II Kings 6:20 · Bible study
2 Kings 6:20 Commentary: Eyes Opened in Samaria's Midst
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why Elisha delayed sight restoration until the Syrian army was inside Samaria, and how this reveals God's sovereignty, judgment, and mercy.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God blinds enemy soldiers, leads them into Israel's capital, then restores sight, not for slaughter but to demonstrate mercy and end a military threat.
- Key words: paqach (open, H6491) used for both the servant's sight (v.17) and the enemy's sight (v.20); hinneh (behold, H2009) marks the moment of recognition; sanverim implied in v.18 describes mental confusion.
- Main debate: Was the blindness physical or psychological? And was Elisha's statement 'this is not the way' a lie or a legitimate ruse de guerre?
- Theological theme: Divine sovereignty over human perception, and the surprising grace that turns enemies into guests.
- Best use: Sermon on God's power over opposition, the ethics of mercy in conflict, or the interplay of judgment and compassion.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men that they may see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes, and they looked around and discovered that they were in Samaria.
WEB World English Bible 2000
When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “Yahweh, open these men’s eyes, that they may see.” Yahweh opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the middle of Samaria.
KJV King James Version 1769
And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Jehovah, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And Jehovah opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And it cometh to pass, at their coming in to Samaria, that Elisha saith, `Jehovah, open the eyes of these, and they see;' and Jehovah openeth their eyes, and they see, and lo, in the midst of Samaria!
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And it came to pass when they entered into Samaria, that Elisha said, Jehovah, open the eyes of these [men] that they may see. And Jehovah opened their eyes, and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And when they were come into Samaria, Eliseus said: Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw themselves to be in the midst of Samaria.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y así que llegaron á Samaria, dijo Eliseo: Jehová, abre los ojos de éstos, para que vean. Y Jehová abrió sus ojos, y miraron, y halláronse en medio de Samaria.
E assim que chegaram a Samaria, disse Eliseu: SENHOR, abre os olhos destes, para que vejam. E o SENHOR abriu seus olhos, e olharam, e acharam-se em meio de Samaria.
Lorsqu’ ils furent entrés dans Samarie, Élisée dit: Éternel, ouvre les yeux de ces gens, pour qu’ ils voient! Et l’ Éternel ouvrit leurs yeux, et ils virent qu’ ils étaient au milieu de Samarie.
Und da sie gen Samaria kamen, sprach Elisa: HERR, öffne diesen die Augen, daß sie sehen! Und der HERR öffnete ihnen die Augen, daß sie sahen; und siehe, da waren sie mitten in Samaria.
En het geschiedde, als zij te Samaria gekomen waren, dat Elisa zeide: HEERE, open de ogen van dezen, dat zij zien! En de HEERE opende hun ogen, dat zij zagen; en ziet, zij waren in het midden van Samaria.
Quando furono entrati in Samaria, Eliseo disse: “O Eterno, apri loro gli occhi, affinché veggano”. L’Eterno aperse loro gli occhi, e a un tratto videro che si trovavano nel mezzo di Samaria.
A gdy weszli do Samaryi, rzekł Elizeusz: O Panie, otwórz oczy tych, aby przejrzeli. I otworzył Pan oczy ich, i widzieli, że byli w pośród Samaryi.
Когда они пришли в Самарию, Елисей сказал: Господи! открой глаза им, чтобы они видели. И открыл Господь глаза их, и увидели, что они в средине Самарии.
他們進了 撒馬利亞，以利沙 禱告說：「耶和華啊，求你開 這些 人的眼目，使他們能看見。」耶和華 開 他們的眼目，他們就看見了，不料，是在撒馬利亞 的城中。
And when they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, Lord, let the eyes of these men be open so that they may see. And the Lord made their eyes open, and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Kings 6:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse climaxes a narrative of divine control over human perception. God first confuses the Syrian army's sight (v.18) so Elisha can lead them from Dothan to Samaria, a four-hour journey, then restores their vision at the critical moment. The Cambridge Bible observes that Elisha's prayer for sight is the same as for his servant earlier (v.17), but with a different purpose: ‘natural sight was restored, after their eyes had been for a time holden.’ Keil and Delitzsch describe the blindness as ‘mental blindness … a state in which, though a man has eyes that can see, he does not see correctly.’ Gill notes that the soldiers were led ‘into the very heart of the city,’ where they realized their helplessness. The unanimous point: God brings enemies into the power of Israel not for slaughter but for a demonstration of mercy that changes the political landscape.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Mental Blindness: Keil and Delitzsch argue the Hebrew term implies confused perception, not loss of sight, supported by Genesis 19:11.
- Strategic Deception: Elisha's misleading words are defended as a permitted ruse de guerre, comparable to other military stratagems in Scripture.
- Miraculous Sight Restoration: The verb paqach is used for both the blinding and the opening, suggesting a direct supernatural act each time.
What is clear: God answers Elisha's prayer, opens the soldiers' eyes at the precise moment they are inside Samaria, and the king spares them, leading to a temporary cessation of raids.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of the blindness | Both sides agree that God directly intervened to prevent the Syrians from recognizing their true location. | Keil and Delitzsch argue it was 'mental blindness', a confusion of perception, while some earlier commentators (not represented in supplied excerpts) have taken it as physical blindness. The supplied sources favor the mental interpretation. |
| Elisha's deception | All commentators see Elisha's statement 'this is not the way' as deliberate misdirection. | Keil and Delitzsch justify it as a legitimate ruse de guerre, comparing it to other military stratagems. Matthew Henry and the Geneva Bible do not comment on the ethics, simply narrating the action. Some traditions question whether a prophet of God may deceive, even for a good end. |
| Reason for delayed sight restoration | The delay is purposeful and demonstrates God's control over the situation. | Cambridge Bible sees it as bringing the enemy into a snare to show their helplessness; Gill emphasizes the strategic advantage for the king of Israel; Keil sees it as part of the ruse to ensure safe passage. All agree that mercy follows the revelation of their position. |
| The king's desire to strike | The king's instinct to kill the captives is natural in ancient warfare. | Lange's commentary suggests the king's question 'shall I smite them?' reflects eagerness for vengeance. Elisha's response overrules that impulse, emphasizing mercy. Some interpreters see this as a type of God's willingness to spare enemies who are brought into his power. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This episode belongs to a series of Syrian raids against Israel (2 Kings 6:8, 23). The Syrian king, frustrated by Elisha's supernatural knowledge of his plans, sends a large force to capture the prophet at Dothan. Dothan stood on an isolated hill in a plain, with a range of hills on the east where the Syrians camped. When Elisha prays, God strikes the soldiers with sanverim, a term used in Genesis 19:11 for the blinding of the Sodomites. It does not mean total loss of sight, but a confused perception that prevents orientation. Elisha then offers to lead them ‘to the man whom you seek’ (v.19), and they follow him to Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom.
Crucially, Elisha does not ask God to open their eyes until they are fully inside the city gates, ‘in the midst of Samaria.’ The geography matters: Samaria was a fortified city on a hill, and the city gate was a controlled space. Once inside, the Syrians were surrounded by Israel's forces. The king of Israel immediately assumes he will kill them (v.21), which was the expected outcome for enemy combatants. But Elisha forbids it, ordering a feast instead (v.22, 23). The result: the Syrian raiding parties cease. This act of mercy, rooted in God's sovereignty over the whole campaign, becomes a turning point in the conflict, until Benhadad renews hostilities in v.24.
The culture of ancient Near Eastern warfare normally treated captured enemies harshly. Elisha's command to ‘set bread and water before them’ breaks the pattern: it reframes these soldiers as guests, not prisoners. The theological message is that God's power does not need human vengeance to achieve his purposes.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the major translations (Masoretic text, Septuagint, Vulgate) agree on the wording. The main interpretive differences arise from the meaning of 'blindness' in v.18, not from textual issues in v.20.
Reception History
The early church read this passage typologically: as the Syrian army was led into the heart of Samaria and then shown mercy, so Christ leads rebellious humanity into the sphere of his grace. The four Gospels echo this pattern when Jesus opens the eyes of his disciples after a journey (Luke 24:31). During the Reformation, Matthew Henry emphasized God's sovereignty over the enemy's perception and the restraint shown in not killing them. John Gill, writing in the Baptist tradition, focused on the strategic capture and the providential timing of sight. In modern scholarship, Keil and Delitzsch have shaped the common reading of 'mental blindness,' while the ethical question of Elisha's deception continues to generate discussion. The passage remains a favorite for sermons on divine providence and the power of mercy over vengeance.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God controls what we see, and what we do not see. The Syrian army is struck with blindness (v.18), then led miles away without realizing it. Perception itself is in God's hands, whether for protection (v.17) or for judgment (v.18).
- God brings enemies into the very heart of judgment before showing mercy. The soldiers only see where they are when escape is impossible. That moment of helplessness is where grace begins: instead of execution, they receive a feast.
- Elisha's prayer pattern reveals the source of power. He prays for sight, first for his servant (v.17), then for the enemy (v.20). Both prayers are answered instantly. The prophet's authority rests on his dependence on God, not on his own strategy.
Five-point outline
- Blindness as mercy (v.18), God prevents the soldiers from attacking Elisha.
- Deception as strategic kindness (v.19), Elisha leads them away from harm.
- The delay of sight (v.20a), they must enter Samaria before their eyes open.
- The moment of recognition (v.20b), ‘behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.’
- Mercy over vengeance (vv.21, 23), the feast cements peace.
Illustration hooks
- A wrong turn on a road trip: You think you are heading toward your destination, but you end up miles away. The moment you realize you are lost can feel like a trap, until someone offers help instead of a lecture.
- A child brought home by a neighbor: A lost child is confused and frightened, but the adult leads them back to safety. The child only understands where they are when they see their own front door.
- A debtor surprised by forgiveness: A person expects punishment or shame, but instead receives a meal and a fresh start. That reversal redefines the relationship.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why would God blind people just to lead them into captivity, when he could have destroyed them earlier?
- Is it okay for Elisha to lie about the way and the city? Was that deception justified?
- If God is sovereign over enemies, does that mean I should not defend myself when threatened?
Leading a Discussion
This passage turns the expected pattern of victory and vengeance on its head. God leads enemies into the middle of Israel's capital, then commands a feast. What does this tell us about God's attitude toward those who oppose him? As you work through these questions, notice how the story uses sight and blindness as a metaphor for spiritual understanding.
Discussion questions
- Read 2 Kings 6:15, 20. What similarities do you see between the prayer for Elisha's servant (v.17) and the prayer for the Syrian army (v.20)? What differences?
- The Hebrew word for 'open' (paqach) is the same in both prayers. Why does Elisha pray for the enemy's eyes to be opened only after they are inside Samaria? What changes in that moment?
- How would the Syrian soldiers have felt when they suddenly realized where they were? If you have ever experienced a sudden 'eyes opened' moment for good or for ill, share it briefly.
- The king of Israel wants to kill them (v.21). Elisha stops him. What does this tell you about the prophet's understanding of God's will? Should mercy always override justice?
- Verse 23 says the Syrian raiding parties stopped after this. How does showing mercy to an enemy produce long-term peace in ways that violence cannot?
- Jesus opens the eyes of the disciples in Luke 24:31 after a journey where they did not recognize him. How does that story echo this Old Testament account? What does it teach about how God reveals himself?
- In your own life, where might God be 'leading you to Samaria' before opening your eyes to see his purpose? How does patience change your perspective?
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)
| Judges 20:40 | But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and behold, the whole city went up in smoke to the sky. |
| Judges 20:42 | Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness, but the battle followed hard after them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the middle of it. |
| II Kings 6:17 | Elisha prayed, and said, “Yahweh, please open his eyes, that he may see.” Yahweh opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha. |
| Luke 16:23 | In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. |
| Luke 24:31 | Their eyes were opened and they recognized him; then he vanished out of their sight. |
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
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke emphasizes that opening these men's eyes means removing a supernatural confusion, not just restoring sight. His point is they could already see, but their vision was deceived. The miracle enables them to discern things as they actually are and recognize where they truly stand.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Elisha uses the same prayer for two opposite kinds of illumination. His servant receives spiritual sight to see the protecting angels, while the Syrian soldiers receive restored physical sight, only to find themselves trapped inside Samaria as prisoners.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note points out that the Syrians were only brought to see clearly once they stood helpless inside Samaria. This timing, with their eyes opened at the very moment of capture, underscores God's complete control over both their blindness and their sight.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill explains that Elisha did not act alone: he sent a servant ahead to alert the king of Israel, who then positioned armed men ready to surround the Syrians. The gates were thrown open and the army was led into the heart of Samaria, ensuring they were fully trapped when their eyes were opened.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch clarifies that the Syrians, not Elisha, came down to meet him, matching the local terrain. They describe the blindness as mental confusion that left men with open eyes unable to see correctly. The prophet's misleading statement is defended as a legitimate ruse de guerre, a standard military deception.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange insists the events are literal history, not legend or natural phenomena. He argues Elisha’s knowledge was genuine divine revelation, not espionage, and the blindness of the Syrians was a supernatural act, not mere confusion. For Lange, the narrative’s purpose is to prove that God, through His prophet, directly controlled Israel’s deliverance.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws attention to the contrast between two armies: the visible Syrian force that terrifies the servant and the unseen heavenly host that surrounds Elisha. The real point for Henry is that Elisha does not destroy his enemies but feeds them, turning captives into guests and ending the raids through kindness, not force.