The Meaning of 2 Kings 3:17 Explained

2 Kings 3:17

KJV: For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.

YLT: for thus said Jehovah, Ye do not see wind, nor do ye see rain, and that valley is full of water, and ye have drunk -- ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.

Darby: For thus saith Jehovah: Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet this valley shall be filled with water, and ye shall drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.

ASV: For thus saith Jehovah, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, and ye shall drink, both ye and your cattle and your beasts.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For thus saith  the LORD,  Ye shall not see  wind,  neither shall ye see  rain;  yet that valley  shall be filled  with water,  that ye may drink,  both ye, and your cattle,  and your beasts. 

What does 2 Kings 3:17 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 3:13-27 - Mesha's Defeat And Desperate Sacrifice
Jehoshaphat, though erring, was still God's child, and deliverance came to him. The heights of our senseless folly and the depths of our waywardness will not succeed in severing us from God's love. Elisha used the very words of Elijah, 2 Kings 3:14 and 1 Kings 17:1. Notice how men of different mold and mission, the Elijahs and the Elishas, derive their inspiration and strength in the same way. As a great Christian general put it, "Every morning I stand at attention before my Maker." Note the effect of music in soothing the soul! 2 Kings 3:15.
In all God's gifts there is need for our cooperation. He alone can send the water, but we must trench the ground. Our expectant faith creates the capacity to receive God's gifts; but when we have gone to our limit and the valley is filled with ditches, He is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond. The answer came at the hour of morning prayer, and probably at the prophet's intercession, 1 Kings 8:44. God's answers are often too deep and inward to give outward sign. There is sound of neither wind nor rain; but our prayers are answered to the full. Many of the points in this narrative-notably 2 Kings 3:27 -have been corroborated by the recent explorations in Moab. [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 3:17 mean?

For thus says Yahweh not You shall see wind nor shall you see rain and yet valley that shall be filled with water so that may drink you and your cattle and your animals
כִּֽי־ כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה לֹֽא־ תִרְא֥וּ ר֙וּחַ֙ וְלֹֽא־ תִרְא֣וּ גֶ֔שֶׁם וְהַנַּ֥חַל הַה֖וּא יִמָּ֣לֵא מָ֑יִם וּשְׁתִיתֶ֛ם אַתֶּ֥ם וּמִקְנֵיכֶ֖ם וּֽבְהֶמְתְּכֶֽם

כֹ֣ה ׀  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
תִרְא֥וּ  You  shall  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
ר֙וּחַ֙  wind 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
וְלֹֽא־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תִרְא֣וּ  shall  you  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
גֶ֔שֶׁם  rain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֶּשֶׁם  
Sense: rain, shower.
וְהַנַּ֥חַל  and  yet  valley 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַחַל 
Sense: torrent, valley, wadi, torrent-valley.
הַה֖וּא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
יִמָּ֣לֵא  shall  be  filled 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
מָ֑יִם  with  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
וּשְׁתִיתֶ֛ם  so  that  may  drink 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
וּמִקְנֵיכֶ֖ם  and  your  cattle 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.
וּֽבְהֶמְתְּכֶֽם  and  your  animals 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.