The Meaning of 2 Kings 2:9 Explained

2 Kings 2:9

KJV: And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

YLT: And it cometh to pass, at their passing over, that Elijah hath said unto Elisha, 'Ask, what do I do for thee before I am taken from thee?' and Elisha saith, 'Then let there be, I pray thee, a double portion of thy spirit unto me;'

Darby: And it came to pass when they had gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

ASV: And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass, when they were gone over,  that Elijah  said  unto Elisha,  Ask  what I shall do  for thee, before I be taken away  from thee. And Elisha  said,  I pray thee, let a double  portion  of thy spirit  be upon me. 

What does 2 Kings 2:9 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 2:9 mean?

And so it was when they had crossed over that Elijah said to Elisha Ask what may I do for you before I am taken away from you and said Elisha let be please a portion double of your spirit upon me
וַיְהִ֣י כְעָבְרָ֗ם וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּ אָמַ֤ר אֶל־ אֱלִישָׁע֙ שְׁאַל֙ מָ֣ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ לָּ֔ךְ בְּטֶ֖רֶם אֶלָּקַ֣ח מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֔ע וִֽיהִי־ נָ֛א פִּֽי־ שְׁנַ֥יִם בְּרוּחֲךָ֖ אֵלָֽי

וַיְהִ֣י  And  so  it  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְעָבְרָ֗ם  when  they  had  crossed  over 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּ  that  Elijah 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵלִיָּה 
Sense: the great prophet of the reign of Ahab.
אָמַ֤ר  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֱלִישָׁע֙  Elisha 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלִישָׁע  
Sense: the great prophet who succeeded Elijah.
שְׁאַל֙  Ask 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־  may  I  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לָּ֔ךְ  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
בְּטֶ֖רֶם  before 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: טֶרֶם  
Sense: before, not yet, before that.
אֶלָּקַ֣ח  I  am  taken  away 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ  from  you 
Parse: Preposition-m, second person feminine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֱלִישָׁ֔ע  Elisha 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלִישָׁע  
Sense: the great prophet who succeeded Elijah.
וִֽיהִי־  let  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
נָ֛א  please 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
פִּֽי־  a  portion 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
שְׁנַ֥יִם  double 
Parse: Number, md
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
בְּרוּחֲךָ֖  of  your  spirit 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
אֵלָֽי  upon  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).