The Meaning of 2 Kings 7:3 Explained

2 Kings 7:3

KJV: And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

YLT: And four men have been leprous, at the opening of the gate, and they say one unto another, 'What -- we are sitting here till we have died;

Darby: And there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate, and they said one to another, Why do we abide here until we die?

ASV: Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And there were four  leprous  men  at the entering in  of the gate:  and they said  one  to another,  Why sit  we here until we die? 

What does 2 Kings 7:3 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 7:1-11 - "windows In Heaven"
There is a sore famine just now over the whole world-a famine of God's Word. For some years the Church has felt its growing severity, but there are two classes within her borders: they who believe that God can open the windows of heaven, and pour down such a blessing that there will not be room to receive it, Malachi 3:10; and those who, like the unbelieving courtier, jeer at the hope of the saints. Let us answer the skeptic's "Can God?" by the positive achievements of faith.
When God sends blessings to His people, He rarely takes methods that we might expect. Rather, He chooses the weak and foolish things, yea, those that are not, to confound those that are, so as to prevent flesh from glorying in His presence. Whenever, in the first glint of the morning light, you discover the divine answer to your prayers, in all its plenteous abundance, do not keep the good news to yourself lest punishment overtake you, but be sure to bear the glad tidings to others. When it is a day of good tidings, be sure to act upon them, in faith and patience, counting it a sin to hold your peace. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 7

1  Elisha prophesies incredible plenty in Samaria
3  four lepers, venturing on the host of the Syrians, bring tidings of their flight
12  The king, finding by spies the news to be true, spoils the tents of the Syrians
17  The lord who would not believe the prophecy of plenty is trampled in the press

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 7:3 mean?

Now four men there were leprous at the entrance of the gate and they said one to another [For] what we are sitting here until we die
וְאַרְבָּעָ֧ה אֲנָשִׁ֛ים הָי֥וּ מְצֹרָעִ֖ים פֶּ֣תַח הַשָּׁ֑עַר וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־ רֵעֵ֔הוּ מָ֗ה אֲנַ֛חְנוּ יֹשְׁבִ֥ים פֹּ֖ה עַד־ ؟ מָֽתְנוּ

וְאַרְבָּעָ֧ה  Now  four 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, masculine singular
Root: אַרְבַּע  
Sense: four.
אֲנָשִׁ֛ים  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
הָי֥וּ  there  were 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מְצֹרָעִ֖ים  leprous 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, masculine plural
Root: צָרַע  
Sense: to be diseased of skin, be leprous.
פֶּ֣תַח  at  the  entrance 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּתַח  
Sense: opening, doorway, entrance.
הַשָּׁ֑עַר  of  the  gate 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙  and  they  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אִ֣ישׁ  one 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
רֵעֵ֔הוּ  another 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
מָ֗ה  [For]  what 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
יֹשְׁבִ֥ים  are  sitting 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
פֹּ֖ה  here 
Parse: Adverb
Root: פֹּה  
Sense: here, from here, hither.
עַד־  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
؟ מָֽתְנוּ  we  die 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.