2 Kings 9:20
New International Version
The lookout reported, “He has reached them, but he isn’t coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a maniac.”

New Living Translation
The watchman exclaimed, “The messenger has met them, but he isn’t returning either! It must be Jehu son of Nimshi, for he’s driving like a madman.”

English Standard Version
Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

Berean Standard Bible
Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the charioteer is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi—he is driving like a madman!”

King James Bible
And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.

New King James Version
So the watchman reported, saying, “He went up to them and is not coming back; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously!”

New American Standard Bible
And the watchman reported, “He came up to them, but he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

NASB 1995
The watchman reported, “He came even to them, and he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

NASB 1977
And the watchman reported, “He came even to them, and he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the watchman declared saying, “He came up to them, but he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives in madness.”

Amplified Bible
And the watchman reported, “He approached them, but he has not returned; and the driving [of the chariot] is like that of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

Christian Standard Bible
Again the watchman reported, “He reached them but hasn’t started back. Also, the driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi —he drives like a madman.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Again the watchman reported, “He reached them but hasn’t started back. Also, the driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a madman."”

American Standard Version
And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not back: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the Watchmen told and said: “The Messenger has arrived unto them, and he has not returned, and the driving is like the driving of Yahu, son of Imshi, for he is driving speedily.”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the watchman reported, saying, He came up to them, and has not returned: and the driver drives Ju the son of Namessi, for it is with furious haste.

Contemporary English Version
The guard in the watchtower said, "Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn't coming back either. Wait a minute! That one man is a reckless chariot driver--it must be Jehu!"

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the watchman told, saying: He came even to them, but returneth not: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Namsi, for he drives furiously.

English Revised Version
And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So the watchman announced, "He has reached them, but he isn't coming back. The troop's leader is driving like a lunatic, like Jehu, grandson of Nimshi."

Good News Translation
Once more the guard reported that the messenger had reached the group but was not returning. And he added, "The leader of the group is driving his chariot like a madman, just like Jehu!"

International Standard Version
The watchman reported to Joram, "He arrived there, but he hasn't returned. Also, he drives like Nimshi's son Jehu drives—irrationally!"

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the watchman told, saying: 'He came even unto them, and cometh not back; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.'

Literal Standard Version
And the watchman declares, saying, “He came to them, and he has not returned, and the driving [is] like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi, for he drives with madness.”

Majority Standard Bible
Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the charioteer is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi—he is driving like a madman!”

New American Bible
The watchman reported, “He has reached them, but is not returning. The driving is like that of Jehu, son of Nimshi; he drives like a madman.”

NET Bible
The watchman reported, "He reached them, but hasn't started back. The one who drives the lead chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi; he drives recklessly."

New Revised Standard Version
Again the sentinel reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. It looks like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi; for he drives like a maniac.”

New Heart English Bible
The watchman said, "He came to them, and isn't coming back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and doth not return? and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.

World English Bible
The watchman said, “He came to them, and isn’t coming back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the watchman declareth, saying, 'He came unto them, and he hath not returned, and the driving is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi, for with madness he driveth.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah
19So 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.” 20Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the charioteer is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi— he is driving like a madman!” 21“Harness!” Joram shouted, and they harnessed his chariot. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, each in his own chariot, and met Jehu on the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 18:27
The watchman said, "The first man appears to me to be running like Ahimaaz son of Zadok." "This is a good man," said the king. "He comes with good news."

1 Kings 19:17
Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

2 Kings 9:2
When you arrive, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go in, get him away from his companions, and take him to an inner room.

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."


Treasury of Scripture

And the watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and comes not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.

driving.

Habakkuk 1:6
For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.

Habakkuk 3:12
Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.

for he driveth

2 Kings 10:16
And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Isaiah 54:16
Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

furiously [heb] in madness

Jump to Previous
Declareth Drives Driveth Driving Either Furiously Jehu Madman Madness Nimshi Reached Reported Violently Watchman Word
Jump to Next
Declareth Drives Driveth Driving Either Furiously Jehu Madman Madness Nimshi Reached Reported Violently Watchman Word
2 Kings 9
1. Elisha sends a young prophet with instructions to anoint Jehu at Ramoth Gilead
4. The prophet having done his message, flees
11. Jehu, being made king by the soldiers, kills Joram in the field of Naboth
27. Ahaziah is slain at Gur, and buried at Jerusalem
30. Proud Jezebel is thrown down out of a window, and eaten by dogs.














(20) Driving.--Correct. The margin is wrong.

The son of Nimshi.--Jehu was son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi. The former phrase may have fallen out of the text here. (Yet comp. 2Kings 8:26, "Athaliah daughter of Omri.") The Syriac and Arabic call Jehu "the son of Nimshi" in 2Kings 9:2 also.

He driveth ?uriously--i.e., the foremost charioteer so drives. The word rendered "furiously" is related to that rendered "mad fellow" in 2Kings 9:11. (Comp. margin here.) Jehu's chariot swayed unsteadily as he drove madly on. LXX., ?? ?????????. The Targum explains in an exactly opposite sense, "quietly;" and so Josephus: "Jehu was driving rather slowly, and in orderly fashion" (perhaps confounding shigg?'on, "madness," Deuteronomy 28:28, with shigg?yon, "a slow, mournful song," or elegy).

Verse 20. - And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again. A still stranger circumstance, and one still more suspicious. The second messenger could only have been sent out because the king disapproved the detention or the first. Whoever, therefore, had detained the second messenger must be consciously acting in opposition to the wishes of the king. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi. It is not meant that Jehu was driving his own chariot (which great men never did, 2 Kings 22:3-4), and drove in a furious manner, but that the "company" was being urged forward at an unusual pace, in a reckless and hot-headed way. The watchman conjectured, therefore, that Jehu must be leading them, since he had a character for impetuosity. For he driveth furiously; or, madly - " like a madman" (Keil) - "praecipitanter" (Vatabl.). The LXX. translate ἐν παραλλαγῇ - which has, perhaps, the same meaning (comp. Eur., 'Hipp.,' 935; Lysias, Ft., 58).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Again the watchman
הַצֹּפֶה֙ (haṣ·ṣō·p̄eh)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6822: To lean forward, to peer into the distance, to observe, await

reported,
וַיַּגֵּ֤ד (way·yag·gêḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

“He reached
בָּ֥א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

them,
אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

but he is not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

coming back.
שָׁ֑ב (šāḇ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

And the charioteer
וְהַמִּנְהָ֗ג (wə·ham·min·hāḡ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4491: Driving (a chariot)

is driving like
כְּמִנְהַג֙ (kə·min·haḡ)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4491: Driving (a chariot)

Jehu
יֵה֣וּא (yê·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3058: Jehu -- 'the LORD is He', the name of several Israelites

son
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Nimshi—
נִמְשִׁ֔י (nim·šî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5250: Nimshi

he drives
יִנְהָֽג׃ (yin·hāḡ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5090: To drive forth, lead, carry away, to proceed, to sigh

like a madman.”
בְשִׁגָּע֖וֹן (ḇə·šig·gā·‘ō·wn)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7697: Craziness


Links
2 Kings 9:20 NIV
2 Kings 9:20 NLT
2 Kings 9:20 ESV
2 Kings 9:20 NASB
2 Kings 9:20 KJV

2 Kings 9:20 BibleApps.com
2 Kings 9:20 Biblia Paralela
2 Kings 9:20 Chinese Bible
2 Kings 9:20 French Bible
2 Kings 9:20 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Kings 9:20 The watchman told saying He came even (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 9:19
Top of Page
Top of Page