The Meaning of 2 Kings 7:4 Explained

2 Kings 7:4

KJV: If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

YLT: if we have said, We go in to the city, then the famine is in the city, and we have died there; and if we have sat here, then we have died; and now, come and we fall unto the camp of Aram; if they keep us alive, we live, and if they put us to death -- we have died.'

Darby: If we say, Let us enter into the city, the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we abide here, we shall die. And now come, let us fall away to the camp of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they put us to death, we shall but die.

ASV: If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If we say,  We will enter  into the city,  then the famine  [is] in the city,  and we shall die  there: and if we sit still  here, we die  also. Now therefore come,  and let us fall  unto the host  of the Syrians:  if they save us alive,  we shall live;  and if they kill  us, we shall but die. 

What does 2 Kings 7:4 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 7:4 mean?

if we say we will enter the city and the famine [is] in the city and we shall die there and if we sit here and we die therefore now come and let us surrender to the army of Syria they keep us alive we shall live they kill us and we shall only die
אִם־ אָמַרְנוּ֩ נָב֨וֹא הָעִ֜יר וְהָרָעָ֤ב בָּעִיר֙ וָמַ֣תְנוּ שָׁ֔ם וְאִם־ יָשַׁ֥בְנוּ פֹ֖ה וָמָ֑תְנוּ וְעַתָּ֗ה לְכוּ֙ וְנִפְּלָה֙ אֶל־ מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֔ם יְחַיֻּ֣נוּ נִֽחְיֶ֔ה יְמִיתֻ֖נוּ וָמָֽתְנוּ

אָמַרְנוּ֩  we  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
נָב֨וֹא  we  will  enter 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הָעִ֜יר  the  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
וְהָרָעָ֤ב  and  the  famine  [is] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָעָב  
Sense: famine, hunger.
בָּעִיר֙  in  the  city 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
וָמַ֣תְנוּ  and  we  shall  die 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common plural
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
וְאִם־  and  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
יָשַׁ֥בְנוּ  we  sit 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
פֹ֖ה  here 
Parse: Adverb
Root: פֹּה  
Sense: here, from here, hither.
וָמָ֑תְנוּ  and  we  die 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common plural
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
וְעַתָּ֗ה  therefore  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
לְכוּ֙  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וְנִפְּלָה֙  and  let  us  surrender 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common plural
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
מַחֲנֵ֣ה  the  army 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
אֲרָ֔ם  of  Syria 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲרָם 
Sense: Aram or Syria the nation.
יְחַיֻּ֣נוּ  they  keep  us  alive 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, first person common plural
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
נִֽחְיֶ֔ה  we  shall  live 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common plural
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
יְמִיתֻ֖נוּ  they  kill  us 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, first person common plural
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
וָמָֽתְנוּ  and  we  shall  only  die 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common plural
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.