2 Kings 1:12
New International Version
“If I am a man of God,” Elijah replied, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

New Living Translation
Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” And again the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all.

English Standard Version
But Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

Berean Standard Bible
Again Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.

King James Bible
And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

New King James Version
So Elijah answered and said to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

New American Standard Bible
But Elijah replied to them, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

NASB 1995
Elijah replied to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

NASB 1977
And Elijah answered and said to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Elijah answered and spoke to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

Amplified Bible
Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty [fighting men].” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

Christian Standard Bible
Elijah responded, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” So a divine fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Elijah responded, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50 men.” So a divine fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his 50 men.

American Standard Version
And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

Contemporary English Version
"If I am a man of God," Elijah answered, "fire will destroy you and your 50 soldiers." And God sent down fire from heaven on the officer and his men.

English Revised Version
And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Elijah answered the officer, "If I'm a man of God, fire will come from heaven and burn up you and your 50 men." Then God's fire came from heaven and burned up the officer and his 50 men.

Good News Translation
"If I am a man of God," Elijah answered, "may fire come down from heaven and kill you and your men!" At once the fire of God came down and killed the officer and his men.

International Standard Version
Elijah responded to the leader and to his entire company, "So I'm a man of God, am I? If so, may fire fall from heaven and devour you and your 50 soldiers…" Just then, fire fell from heaven and devoured him and his 50 soldiers.

Majority Standard Bible
Again Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.

NET Bible
Elijah replied to them, "If I am indeed a prophet, may fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty soldiers!" Fire from God came down from the sky and consumed him and his fifty soldiers.

New Heart English Bible
And Elijah answered and said to him, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty." The fire of God came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Elijah answered and said to them, If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

World English Bible
Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty!” Then God’s fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Elijah answers and speaks to them, “If I [am] a man of God, fire comes down from the heavens and consumes you and your fifty”; and fire of God comes down from the heavens and consumes him and his fifty.

Young's Literal Translation
And Elijah answereth and speaketh unto them, 'If I am a man of God, fire doth come down from the heavens, and consume thee and thy fifty;' and fire of God cometh down from the heavens, and consumeth him and his fifty.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Elijah will answer and speak to them, If I a man of God, fire shall come down from the heavens and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God will come down from the heavens and consume him and his fifty.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Elias answering, said: If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And fire came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Responding, Elijah said, “If I am a man of God, let fire from heaven descend and devour you and your fifty.” And fire from heaven descended and devoured him and his fifty.

New American Bible
Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And divine fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

New Revised Standard Version
But Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Elijah answered and said to him, If I am a prophet of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Elyah answered and said to him: “If I am a Prophet of God, fire shall come down from Heaven and shall consume you yourself and the fifty who are with you!” And fire came down from Heaven and consumed him and the fifty who were with him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Elijah answered and said unto them: 'If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty.' And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Eliu answered and spoke to him, and said, If I am a man of God, fire shall come down out of heaven, and devour thee and thy fifty. And fire came down out of heaven, and devoured him and his fifty.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elijah Denounces Ahaziah
11So the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. And the captain said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down at once!’ ” 12Again Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men. 13So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. And the third captain went up, fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, “Man of God, may my life and the lives of these fifty servants please be precious in your sight.…

Cross References
1 Kings 18:38
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.

Luke 9:54-56
When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” / But Jesus turned and rebuked them. / And He and His disciples went on to another village.

Hebrews 12:29
“For our God is a consuming fire.”

Revelation 11:5
If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone who wants to harm them must be killed.

Leviticus 10:1-2
Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.

Numbers 16:35
And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

Deuteronomy 4:24
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

1 Kings 18:24
Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “What you say is good.”

Matthew 3:11
I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Acts 2:3
They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

Exodus 9:23
So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt.

Job 1:16
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

Isaiah 66:15-16
For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire. / For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.

Jeremiah 5:14
Therefore this is what the LORD God of Hosts says: “Because you have spoken this word, I will make My words a fire in your mouth and this people the wood it consumes.

Ezekiel 38:22
I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.


Treasury of Scripture

And Elijah answered and said to them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume you and your fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

2 Kings 1:9,10
Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down…

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2 Kings 1
1. Moab rebels
2. Ahaziah, sending to Baal-Zebub, has his judgement by Elijah
5. Elijah twice brings fire from heaven on those Ahaziah sent to apprehend him.
13. He pities the third captain,
15. and, encouraged by an angel, tells the king of his death
17. Jehoram succeeds Ahaziah














Again Elijah replied
The word "again" indicates a repeated action, emphasizing Elijah's steadfastness and consistency in his role as a prophet. Elijah, whose name means "My God is Yahweh," stands firm in his identity and mission. This repetition underscores the seriousness of the confrontation between the prophet and the king's messengers. Historically, Elijah is a pivotal figure in Israel's history, representing the voice of God amidst widespread idolatry.

If I am a man of God
This phrase is a conditional statement that challenges the recognition of Elijah's divine authority. The term "man of God" is a title used for prophets, signifying one who is chosen and empowered by God to deliver His messages. In Hebrew, "man of God" is "ish ha-Elohim," highlighting the intimate relationship between the prophet and the divine. Elijah's identity as a man of God is central to his authority and the miraculous events that follow.

may fire come down from heaven
Fire from heaven is a powerful symbol of divine judgment and presence. In the Hebrew Bible, fire often represents God's holiness and power, as seen in the burning bush (Exodus 3) and Mount Sinai (Exodus 19). The request for fire to descend is a call for divine intervention, affirming Elijah's prophetic authority. Archaeologically, the imagery of fire from heaven would resonate with ancient Near Eastern cultures, where fire was a common motif in divine theophanies.

and consume you and your fifty men
The word "consume" indicates total destruction, a severe judgment for those who oppose God's messenger. The number "fifty" is significant, as it represents a military unit, highlighting the king's attempt to assert power over Elijah. This phrase underscores the futility of human strength against divine will. Scripturally, it echoes other instances where God's judgment is executed swiftly and decisively, reinforcing the seriousness of opposing God's chosen representatives.

And the fire of God came down from heaven
This phrase confirms the fulfillment of Elijah's prophetic declaration. The "fire of God" is a direct manifestation of divine power, leaving no doubt about the source of the judgment. The repetition of "from heaven" emphasizes the origin of the fire, distinguishing it from earthly or natural phenomena. This event serves as a testament to God's sovereignty and the authenticity of Elijah's prophetic office.

and consumed him and his fifty men
The outcome is a stark reminder of the consequences of defying God's authority. The complete consumption of the men signifies the totality of God's judgment. Historically, this event would serve as a warning to Israel and its leaders about the dangers of idolatry and rebellion against God. It reinforces the theme of divine justice and the protection of God's messengers throughout the biblical narrative.

(12) Said (spake) unto them.--LXX. and Syriac, "unto him," which seems original.

The fire of God.--"The" is not in the Hebrew. The LXX., Vulgate, Arabic, and Targum, with some MSS., omit "of God." The phrase occurs in the sense of lightning (Job 1:16).

Consumed him and his fifty.--According to Thenius, the story of the destruction of the captains And their companies emphasises (1) the authority properly belonging to the prophet; (2) the help and protection which Jehovah bestows on His prophets. The captains and their men are simply conceived as instruments of a will opposing itself to Jehovah, and are accordingly annihilated. These considerations, he thinks, render irrelevant all questions about the moral justice of their fate, and comparative degrees of guilt. (Comp. 2Kings 2:23, seq., 2Kings 6:17.)



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Again Elijah
אֵלִיָּה֮ (’ê·lî·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 452: Elijah -- 'Yah is God', a well-known prophet of Israel, also three other Israelites

replied,
וַיַּ֣עַן (way·ya·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

“If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I
אָ֔נִי (’ā·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am a man
אִ֤ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of God,
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

may fire
אֵשׁ֙ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

come down
תֵּ֤רֶד (tê·reḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

heaven
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

and consume
וְתֹאכַ֥ל (wə·ṯō·ḵal)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

you
אֹתְךָ֖ (’ō·ṯə·ḵā)
Direct object marker | second person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

[your] fifty [men].”
חֲמִשֶּׁ֑יךָ (ḥă·miš·še·ḵā)
Number - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2572: Fifty

And the fire
אֵשׁ־ (’êš-)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 784: A fire

of God
אֱלֹהִים֙ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

came down
וַתֵּ֤רֶד (wat·tê·reḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

heaven
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

and consumed
וַתֹּ֥אכַל (wat·tō·ḵal)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

him
אֹת֖וֹ (’ō·ṯōw)
Direct object marker | third person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

[his] fifty men.
חֲמִשָּֽׁיו׃ (ḥă·miš·šāw)
Number - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2572: Fifty


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OT History: 2 Kings 1:12 Elijah answered them If I be (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
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