The Meaning of 2 Kings 3:11 Explained

2 Kings 3:11

KJV: But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.

YLT: And Jehoshaphat saith, 'Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah, and we seek Jehovah by him?' And one of the servants of the king of Israel answereth and saith, 'Here is Elisha son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.'

Darby: And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah that we may inquire of Jehovah by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.

ASV: But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah, that we may inquire of Jehovah by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But Jehoshaphat  said,  [Is there] not here a prophet  of the LORD,  that we may enquire  of the LORD  by him? And one  of the king  of Israel's  servants  answered  and said,  Here [is] Elisha  the son  of Shaphat,  which poured  water  on the hands  of Elijah. 

What does 2 Kings 3:11 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 3:1-12 - An Unwise Alliance
Jehoram's reign over the ten tribes was marked by some measures of reform. He discountenanced Baal worship; though, in defiance of the Second Commandment, he clave to Jeroboam's calves. Therefore Jehoshaphat was ill-advised to enter into alliance with him. The servant of Jehovah had no right to say to such a man, "I am as thou art," etc. He had said this before, and narrowly escaped with his life. It was very bad, therefore, to repeat a policy which was already discredited. See 1 Kings 22:4.
How often we rush into alliances and undertake engagements without prayer for guidance, and begin to seek God only when faced with disappointment! In the day of sore trouble, when it seemed likely that kings and troops would perish in the waterless desert, Judah sought divine help. But it was foolish and wrong to charge the Lord with their disasters, as in 2 Kings 3:10. When the curtains of the night are drawn, sailors steer by the stars; and often it is the pressure of dark trials that drives men to seek the advice and help of the servants of God. They know where to find such helpers, when they want them, though in their prosperity they ignore and deride. He who is willing to pour water, as a servant, will not be inflated with pride when three kings visit him. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 3

1  Jehoram's reign
4  Mesha rebels
6  Jehoram, with Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom, being distressed for want of water,
13  by Elisha obtains water, and promise of victory
21  The Moabites, deceived by the colour of the water, coming to spoil, are overcome
26  The king of Moab sacrifices his son, and raises the siege

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 3:11 mean?

but said Jehoshaphat [is there] no here prophet of Yahweh that we may inquire of Yahweh by him so answered one of the servants of the king of Israel and said Elisha [is] son of Shaphat who poured water on the hands of Elijah
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט הַאֵ֨ין פֹּ֤ה נָבִיא֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וְנִדְרְשָׁ֥ה אֶת־ יְהוָ֖ה מֵאוֹת֑וֹ וַ֠יַּעַן אֶחָ֞ד מֵעַבְדֵ֤י מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֣ע בֶּן־ שָׁפָ֔ט אֲשֶׁר־ יָ֥צַק מַ֖יִם עַל־ יְדֵ֥י אֵלִיָּֽהוּ

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  but  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט  Jehoshaphat 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹושָׁפָט 
Sense: son of king Asa and himself king of Judah for 25 years; one of the best, most pious, and prosperous kings of Judah.
הַאֵ֨ין  [is  there]  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
פֹּ֤ה  here 
Parse: Adverb
Root: פֹּה  
Sense: here, from here, hither.
נָבִיא֙  prophet 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
לַֽיהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְנִדְרְשָׁ֥ה  that  we  may  inquire 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common plural
Root: דַּרְיׄושׁ 
Sense: to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מֵאוֹת֑וֹ  by  him 
Parse: Preposition-m, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
וַ֠יַּעַן  so  answered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
אֶחָ֞ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
מֵעַבְדֵ֤י  of  the  servants 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
מֶֽלֶךְ־  of  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וַיֹּ֔אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֱלִישָׁ֣ע  Elisha  [is] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלִישָׁע  
Sense: the great prophet who succeeded Elijah.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
שָׁפָ֔ט  of  Shaphat 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁפָט  
Sense: son of Hori and the prince of Simeon chosen to spy out the promised land.
יָ֥צַק  poured 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָצַק  
Sense: to pour, flow, cast, pour out.
מַ֖יִם  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
יְדֵ֥י  the  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
אֵלִיָּֽהוּ  of  Elijah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵלִיָּה 
Sense: the great prophet of the reign of Ahab.