Bible Strands
2 Kings 9:11
When Jehu went out to the servants of his master, they asked, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?” “You know his kind and their babble,” he replied.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jehu addresses his master’s servants immediately after exiting the young prophet’s presence and hearing the anointing prophecy.
The words — מַדּ֛וּעַ (ma.Du.a') = why? and הֲ/שָׁל֔וֹם (ha./sha.Lom) = peace/all right? frame the servants’ skeptical inquiry about the prophet’s sudden appearance.
The thread — The motif of prophets or messengers dismissed as insane appears in John 10:20, while Jer 29:26 and Hos 9:7 record the same pattern of leaders labeling prophetic figures as mad or foolish during periods of divine correction.
Why it lands — It demands a reader evaluate whether a sudden divine message is dismissed as babble or received as authoritative, regardless of the messenger’s outward demeanor.
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
Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 29:26 ‘The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada, to be the chief officer in the house of the LORD, responsible for any madman who acts like a prophet—you must put him in stocks and neck irons.
- Hosea 9:7 The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.
- John 10:20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”
- Acts 26:24 At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”
- 2 Kings 5:21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right?”
- 2 Kings 9:17 Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!” “Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’”
- 2 Kings 9:19 So the king sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.”
- 2 Kings 9:22 When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” he replied, “as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”
- Mark 3:21 When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”
- 2 Kings 4:26 Please run out now to meet her and ask, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’” And she answered, “Everything is all right.”