Elisha
The coming of the LORD's hand upon Elisha indicates a moment of divine inspiration and authority. Elisha, as a prophet, is now under the direct influence of God's Spirit. This phrase underscores the belief that true prophecy is not a human endeavor but a divine act. The Hebrew concept of God's Spirit coming upon someone is often associated with empowerment for a specific task or message.

(15) Bring me a minstrel.--M?nagg?n--i.e., a harper, player on a stringed instrument (n?gin?h). Elisha called for music as a natural means of calming his perturbed spirit (2Kings 3:13-14). Composure and serenity of soul were essential, if the prophet was to hear the voice of God within. Cicero tells us that the Pythagoreans were wont to tranquillise their minds after the strain of thought with' harp music and singing (Tusc. Iv. 2). (Comp. 1Samuel 10:5; 1Chronicles 25:1, Note.) The incident is a striking mark of the historical truth of the narrative.

And it came to pass.--Perfect with weak waw: a later idiom. (Comp. 1Samuel 17:48.)

The hand of the Lord came upon him.--Targum and some MSS., "the Spirit of the Lord;" but comp. 1Kings 18:46. . . .

Verse 15. - But now bring me a minstrel. A player on the harp seems to be intended. Music was cultivated in the schools of the prophets (1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 25:1-3), and was employed to soothe and quiet the soul, to help it to forget things earthly and external, and bring it into that ecstatic condition in which it was most open to the reception of Divine influences. As David's harping refreshed Saul, and tranquillized his spirit (1 Samuel 16:23), so the playing of any skilled minstrel had a soothing effect on those possessing the prophetic gift generally, and enabled them to shut out the outer world, and concentrate their whole attention on the inward voice which communicated to them the Divine messages. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. By "the hand of the Lord" is meant the power of the Spirit of God, the Divine effluence, whatever it was, which acquainted the prophets with the Divine will, and enabled them to utter it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But now,
וְעַתָּ֖ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

bring
קְחוּ־ (qə·ḥū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3947: To take

me
לִ֣י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

a harpist.”
מְנַגֵּ֑ן (mə·nag·gên)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5059: To touch or play a stringed instrument

And while the harpist
הַֽמְנַגֵּ֔ן (ham·nag·gên)
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5059: To touch or play a stringed instrument

played,
כְּנַגֵּ֣ן (kə·nag·gên)
Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5059: To touch or play a stringed instrument

the hand
יַד־ (yaḏ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of the LORD
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

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

upon Elisha
עָלָ֖יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT History: 2 Kings 3:15 But now bring me a minstrel (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 3:14
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