The Meaning of 2 Kings 2:23 Explained

2 Kings 2:23

KJV: 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.

YLT: And he goeth up thence to Beth-El, and he is going up in the way, and little youths have come out from the city, and scoff at him, and say to him, 'Go up, bald-head! go up, bald-head!'

Darby: And he went up from thence to Bethel, and as he went up by the way, there came forth little boys out of the city, and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, bald head; go up, bald head!

ASV: And he went up from thence unto Beth-el; and as he was going up by the way, there came forth young lads out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou baldhead; go up, thou baldhead.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 2 Kings 2:23 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 2:13-25 - Elijah's Spirit On Elisha
We, too, may have a double portion of Elijah's spirit, but everything depends on the purity of our hearts. Only the pure in heart can see, and if we can see into the spiritual, it is proof that our hearts are pure enough to become the residence of the Holy Spirit. Had Elisha been unable to see the translation of his friend, his nature would have been shown to be gross and sensual, and how should such a one have God's supreme gift?
When we receive this power, we must begin to use it at once. Whether we feel possessed of a fresh accession of spiritual dynamic or not, is immaterial. We must reckon that we have received, and must proceed to use; and as we make the attempt, the parting water will prove not only to ourselves, but to others, the reality of our experience. The reception of spiritual power is a quiet, secret act, known only to God and the soul; but the results are manifest to all. Hear these young men talk! Has God ever been known to take up a man and then cast him away on valley or mountain? That is not His way of dealing with those whom He loves and would honor. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 2

1  Elijah, taking his leave of Elisha, with his mantle divides Jordan
9  and, granting Elisha his request, is taken up by a fiery chariot into heaven
12  Elisha, dividing Jordan with Elijah's mantle, is acknowledged his successor
16  The young prophets, hardly obtaining leave to seek Elijah, cannot find him
19  Elisha with salt heals the unwholesome waters
23  Bears destroy the children that mocked Elisha

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 2:23 mean?

And he went up from there to Bethel and as he was going up the road and some youths little came from the city and mocked him and said to him go up you baldhead you baldhead
וַיַּ֥עַל מִשָּׁ֖ם בֵּֽית־ אֵ֑ל וְה֣וּא ׀ עֹלֶ֣ה בַדֶּ֗רֶךְ וּנְעָרִ֤ים קְטַנִּים֙ יָצְא֣וּ מִן־ הָעִ֔יר וַיִּתְקַלְּסוּ־ בוֹ֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ ל֔וֹ עֲלֵ֥ה קֵרֵ֖חַ קֵרֵֽחַ

וַיַּ֥עַל  And  he  went  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
מִשָּׁ֖ם  from  there 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: שָׁם  
Sense: there, thither.
אֵ֑ל  Bethel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֵּית־אֵל  
Sense: ancient place and seat of worship in Ephraim on border of Benjamin, identified with Luz (former name).
וְה֣וּא ׀  and  as  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
עֹלֶ֣ה  was  going  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
בַדֶּ֗רֶךְ  the  road 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וּנְעָרִ֤ים  and  some  youths 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
קְטַנִּים֙  little 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: קָטָן 
Sense: young, small, insignificant, unimportant.
יָצְא֣וּ  came 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
הָעִ֔יר  the  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
וַיִּתְקַלְּסוּ־  and  mocked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָלַס  
Sense: to mock, scoff.
וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
ל֔וֹ  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
עֲלֵ֥ה  go  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
קֵרֵ֖חַ  you  baldhead 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קֵרֵחַ  
Sense: bald.
קֵרֵֽחַ  you  baldhead 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קֵרֵחַ  
Sense: bald.