Bible Strands
2 Kings 3:18
This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Elisha speaks to Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and the king of Edom during a campaign against Moab, delivering this assurance immediately after promising water in a dry valley. The statement occurs as a divine guarantee preceding the command to destroy Moabite cities.
The words — The Hebrew נָקַל (na.Kal) literally means "it will be trifling" or "light," characterizing the military task as insignificant to God. The phrase בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה (be.'ei.Nei Yah.weh) translates to "in the eyes of Yahweh," establishing divine assessment over human calculation.
The thread — This assertion of divine capability mirrors Jeremiah 32:27 and Jeremiah 32:17, where God declares nothing is too difficult for Him. It corresponds with Luke 1:37, which confirms that no word from God will ever fail.
Why it lands — The text states that the forthcoming victory requires no natural signs like wind or rain, only obedience to the coming military orders. It demands the reader accept the promise as fact before executing the destructive commands in the subsequent verse.
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 this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?
- Luke 1:37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
- Jeremiah 32:17 “Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!
- 2 Kings 20:10 “It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps,” answered Hezekiah, “but not for it to go back ten steps.”
- Isaiah 49:6 He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
- Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
- Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
- Ezekiel 8:17 “Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see this? Is it not enough for the house of Judah to commit the abominations they are practicing here, that they must also fill the land with violence and continually provoke Me to anger? Look, they are even putting the branch to their nose!
- 1 Kings 3:13 Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.
- 1 Kings 20:13 Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”