2 Kings 2:17

But when they pressed him to the point of embarrassment, he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find Elijah.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Elisha responds to the company of prophets who have repeatedly urged him to permit fifty valiant men to search for Elijah. This exchange occurs immediately after Elisha initially refused and they pressed him until he relented.

The words — The Hebrew phrase וַיִּפְצְרוּ־עַד בּוֹשׁ (va/yi.ffet-seru-'ad bosh) literally means they urged him until he was ashamed or embarrassed. This lexical root denotes persistent pressure that overcomes initial hesitation.

The thread — The narrative pattern of pressing someone until they yield appears in 2 Samuel 18:22 and Luke 11:8, where repeated requests eventually break through reluctance.

Why it lands — The text records a reluctant concession followed by a three-day search that yields no result, requiring the reader to note that human persistence does not override divine timing or guarantee success.

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

וַיִּפְצְרוּ־va/i.yif.tze.ru-and/ they urgedב֥וֹv/o<in>/ himעַד־'ad-until בֹּ֖שׁboshwas ashamed וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said שְׁלָ֑חוּshe.La.chusend [them]וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙va/i.yish.le.Chuand/ they sent out חֲמִשִּׁ֣יםcha.mi.Shimfifty אִ֔ישׁ'Ishman וַיְבַקְשׁ֥וּva/y.vak.Shuand/ they searched שְׁלֹשָֽׁה־she.lo.shah-three יָמִ֖יםya.Mimdays וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not מְצָאֻֽהוּ׃me.tza.'U./huthey found/ him

King James Version

And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.

Cross-references

2 Kings 8:11 Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the man of God began to weep.
2 Samuel 18:22 Ahimaaz son of Zadok, however, persisted and said to Joab, “No matter what, please let me also run behind the Cushite!” “My son,” Joab replied, “why do you want to run, since you will not receive a reward?”
Luke 11:8 I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
Romans 10:2 For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.