Bible Strands
2 Kings 6:19
And Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Elisha addresses a blinded Aramean raiding party immediately after Yahweh strikes them blind (2 Kings 6:18). He directs them toward Samaria to locate King Jehoram.
The words — The Hebrew phrase לֹא זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ (lo zeh ha-derekh) literally translates to "not this the way," marking a deliberate redirection from their intended military route.
The thread — The command to follow a divinely appointed guide echoes the summons to deny oneself and take up a cross in Matthew 16:24 and Mark 8:34.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate obedience to a leader’s direction when human perception is compromised, prioritizing divine guidance over personal certainty.
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 unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 16:18 “Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by this people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain.
- Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
- Mark 8:34 Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
- Luke 9:23 Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
- Luke 24:16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.