2 Kings 3:17

For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet relays a direct declaration from Yahweh to the allied kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom during a campaign against Moab, immediately after commanding them to dig ditches in a dry valley.

The words — The phrase כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה (koh amara Yahweh) functions as a formal prophetic seal guaranteeing divine authorship, while לֹא תִרְאוּ רֹוחַ (lo tir'u ruach) literally states "you will not see wind," explicitly denying any natural meteorological cause for the coming provision.

The thread — This motif of water appearing without natural signs runs through Psalms 107:35, Isaiah 41:17, and Isaiah 43:19, where God repeatedly provides sustenance independently of visible environmental conditions.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to obey the command to prepare vessels before any visible evidence arrives, treating divine promise as the sole basis for action.

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

כִּֽי־ki-for כֹ֣ה׀khohthus אָמַ֣ר'a.Marhe says יְהוָ֗הYah.wehYahweh לֹֽא־lo'-not תִרְא֥וּtir.'Uyou will see ר֙וּחַ֙Ru.achwind וְלֹֽא־ve./lo'-and/ not תִרְא֣וּtir.'Uyou will see גֶ֔שֶׁםGe.shemrain וְהַנַּ֥חַלve./ha./Na.chaland/ the/ wadi הַה֖וּאha./Hu'<the>/ that יִמָּ֣לֵאyi.Ma.le'it will be filled מָ֑יִםMa.yimwater וּשְׁתִיתֶ֛םu./she.ti.Temand/ you will drink אַתֶּ֥ם'a.Temyou וּמִקְנֵיכֶ֖םu./mik.nei./Khemand/ livestock/ your וּֽבְהֶמְתְּכֶֽם׃U./ve.hem.te./Khemand/ animal[s]/ your

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Psalms 107:35 He turns a desert into pools of water and a dry land into flowing springs.
Isaiah 41:17 The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
Isaiah 48:21 They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.
Psalms 84:6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; even the autumn rain covers it with pools.
Exodus 17:6 Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Numbers 20:8 “Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”
1 Kings 18:36 At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command.