Bible Strands
2 Kings 3:14
Then Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not for my regard for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or acknowledge you.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Elisha addresses the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah during a military campaign against Moab, immediately after rebuking the king of Israel for relying on human prophets instead of divine guidance.
The words — The oath formula חַי־יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת (chai-Yahweh tzeva'ot) literally means "by the life of Yahweh of hosts," grounding Elisha’s authority in the living God. He follows with עָמַדְתִּי לְפָנָיו (amadti lefanav), "I stand before him," to declare his continuous prophetic office.
The thread — This specific oath phrasing and the "before whom I stand" declaration recur in 2 Kings 5:16 and 1 Kings 17:1, while the warning against ignoring God’s direct word aligns with 1 Samuel 15:26.
Why it lands — The text establishes that prophetic authority and divine action function independently of royal status or political necessity. It requires the reader to accept that national outcomes depend on submitting to God’s presence rather than human counsel.
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 Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 5:16 But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused.
- 1 Kings 17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”
- 1 Samuel 15:26 “I will not return with you,” Samuel replied. “For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel.”
- 1 Kings 14:5 But the LORD had said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to ask you about her son, for he is ill. You are to say such and such to her, because when she arrives, she will be disguised.”
- 1 Kings 18:15 Then Elijah said, “As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will present myself to Ahab today.”
- 1 Kings 21:20 When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 17:3 Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals,
- 2 Chronicles 19:3 However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”
- Psalms 15:4 who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,
- Jeremiah 1:18 Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.