2 Kings 13:16
◄  2 Kings 13:16  ►
New International Version (©2011)
"Take the bow in your hands," he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king's hands.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Elisha told him, "Put your hand on the bow," and Elisha laid his own hands on the king's hands.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Then he said to the king of Israel, “Draw the bow,” and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Then he said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow." And he put his hand on it, then Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow." So the king put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Then Elisha told Israel's king, "Draw the bow!" As he did so, Elisha laid his hands on top of the king's hands

NET Bible (©2006)
Then Elisha told the king of Israel, "Aim the bow." He did so, and Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Then Elisha told the king of Israel, "Take the bow in your hand." So the king picked up the bow. Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he said to the king of Israel, Put your hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.

American King James Version
And he said to the king of Israel, Put your hand on the bow. And he put his hand on it: and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands.

American Standard Version
And he said to the king of Israel, Put thy hand upon the bow; and he put his hand upon it . And Elisha laid his hands upon the king's hands.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He said to the king of Israel: Put thy hand upon the bow. And when he had put his hand, Eliseus put his hands over the king's hands,

Darby Bible Translation
And he said to the king of Israel, Put thy hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it; and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands,

English Revised Version
And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow: and he put his hand upon it. And Elisha laid his hands upon the king's hands.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to the king of Israel, Put thy hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.

World English Bible
He said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow;" and he put his hand [on it]. Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith to the king of Israel, 'Place thy hand on the bow;' and he placeth his hand, and Elisha putteth his hands on the hands of the king,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

13:10-19 Jehoash, the king, came to Elisha, to receive his dying counsel and blessing. It may turn much to our spiritual advantage, to attend the sick-beds and death-beds of good men, that we may be encouraged in religion by the living comforts they have from it in a dying hour. Elisha assured the king of his success; yet he must look up to God for direction and strength; must reckon his own hands not enough, but go on, in dependence upon Divine aid. The trembling hands of the dying prophet, as they signified the power of God, gave this arrow more force than the hands of the king in his full strength. By contemning the sign, the king lost the thing signified, to the grief of the dying prophet. It is a trouble to good men, to see those to whom they wish well, forsake their own mercies, and to see them lose advantages against spiritual enemies.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - And he said to the King of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow - literally, let thine hand ride upon the bow; i.e. "Take it into active use - place thine hands as thou dost commonly for shooting - and he put his hand upon it - he did as Elisha commanded - and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands. Elisha, it would seem, rose from his bed, and took the attitude of an archer, covering the king's two hands with his own hands, and making as if he too was pulling the bow, so that the shooting should be, or at least appear to be, the joint act of himself and the king. The intention was, no doubt, as Keil says, "to show that the power which was to be given to the bow-shot" was not the king's own power, but "came from the Lord through the mediation of his prophet."

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he said unto the king of Israel, put thine hand upon the bow, and he put his hand upon it,.... His left hand:

and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands; on both his hands, which were put, the one on the bow, the other on the arrow (m); hereby signifying, that though the king would draw the bow in battle, the Lord, whom the prophet represented, would give the success; and that it would be by his help, and through his blessing on his arms, that he would obtain victory over his enemies.

(m) See Virgil. Aeneid. 11. ver. 831, 862.

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Elisha's Final Prophecy
14Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. 15And Elisha said to him, Take bow and arrows. And he took to him bow and arrows. 16And he said to the king of Israel, Put your hand on the bow. And he put his hand on it: and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. …

2 Kings 13:15 Elisha said, "Get a bow and some arrows," and he did so.
2 Kings 13:17 "Open the east window," he said, and he opened it. "Shoot!" Elisha said, and he shot. "The LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!" Elisha declared. "You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek."