The Meaning of 2 Kings 2:8 Explained

2 Kings 2:8

KJV: And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

YLT: And Elijah taketh his robe, and wrappeth it together, and smiteth the waters, and they are halved, hither and thither, and they pass over both of them on dry land.

Darby: And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither; and they two went over on dry ground.

ASV: And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Elijah  took  his mantle,  and wrapped [it] together,  and smote  the waters,  and they were divided  hither and thither, so that they two  went over  on dry  ground. 

What does 2 Kings 2:8 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 2:1-12 - Fitted To Succeed His Master
We are at a loss whether to admire most the humility of Elijah or the pertinacity of Elisha. The humility of the former is very beautiful. An ordinary man would have blazoned abroad the honor to be conferred upon him. He would have taken care to secure witnesses, that it might not be unrecognized and unknown. Instead of this Elijah sought to be alone, that no eye might see the chariot sent specially from heaven for His conveyance.
But the determination of Elisha is equally beautiful, and only they who stand such tests can behold and inherit the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. At Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho, Elisha might have stayed his steps at the call of indolence or love of ease; but the divine promptings would not allow him to remain. Do not allow yourself to be put back by apparent rebuffs. The Divine Spirit is only testing your mettle. Be ready with your request when He says: "Ask what I shall give thee." But you must have communion with the spirit-world, if you would have the double portion of the eldest son. They two went on; they two stood by Jordan; they two went over on dry ground; they two still went on and talked. Apply that to your intercourse with your Savior! [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 2:8 mean?

And took Elijah - his cloak and rolled [it] up and struck the water and it was divided this way that so that crossed over the two of them on dry ground
וַיִּקַּח֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ אֶת־ אַדַּרְתּ֤וֹ וַיִּגְלֹם֙ וַיַּכֶּ֣ה הַמַּ֔יִם וַיֵּחָצ֖וּ הֵ֣נָּה וָהֵ֑נָּה וַיַּעַבְר֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם בֶּחָרָבָֽה

וַיִּקַּח֩  And  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ  Elijah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵלִיָּה 
Sense: the great prophet of the reign of Ahab.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אַדַּרְתּ֤וֹ  his  cloak 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אַדֶּרֶת  
Sense: glory, cloak.
וַיִּגְלֹם֙  and  rolled  [it]  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּלַם  
Sense: (Qal) to wrap up, fold, fold together.
וַיַּכֶּ֣ה  and  struck 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
הַמַּ֔יִם  the  water 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
וַיֵּחָצ֖וּ  and  it  was  divided 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָצָה  
Sense: to divide, cut in two, cut short, live half (of one’s life).
הֵ֣נָּה  this  way 
Parse: Adverb
Root: הֵנָּה  
Sense: here, there, now, hither.
וָהֵ֑נָּה  that 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: הֵנָּה  
Sense: here, there, now, hither.
וַיַּעַבְר֥וּ  so  that  crossed  over 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם  the  two  of  them 
Parse: Number, mdc, third person masculine plural
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
בֶּחָרָבָֽה  on  dry  ground 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָרָבָה  
Sense: dry land, dry ground.