II Kings 2:14 · Bible study
2 Kings 2:14 Commentary: Where Is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Elisha ask where Yahweh is? This study explores faith, prophetic succession, and the meaning behind Elisha's question at the Jordan.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Elisha invokes the God of Elijah to confirm his succession through a demonstration of power, and the waters part, showing that the same God now works through him.
- Key words: “mantle” (H0155), prophet’s cloak; “where?” (H0346), a cry for presence; “struck” (H5221), the action repeated from 2 Kings 2:8; “divided” (Niphal of H2673), passive, emphasizing God’s action.
- Main debate: Whether Elisha’s question expresses tentative doubt (Barnes) or a confident request for manifestation (Cambridge, Keil & Delitzsch); also the meaning of the Hebrew phrase aph hu (“he also” or “even He”).
- Theological theme: Prophetic succession depends on the ongoing presence and power of God, not on human ability or inherited objects; faith must be exercised personally.
- Best use: A model for those stepping into spiritual leadership or legacy roles; a reminder that God’s power is available to each generation that calls on Him in faith.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over.
WEB World English Bible 2000
He took Elijah’s mantle that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” When he also had struck the waters, they were divided apart, and Elisha went over.
KJV King James Version 1769
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they were divided hither and thither; and Elisha went over.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and he taketh the robe of Elijah that fell from off him, and smiteth the waters, and saith, `Where is Jehovah, God of Elijah--even He?' and he smiteth the waters, and they are halved, hither and thither, and Elisha passeth over.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
and he took the mantle of Elijah which had fallen from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah? He also smote the waters, and they parted hither and thither, and Elisha went over.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he struck the waters with the mantle of Elias, that had fallen from him, and they were not divided. And he said: Where is now the God of Elias? And he struck the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, and Eliseus passed over.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y tomando el manto de Elías que se le había caído, hirió las aguas, y dijo: ¿ Dónde está Jehová, el Dios de Elías? Y así que hubo del mismo modo herido las aguas, apartáronse á uno y á otro lado, y pasó Eliseo.
E tomando o manto de Elias que se lhe havia caído, feriu as águas, e disse: Onde está o SENHOR, o Deus de Elias? E assim que houve do mesmo modo ferido as águas, apartaram-se a um e a outro lado, e passou Eliseu.
il prit le manteau qu’ Élie avait laissé tomber, et il en frappa les eaux, et dit: Où est l’ Éternel, le Dieu d’ Élie? Lui aussi, il frappa les eaux, qui se partagèrent çà et là, et Élisée passa.
und nahm den Mantel Elia' s, der ihm entfallen war, und schlug ins Wasser und sprach: Wo ist nun der HERR, der Gott Elia' s? und schlug ins Wasser; da teilte sich's auf beide Seiten, und Elisa ging hindurch.
En hij nam den mantel van Elia, die van hem afgevallen was, en sloeg het water, en zeide: Waar is de HEERE, de God van Elia? Ja, Dezelve? En hij sloeg het water, en het werd herwaarts en derwaarts verdeeld, en Elisa ging er door.
E, preso il mantello ch’era caduto di dosso ad Elia, percosse le acque, e disse: “Dov’è l’Eterno, l’Iddio d’Elia?” E quando anch’egli ebbe percosse le acque, queste si divisero di qua e di là, ed Eliseo passò.
A tak i on uderzył nim wody, a rozdzieliły się tam i sam, i przeszedł Elizeusz.
и взял милоть Илии, упавшую с него, и ударил ею по воде, и сказал: где Господь, Бог Илии, — Он Самый? И ударил по воде, и она расступилась туда и сюда, и перешел Елисей.
他用 以利亞 身上 掉下來 的 外衣 打 水，說：「耶和華─以利亞的 神 在哪裡呢？」 打 水之後，水也 左 右 分開，以利沙 就過來了。
And he took Elijah's robe, which had been dropped from him, and giving the water a blow with it, said, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? and at his blow the waters were parted this way and that; and Elisha went over.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Kings 2:14
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Elisha's question is an invocation of divine power, not an expression of doubt about God's presence or existence. Barnes describes Elisha's action as tentative: he was not sure of the result, so the question tests whether God is now with him as He was with Elijah. The Cambridge Bible interprets it as an entreaty for power to show itself, a request for confirmation of the promised spirit. Gill notes that Elisha knew the mantle alone could not do the work; he needed the Lord's might. Keil and Delitzsch read the difficult Hebrew phrase aph hu as an emphatic apposition: “yea He,” affirming God's presence even as the question is asked. The miracle that follows, the waters parting, provides the answer: the same God who divided the Jordan for Elijah is now with Elisha. Thus the verse marks the transfer of prophetic authority and confirms that God's power is not tied to one person but to His own faithful purposes.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Tentative test of faith (Barnes): Elisha strikes the waters uncertainly; his question reflects real doubt about whether God will act through him. The miracle then proves his call.
- Confident invocation of God (Cambridge, Keil & Delitzsch): Elisha’s question is an entreaty for God to manifest His power, grounded in the promise of a double portion. The phrase 'aph hu' ('even He') affirms God’s presence even before the answer.
What is clear: The waters parted, confirming that the same God who had acted through Elijah now acts through Elisha, validating his prophetic succession before the sons of the prophets.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of Elisha's question | The question is an invocation directed to God, asking for a display of His power to confirm Elisha’s calling. | Some read it as expressing genuine uncertainty (Barnes), while others see it as a confident, prayerful request that God would act (Cambridge, Keil & Delitzsch). |
| The phrase 'aph hu' (even he/he also) | The phrase is emphatic, adding weight to the statement. | It may refer to Elisha ('he also struck the waters'), or to God ('even He,' affirming God’s presence). The Masoretic accentuation connects it to the smiting, but the margin of the RV suggests connecting it to the question (Keil & Delitzsch). |
| Whether Elisha struck the waters twice | The text records two strikes in the sentence, but there is no narrative indication of a failed first attempt in the Hebrew. | The Vulgate and some Greek manuscripts add 'and they were not divided' after the first strike, implying a failed attempt. Most Protestant commentators reject this as lacking Hebrew support (Clarke, Cambridge). |
| Prophetic succession and the mantle | The mantle symbolizes the office and authority of the prophet; Elisha’s use of it shows continuity with Elijah’s ministry. | Some traditions emphasize the symbolic transfer of spirit through the mantle; others stress that the power comes from God alone, not the object (Gill). |
Historical & Cultural Context
This moment occurs immediately after the stunning event described in the preceding verses: Elijah is taken up to heaven by a chariot of fire and horses of fire. Elisha witnesses the departure, tears his clothes in grief, and picks up Elijah's mantle, the cloak that had fallen from his master (2 Kings 2:11, 13). The mantle was the distinctive garment of a prophet, a visible symbol of office and authority. Earlier, Elijah had used the same mantle to strike the Jordan, dividing the waters so the two could cross on dry ground (2 Kings 2:8).
Elisha now returns to the Jordan alone, holding the mantle. He is standing at the very boundary where Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land (Joshua 3) and where Elijah had just demonstrated God's power. This is a place of transition and testing. The “sons of the prophets” from Jericho watch from across the river (v. 15). They represent the prophetic community that looks to Elisha for leadership.
Culturally, the question “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” echoes the language of Israel's history. When Joshua took over from Moses, he was commanded to be strong and courageous because God was with him (Joshua 1:9). When Gideon doubted, he asked why God had forsaken Israel (Judges 6:13). Elisha stands at a similar juncture. He has been promised a double portion of Elijah's spirit (2 Kings 2:10), but the promise must be claimed in action. His question is not philosophical; it is a cry for the living God to show up and validate his call in the sight of all.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note a significant textual variant in the Septuagint (Complutensian) and Vulgate, which add the clause “and they were not divided” after the first mention of striking the waters. This reading suggests that Elisha’s first strike failed and only succeeded after his prayer. However, Adam Clarke and the Cambridge Bible agree that no extant Hebrew manuscript supports this addition, and it is “of no authority.” The Hebrew text gives no indication of a failed attempt.
The other textual issue involves the two Hebrew words aph hu (אַף־ה֣וּא). Their position and meaning affect the translation of the verse. The Masoretic pointing connects them to the following verb (“and he smote”), yielding “he also smote.” But the margin of the Revised Version, following some ancient and medieval Jewish interpreters, combines them with the preceding question: “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah, even He?” (Keil & Delitzsch support this reading). The supplied commentators do not resolve this, but both readings can be defended exegetically.
Reception History
In the history of interpretation, 2 Kings 2:14 has often been read as a pattern for spiritual succession and the testing of a new leader’s call. Early church fathers such as Athanasius are cited by Gill as interpreting aph hu as a name or title of God, affirming that Elisha invokes God’s own presence (Gill’s reference: Athanasius, De Communi Essentia Patris).
The passage became a favorite in Protestant commentaries of the 17th, 19th centuries, where it was used to encourage ministers stepping into the pulpit of a revered predecessor. Bishop Hall (cited by Cambridge) saw in this verse an example of bold prayer: “Let Jordan give the same way to me as it gave to my master.” The Vulgate’s variant reading of an initial failed attempt has been used in Catholic homiletics to teach that human effort without prayer is ineffective. Across traditions, this verse remains a touchstone for conversations about legacy, faith, and God’s faithfulness across generations.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The mantle of legacy: Elisha picks up what Elijah left behind. The fallen cloak represents both loss and opportunity, God's work continues through others.
- The question of faith: “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” is not doubt but a bold request for confirmation. Elisha needs to know that the same God who acted through his master will act through him.
- The answer of power: The waters part. God responds to faith that acts on His promise. The miracle authenticates Elisha as the new prophet and encourages the watching community.
Five-point outline
- Grief that does not paralyze: Elisha tears his clothes but then takes up the mantle.
- Acting on the tools of the past: The mantle has no power in itself; he must use it in faith.
- A question that invites divine response: Elisha speaks to God, not about God.
- The pattern of repetition with difference: Elijah struck once and the waters parted; Elisha also strikes, and they part, the same power, now at work in a new servant.
- Confirmation before the community: The sons of the prophets see and declare that the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.
Illustration hooks
- A new employee inherits a key project from a respected leader; they must decide whether to follow the former plan or trust their own judgment. Elisha's action models reverent imitation paired with personal dependence on God.
- A musician inherits an instrument from a mentor; playing it for the first time can feel like a test of whether the same skill will come through the new hands.
- The moment after a funeral when a family member must step into a role the deceased once filled, running a business, leading a household, caring for others.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know if God is with me the way He was with Christian leaders I admire?
- Is it okay to ask God to prove His presence, or does that show a lack of faith?
- What do I do with the spiritual legacy I have received from those who went before me?
Leading a Discussion
In this passage, Elisha faces a defining moment. He has seen his master leave, picked up the fallen mantle, and now stands at the Jordan, the same river Elijah crossed. His question “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” is both a prayer and a test. God answers by parting the waters. This small-group study invites you to reflect on how we step into callings that others have carried before us.
Discussion questions
- What do you notice about Elisha’s actions in verse 14? Why do you think he strikes the waters with the mantle before asking the question?
- Compare 2 Kings 2:14 with 2 Kings 2:8. How is Elisha imitating Elijah? What does that tell you about his understanding of his own calling?
- What does the question “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” reveal about Elisha’s faith at this point? Is he uncertain, confident, or something else?
- In what situations have you felt the need to ask God to show that He is with you in a new role or season?
- The sons of the prophets observe the miracle (v. 15). How does a visible answer to prayer affect a faith community?
- What “mantles” have been passed to you, spiritual heritage, responsibilities, relationships? How can you honor them without relying on their power alone?
- How does this passage encourage you to trust that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, even when human leaders change?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Joshua 1:1 | Now after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, |
| Joshua 1:9 | Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.” |
| Judges 6:13 | Gideon said to him, “Oh, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, ‘Didn’t Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?’ But now Yahweh has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.” |
| I Kings 18:36 | At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. |
| I Kings 18:39 | When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. They said, “Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!” |
| II Kings 2:8 | Elijah took his mantle, and rolled it up, and struck the waters; and they were divided here and there, so that they both went over on dry ground. |
| II Kings 2:10 | He said, “You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it will be so for you; but if not, it will not be so.” |
| Psalms 42:2 | My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that the Latin Vulgate presents Elisha striking the water twice, first without success as if relying on his own strength, then successfully after calling on the God of Elijah. Clarke points out that this distinction of a failed first attempt is not present in the Hebrew text or any other ancient version.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights Elisha’s uncertainty when he struck the Jordan. His cry "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" was a tentative test, not a confident claim. Elisha did not know if God would act for him as He had for Elijah, until the waters parted and removed his doubt.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes a textual difficulty in the Hebrew behind Elisha's question, where the words the King James Version renders as "he also" are problematic. The Revised Version margin offers "the God of Elijah, even He?" as a preferable but not flawless reading. The question itself is an entreaty for God's power, not an expression of doubt.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize Elisha's immediate use of Elijah's fallen mantle and his call upon the same Lord. The parting of the waters confirms that the prophetic authority has passed to him. Elisha crosses over, demonstrating that God's power remains with His new prophet.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws attention to the Hebrew phrase "aph hu," often translated "he also." He suggests it may be read as a declaration that God himself is present and answering Elisha's question: not just the mantle or the prophet's successor, but the Lord himself is still at work.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB points out that when Elisha struck the Jordan with Elijah's mantle and the waters parted, the watching sons of the prophets recognized this as proof that the Lord God of Elijah was with him. That miracle immediately confirmed Elisha as the new prophet of Israel in their eyes.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch defends the Hebrew phrase "even He" as an emphatic apposition in Elisha's question, rejecting alternate readings. This miracle confirmed to Elisha that his request was granted and proved to the prophetic disciples that Elijah's spirit now rested on him as his rightful successor.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that Elijah did not ride a literal fiery chariot into heaven. The chariot and horses of fire are a figurative description of the theophany—a fiery storm cloud that took Elijah away. The text says he was removed by a whirlwind, not a chariot, and early church fathers understood this as a removal toward heaven, not into it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Elijah left no body behind, only his mantle, because he was unclothed of earthly things to be clothed with immortality. That fallen mantle became the sole physical token of prophetic office passing to Elisha, a garment his master no longer needed in the world he entered.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that the Lord who divided the waters at Elijah's request is just as able to do it again. The emphasis falls on the unchanging power of God, available to a new generation through the same faithful reliance.