2 Kings 6:19
New International Version
Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.

New Living Translation
Then Elisha went out and told them, “You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to the city of Samaria.

English Standard Version
And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.

Berean Standard Bible
And Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.

King James Bible
And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.

New King James Version
Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria.

New American Standard Bible
Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria.

NASB 1995
Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria.

NASB 1977
Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city; walk after me and I will walk you over to the man whom you seek.” And he walked them over to Samaria.

Amplified Bible
Then Elisha said to the Arameans, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me and I will lead you to the man whom you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you’re looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you’re looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.

American Standard Version
And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. And he led them to Samaria.

Contemporary English Version
Elisha told the enemy troops, "You've taken the wrong road and are in the wrong town. Follow me. I'll lead you to the man you're looking for." Elisha led them straight to the capital city of Samaria.

English Revised Version
And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. And he led them to Samaria.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Elisha told them, "This isn't the way! This isn't the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you're looking for." So he led them into Samaria.

Good News Translation
Then Elisha went to them and said, "You are on the wrong road; this is not the town you are looking for. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are after." And he led them to Samaria.

International Standard Version
Then Elisha told the army, "This isn't the way, and this isn't the city! Follow me, and I'll bring you to the man you're seeking. Then he led them to Samaria.

Majority Standard Bible
And Elisha told them, ?This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.? And he led them to Samaria.

NET Bible
Then Elisha said to them, "This is not the right road or city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you're looking for." He led them to Samaria.

New Heart English Bible
Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." He led them to Samaria.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.

World English Bible
Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” He led them to Samaria.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Elisha says to them, “This [is] not the way, nor [is] this the city; come after me, and I lead you to the man whom you seek”; and he leads them to Samaria.

Young's Literal Translation
And Elisha saith unto them, 'This is not the way, nor is this the city; come after me, and I lead you unto the man whom ye seek;' and he leadeth them to Samaria.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Elisha will say to them, This not the way, and this not the city: go ye after me, and I will take you to the man whom ye will seek. And he will cause them to go to Shomeron.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Eliseus said to them: This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will shew you the man whom you seek. So he led them into Samaria.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Elisha said to them: “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will reveal to you the man whom you are seeking.” Then he led them into Samaria.

New American Bible
Then Elisha said to them: “This is the wrong road, and this is the wrong city. Follow me! I will take you to the man you want.” And he led them to Samaria.

New Revised Standard Version
Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city; follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city; follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Elisha said to them: “This is not the road and this was not the city! Come after me and I shall bring you to the man whom you seek!” And he took them to Samaria.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Elisha said unto them: 'This is not the way, neither is this the city; follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek.' And he led them to Samaria.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Elisaie said to them, This is not the city, and this is not the way: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. And he led them away to Samaria.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elisha Captures the Blinded Arameans
18As the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Please strike these people with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha. 19And Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria. 20When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men that they may see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes, and they looked around and discovered that they were in Samaria.…

Cross References
2 Kings 2:23-25
From there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking up the road, a group of boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” / 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. / And Elisha went on to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 4:27-37
When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.” / Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’” / So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.” ...

2 Kings 5:20-27
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, by not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” / So Gehazi pursued Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right?” / “Everything is all right,” Gehazi replied. “My master has sent me to say, ‘Look, two young men from the sons of the prophets have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’” ...

2 Kings 7:6-7
For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us.” / Thus the Arameans had arisen and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents and horses and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had run for their lives.

2 Kings 8:7-15
Then Elisha came to Damascus while Ben-hadad king of Aram was sick, and the king was told, “The man of God has come here.” / So the king said to Hazael, “Take a gift in your hand, go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’” / So Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him a gift of forty camel loads of every good thing from Damascus. And he went in and stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’” ...

2 Kings 13:14-19
When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” / Elisha told him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So Jehoash took a bow and some arrows. / Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So the king put his hand on the bow, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. ...

2 Kings 20:1-11
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’” / Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, / “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. ...

1 Samuel 9:6-10
“Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.” / “If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” / The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.” ...

1 Samuel 16:1-13
Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.” / “How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ / Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.” ...

1 Samuel 28:8-19
So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.” / But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?” / Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.” ...

1 Kings 13:11-24
Now a certain old prophet was living in Bethel, and his sons came and told him all the deeds that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words that the man had spoken to the king. / “Which way did he go?” their father asked. And his sons showed him the way taken by the man of God, who had come from Judah. / So the prophet said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” Then they saddled the donkey for him, and he mounted it ...

1 Kings 22:19-23
Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. / And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that. / Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD. ...

Isaiah 29:10-14
For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers. / And the entire vision will be to you like the words sealed in a scroll. If it is handed to someone to read, he will say, “I cannot, because it is sealed.” / Or if the scroll is handed to one unable to read, he will say, “I cannot read.” ...

Jeremiah 5:21
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.

Ezekiel 12:2
“Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.


Treasury of Scripture

And Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria.

follow me [heb] come ye after me

Matthew 16:24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mark 8:34
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Luke 9:23
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

I will bring

2 Samuel 16:18,19
And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide…

Luke 24:16
But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

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City Elisha Eli'sha Follow Led Road Samaria Sama'ria Searching Seek Way
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2 Kings 6
1. Elisha, allowing the young prophets to enlarge dwellings, floats an axhead
8. He discloses the king of Syria's counsel
13. The army which was sent to Dothan to apprehend Elisha, is blinded
19. Being brought into Samaria, they are dismissed in peace
24. The famine in Samaria causes women to eat their own children
30. The king sends to slay Elisha














And Elisha said to them
Elisha, the prophet, plays a central role in this narrative. His name in Hebrew, אֱלִישָׁע (Elisha), means "God is salvation." This reflects his mission and the divine authority he carries. As a prophet, Elisha is God's mouthpiece, and his words and actions are direct manifestations of God's will. Historically, Elisha succeeded Elijah and continued his work, performing miracles and guiding the people of Israel. His presence in this verse underscores the theme of divine intervention and guidance.

This is not the way
The phrase "This is not the way" can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual direction. In Hebrew, the word for "way" is דֶּרֶךְ (derekh), which often signifies a path or journey, both physically and spiritually. Elisha's statement can be interpreted as a call to discernment, urging the people to seek God's path rather than their own. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of following God's guidance rather than relying on human understanding.

and this is not the city
Elisha's declaration that "this is not the city" serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual perception over physical sight. The city, in this context, represents a place of destination or fulfillment. Historically, cities were centers of power and refuge. Elisha's words challenge the audience to look beyond the immediate and visible, encouraging them to trust in God's ultimate plan and purpose.

Follow me
The command "Follow me" is a call to obedience and trust. In the biblical context, following a prophet or leader often meant aligning oneself with God's will. This phrase echoes Jesus' later call to His disciples, emphasizing the importance of discipleship and faith. It invites the audience to step out in faith, trusting in God's provision and direction.

and I will lead you to the man you are seeking
Elisha's promise to "lead you to the man you are seeking" highlights the role of the prophet as a guide and mediator. In Hebrew culture, seeking often implies a quest for truth or divine revelation. Elisha's assurance reflects God's faithfulness in providing guidance and answers to those who earnestly seek Him. It also underscores the theme of divine providence, where God uses His servants to fulfill His purposes.

And he led them to Samaria
The final phrase, "And he led them to Samaria," is significant both geographically and theologically. Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and often a place of conflict and idolatry. By leading them to Samaria, Elisha not only redirects their physical journey but also symbolically brings them to a place of confrontation with their spiritual state. This act serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the unexpected ways He fulfills His plans. Historically, this event demonstrates God's power to protect and deliver His people, even in the midst of their enemies.

(19) This is not the way, neither is this the city.--These words pre-suppose, according to Josephus, that the prophet had asked them whom they were seeking, and that they had replied, "The prophet Elisha." Thenius and Bahr accept this. Keil says, "Elisha's words contain a falsehood, and are to be judged of in the same way as every ruse by which an enemy is deceived." Thenius declares that "there is no untruth in the words of Elisha, strictly taken; for his home was not in Dothan (where he had only stayed for a time), but in Samaria; and the phrase 'to the man might well mean 'to his house.' " Surely it is easier to suppose that the "dazing" had caused the Syrians to go wandering about in the valley at the foot of the hill, vainly seeking to find the right way up to the city gate. (Comp. Gen. 50100, "They wearied themselves to find the door.") If the prophet found them in this plight, his words would be literally true.

The man whom ye seek.--An irony.

Bring you.--Lead you.

But he led.--And he led (or, guided).

To Samaria.--Heb., Shom?ron?h. The Assyrian spelling is Shamerina; and this, compared with the Greek ?????????, suggests that the original name was Shamirin ("the warders"). The final ? in the present Hebrew form may be due to confounding y with w.

Verse 19. - And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city. This was clearly "an untruthful statement" (Keil), if not in the letter, yet in the intent. Elisha meant the Syrians to understand him to say, "This is not the way which ye ought to have taken if ye wanted to capture the Prophet Elisha, and this is not the city (Dothan) where you were told that he was to be found." And so the Syrians understood him. In the morality of the time, and, indeed, in the morality of all times up to the present, it has been held to be justifiable to deceive a public enemy. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. It could only be through the miraculous delusion for which Elisha had prayed, and which had been sent, that the Syrians believed the first comer in an enemy's country, followed him to the capital without hesitation, and allowed him to bring them inside 'the walls. But for the delusion, they would have suspected, made inquiries of others, and retreated hastily, as soon as the walls and towers of Samaria broke on their sight.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

told
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

them,
אֲלֵהֶ֜ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“This
זֶ֣ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

is not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

the way,
הַדֶּרֶךְ֮ (had·de·reḵ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

and this
זֹ֣ה (zōh)
Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2090: This, that

is not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

the city.
הָעִיר֒ (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

Follow
וְאוֹלִ֣יכָה (wə·’ō·w·lî·ḵāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

me,
אַחֲרַ֔י (’a·ḥă·ray)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

and I will take
לְכ֣וּ (lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

you to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the man
הָאִ֖ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

you are seeking.”
תְּבַקֵּשׁ֑וּן (tə·ḇaq·qê·šūn)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

And he led
וַיֹּ֥לֶךְ (way·yō·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

them to Samaria.
שֹׁמְרֽוֹנָה׃ (šō·mə·rō·w·nāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8111: Samaria -- capital of northern kingdom of Israel


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OT History: 2 Kings 6:19 Elisha said to them This is not (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
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