Bible Strands
2 Kings 2:15
When the sons of the prophets who were watching him from Jericho saw what had happened, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The sons of the prophets in Jericho observe Elisha after he crosses the Jordan and address him directly upon his approach.
The words — The Hebrew verb נָחָה (Na.chah) renders literally as "it has rested," marking the transfer of Elijah's prophetic office to Elisha.
The thread — This language of resting spirit aligns with Numbers 11:25, where the Lord takes part of the Spirit on Moses and places it on the seventy elders.
Why it lands — The text records a factual recognition of prophetic succession followed by a physical act of submission, requiring the reader to acknowledge the established transfer of authority without adding external theological claims.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
Cross-references
- 1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
- Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
- Numbers 11:25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed that Spirit on the seventy elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but they never did so again.
- Numbers 27:20 Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him.
- Joshua 3:7 Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses.
- Joshua 4:14 On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.
- 2 Kings 2:7 Then a company of fifty of the sons of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing Elijah and Elisha as the two of them stood by the Jordan.
- 2 Kings 2:19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please note, our lord, that the city’s location is good, as you can see. But the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.”
- 2 Kings 4:1 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”
- 2 Kings 4:37 She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.