Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a cab of seed pods for five shekels. New Living Translation As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for five pieces of silver. English Standard Version And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. Berean Standard Bible So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver. King James Bible And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. New King James Version And there was a great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver. New American Standard Bible So there was a severe famine in Samaria; and behold, they kept besieging it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. NASB 1995 There was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. NASB 1977 And there was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. Legacy Standard Bible Now there was a great famine in Samaria. And behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. Amplified Bible Now there was a great famine in Samaria; and they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. Christian Standard Bible So there was a severe famine in Samaria, and they continued the siege against it until a donkey’s head sold for thirty-four ounces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for two ounces of silver. Holman Christian Standard Bible So there was a great famine in Samaria, and they continued the siege against it until a donkey’s head sold for 80 silver shekels, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for five silver shekels. American Standard Version And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. Contemporary English Version They kept up the attack until there was nothing to eat in the city. In fact, a donkey's head cost 80 pieces of silver, and a small bowl of pigeon droppings cost 5 pieces of silver. English Revised Version And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. GOD'S WORD® Translation The shortages caused by the blockade of Samaria became so severe that a donkey's head sold for two pounds of silver and a half-pint of dove manure for two ounces of silver. Good News Translation As a result of the siege the food shortage in the city was so severe that a donkey's head cost eighty pieces of silver, and half a pound of dove's dung cost five pieces of silver. International Standard Version until there was a great famine throughout Samaria. The siege lasted until a donkey's head cost 80 silver coins and one quarter of a unit of dove's dung cost five silver coins. Majority Standard Bible So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey?s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove?s dung sold for five shekels of silver. NET Bible Samaria's food supply ran out. They laid siege to it so long that a donkey's head was selling for eighty shekels of silver and a quarter of a kab of dove's droppings for five shekels of silver. New Heart English Bible There was a great famine in Samaria. Look, they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. Webster's Bible Translation And there was a great famine in Samaria: and behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. World English Bible There was a great famine in Samaria. Behold, they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand there is a great famine in Samaria, and behold, they are laying siege to it, until the head of a donkey is at eighty pieces of silver, and a forth of the cab of dove’s dung at five pieces of silver. Young's Literal Translation and there is a great famine in Samaria, and lo, they are laying siege to it, till the head of an ass is at eighty silverlings, and a forth of the cab of dovesdung at five silverlings. Smith's Literal Translation And a great famine will be in Shomeron: and behold them pressing upon it till the head of an ass was for eighty of silver, and the fourth of a cup of doves dung, for five of silver. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd there was a great famine in Samaria: and so long did the siege continue, till the head of an ass was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cabe of pigeon's dung, for five pieces of silver. Catholic Public Domain Version And a great famine occurred in Samaria. And it was blockaded for a long time, until the head of a donkey was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and one fourth part of a pint of pigeons’ dung sold for five silver coins. New American Bible Because of the siege the famine in Samaria was so severe that a donkey’s head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a fourth of a kab of “dove droppings” for five pieces of silver. New Revised Standard Version As the siege continued, famine in Samaria became so great that a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And there was a great famine in Samaria when those were encamping against it, until the head of a donkey was sold for eighty pieces of silver and a fourth of a qab of the dung of doves for five pieces of silver. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And there was a great famine in Samaria; and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. Brenton Septuagint Translation And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was valued at fifty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung at five pieces of silver. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Siege and Famine of Samaria24Some time later, Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army and marched up to besiege Samaria. 25So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver. 26As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help me, my lord the king!”… Cross References Leviticus 26:29 You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters. Deuteronomy 28:53-57 Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. / The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, / refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. ... Lamentations 4:10 The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. Ezekiel 5:10 As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’ Jeremiah 19:9 I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’ 2 Kings 7:4 If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.” 2 Kings 25:3 By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. Jeremiah 52:6 By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. Isaiah 3:1 For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water, Lamentations 2:20 Look, O LORD, and consider: Whom have You ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the infants they have nurtured? Should priests and prophets be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord? Matthew 24:7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven. Revelation 6:5-6 And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. / And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.” Revelation 18:8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” Mark 13:8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. Treasury of Scripture And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. a great famine 2 Kings 6:28,29 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow… 2 Kings 7:4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. 2 Kings 25:3 And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. Ezekiel 4:13-16 And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them… Jump to Previous Ass's Besieged City Donkey's Dung Eighty Famine Five Fourscore Fourth Great Head Lasted Part Pieces Samaria Sama'ria Shekels Siege Silver SoldJump to Next Ass's Besieged City Donkey's Dung Eighty Famine Five Fourscore Fourth Great Head Lasted Part Pieces Samaria Sama'ria Shekels Siege Silver Sold2 Kings 6 1. Elisha, allowing the young prophets to enlarge dwellings, floats an axhead8. 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 So there was a great famine in Samaria The phrase "great famine" indicates a severe scarcity of food, which is a recurring theme in the Bible often used to signify divine judgment or a test of faith. The Hebrew word for famine, "רָעָב" (ra'av), suggests not just a lack of food but a dire situation that affects the entire community. Historically, famines were often the result of sieges, as enemy forces would cut off supplies to weaken a city. In this context, Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, is under siege by the Arameans, highlighting the city's vulnerability and the dire consequences of turning away from God. and they besieged it until a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver and a quarter cab of dove’s dung for five shekels Besieged.--Were besieging. Fourscore pieces The fourth part of a cab of dove's dung.--The cab was the smallest Hebrew dry measure. It held, according to the Rabbis, one-sixth of a seah (2Kings 7:1), or a little over a quart (??????.--Josephus, Antt. ix. 4, ? 4). The term dove's dung, in all probability, denotes some kind of common vegetable produce, perhaps a sort of pulse or pease, which was ordinarily very cheap. Such a designation is not unparalleled. The Arabs call the herb kali "sparrow's dung;" and Assaf?tida is in German "devil's dung." In some places in England a species of wild hyacinth is called "dead man's hands," from the livid markings on the flower. The shape and colour of the species of pulse mentioned in the text may similarly account for its name. It naturally occurs that so long as there were any "doves" left in the city it would not be necessary to eat their dung. When Josephus wrote that dung was eaten in the siege of Jerusalem, he probably had the present passage in his mind. Five pieces of silver.--Five (shekels in) silver; about 12s. 6d. Verse 25. - And there was a great famine in Samaria. It was Benhadad's design to capture the place, not by battering down its walls with military engines, but by blockading it, and cutting off all its supplies, as Josephus tells us (l.s.c.). And, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. The ass, being an unclean animal (Leviticus 11:4), would not be eaten at all except in the last extremity, and the head was the worst and so the cheapest part; yet it sold for "eighty pieces" (rather, shekels) of silver, or about £5 of our money; as in the Cadusian famine mentioned by Plutarch ('Wit. Artaxerx.,' § 24), where an ass's head was sold for sixty drachmas (about forty shillings). "Dove's dung" is thought by some to be the name of a plant; but it is better to understand the term literally. Both animal and human excrement have been eaten in sieges (Josephus, ' Bell. Jud.,' 5:13. § 7; Cels., 'Hierobot.,' 2. p. 233), when a city was in the last extremity.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So there wasוַיְהִ֨י (way·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be a great גָּדוֹל֙ (gā·ḏō·wl) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent famine רָעָ֤ב (rā·‘āḇ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7458: Famine, hunger in Samaria. בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן (bə·šō·mə·rō·wn) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 8111: Samaria -- capital of northern kingdom of Israel Indeed, וְהִנֵּ֖ה (wə·hin·nêh) Conjunctive waw | Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! they besieged צָרִ֣ים (ṣā·rîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 6696: To confine, bind, besiege [the city] עָלֶ֑יהָ (‘ā·le·hā) Preposition | third person feminine singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against so long that עַ֣ד (‘aḏ) Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while a donkey’s חֲמוֹר֙ (ḥă·mō·wr) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2543: A male ass head רֹאשׁ־ (rōš-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7218: The head sold הֱי֤וֹת (hĕ·yō·wṯ) Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be for eighty [shekels] בִּשְׁמֹנִ֣ים (biš·mō·nîm) Preposition-b | Number - common plural Strong's 8084: Eighty, eightieth of silver, כֶּ֔סֶף (ke·sep̄) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3701: Silver, money and a quarter וְרֹ֛בַע (wə·rō·ḇa‘) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7255: Fourth part cab הַקַּ֥ב (haq·qaḇ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6894: A hollow, vessel, a, measure of dove’s dung דִּבְיוֹנִ֖ים (diḇ·yō·w·nîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 2755: Excrements of doves, a vegetable sold for five [shekels] בַּחֲמִשָּׁה־ (ba·ḥă·miš·šāh-) Preposition-b, Article | Number - masculine singular Strong's 2568: Five of silver. כָֽסֶף׃ (ḵā·sep̄) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3701: Silver, money Links 2 Kings 6:25 NIV2 Kings 6:25 NLT 2 Kings 6:25 ESV 2 Kings 6:25 NASB 2 Kings 6:25 KJV 2 Kings 6:25 BibleApps.com 2 Kings 6:25 Biblia Paralela 2 Kings 6:25 Chinese Bible 2 Kings 6:25 French Bible 2 Kings 6:25 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Kings 6:25 There was a great famine in Samaria: (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
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