2 Kings 6:11
New International Version
This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”

New Living Translation
The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?”

English Standard Version
And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?”

Berean Standard Bible
For this reason the king of Aram became enraged and called his servants to demand of them, “Tell me, which one of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”

King James Bible
Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?

New King James Version
Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?”

New American Standard Bible
Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this matter; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?”

NASB 1995
Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?”

NASB 1977
Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?”

Amplified Bible
Now the heart of the king of Aram (Syria) was enraged over this thing. He called his servants and said to them, “Will you not tell me which of us is helping the king of Israel?”

Christian Standard Bible
The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, “Tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, “Tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel?”

American Standard Version
And the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?

Contemporary English Version
The king of Syria was furious when he found out what was happening. He called in his officers and asked, "Which one of you has been telling the king of Israel our plans?"

English Revised Version
And the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The king of Aram was very angry about this. He called his officers and asked them, "Won't you tell me who among us is [a spy] for the king of Israel?"

Good News Translation
The Syrian king became greatly upset over this; he called in his officers and asked them, "Which one of you is on the side of the king of Israel?"

International Standard Version
The king of Aram flew into a rage over this, so he called in his advisors and asked them, "Will you please tell me which of us has joined the king of Israel?"

Majority Standard Bible
For this reason the king of Aram became enraged and called his servants to demand of them, ?Tell me, which one of us is on the side of the king of Israel??

NET Bible
This made the king of Syria upset. So he summoned his advisers and said to them, "One of us must be helping the king of Israel."

New Heart English Bible
The heart of the king of Aram was very troubled about this. He called his servants, and said to them, "Won't you show me which of us is for the king of Israel?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said to them, Will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?

World English Bible
The king of Syria’s heart was very troubled about this. He called his servants, and said to them, “Won’t you show me which of us is for the king of Israel?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the heart of the king of Aram is tossed about concerning this thing, and he calls to his servants and says to them, “Do you not declare to me who of us [is] for the king of Israel?”

Young's Literal Translation
And the heart of the king of Aram is tossed about concerning this thing, and he calleth unto his servants, and saith unto them, 'Do ye not declare to me who of us is for the king of Israel?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the heart of the king of Aram will be agitated for this word; and he will call to his servants and say to them, Will ye not announce to me who is leading us astray to the king of Israel?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the heart of the king of Syria was troubled for this thing. And calling together his servants, he said: Why do you not tell me who it is that betrays me to the king of Israel?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the heart of the king of Syria was disturbed over this matter. And calling together his servants, he said, “Why have you not revealed to me the one who is betraying me to the king of Israel?”

New American Bible
Greatly disturbed over this, the king of Aram called together his officers and asked them, “Will you not tell me who among us is for the king of Israel?”

New Revised Standard Version
The mind of the king of Aram was greatly perturbed because of this; he called his officers and said to them, “Now tell me who among us sides with the king of Israel?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore the heart of the king of Aram was sore troubled because of this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the heart of the King of Edom was troubled because of this matter, and he called his Servants and said to them: “Will you not show me who of ours is for the King of Israel?!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the heart of the king of Aram was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them: 'Will ye not tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the mind of the king of Syria was very much disturbed concerning this thing; and he called his servants, and said to them, Will ye not tell me who betrays me to the king of Israel?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elisha Captures the Blinded Arameans
10So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had pointed out. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. 11For this reason the king of Aram became enraged and called his servants to demand of them, “Tell me, which one of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” 12But one of his servants replied, “No one, my lord the king. For Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”…

Cross References
2 Kings 5:8-14
Now when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Please let the man come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” / So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. / Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.” ...

2 Kings 3:9-12
So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals. / “Alas,” said the king of Israel, “for the LORD has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab!” / But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here? Let us inquire of the LORD through him.” And one of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” ...

2 Kings 1:9-15
Then King Ahaziah sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. So the captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down!’” / Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men. / So 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!’” ...

2 Kings 7:12-15
So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’” / But one of his servants replied, “Please, have scouts take five of the horses that remain in the city. Their plight will be no worse than all the Israelites who are left here. You can see that all the Israelites here are doomed. So let us send them and find out.” / Then the scouts took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.” ...

1 Kings 22:19-23
Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. / And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that. / Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD. ...

1 Kings 18:17-19
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” / “I have not troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals. / Now summon all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

1 Kings 17:1-7
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!” / Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah: / “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan. ...

1 Samuel 23:9-12
When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” / And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account. / Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD. ...

1 Samuel 19:18-24
So David ran away and escaped. And he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. / When Saul was told that David was at Naioth in Ramah, / he sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy. ...

1 Samuel 10:22
So again they inquired of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” And the LORD replied, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

Acts 9:10-12
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered. / “Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. / In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

Acts 5:1-11
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. / With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. / Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? ...

Acts 4:13-20
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus. / And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response. / So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. ...

Acts 3:1-10
One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. / And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts. / When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ...

Acts 2:14-21
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words. / These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day! / No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ...


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said to them, Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?

Therefore

1 Samuel 28:21
And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

Job 18:7-11
The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down…

Psalm 48:4,5
For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together…

Will ye not

1 Samuel 22:8
That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

Jump to Previous
Aram Clear Declare Demanded Enraged Greatly Heart Helping Israel Mind Officers Servants Shew Show Side Sore Summoned Syria Tossed Troubled Won't
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Aram Clear Declare Demanded Enraged Greatly Heart Helping Israel Mind Officers Servants Shew Show Side Sore Summoned Syria Tossed Troubled Won't
2 Kings 6
1. Elisha, allowing the young prophets to enlarge dwellings, floats an axhead
8. He discloses the king of Syria's counsel
13. The army which was sent to Dothan to apprehend Elisha, is blinded
19. Being brought into Samaria, they are dismissed in peace
24. The famine in Samaria causes women to eat their own children
30. The king sends to slay Elisha














For this reason
This phrase sets the stage for the king of Aram's reaction. The context here is crucial; the king is responding to the repeated thwarting of his plans against Israel. The Hebrew root for "reason" (דָּבָר, davar) often implies a matter or thing, indicating that the king's anger is based on a specific, repeated issue. Historically, this reflects the tension between Aram and Israel, where divine intervention through the prophet Elisha was a significant factor.

the king of Aram
The king of Aram, likely Ben-Hadad II, represents the political and military power opposing Israel. Aram, known today as Syria, was a significant regional power. Understanding the historical enmity between Aram and Israel provides insight into the king's frustration and suspicion. The Arameans were often in conflict with Israel, and this verse highlights the ongoing struggle for dominance in the region.

became enraged
The Hebrew word used here (סָעַר, sa'ar) conveys a sense of intense anger or agitation. This is not a mild irritation but a deep-seated fury. The king's rage is understandable given the repeated failures of his military plans, which he attributes to betrayal. This emotional response underscores the human tendency to react with anger when plans are thwarted, especially when divine intervention is not recognized.

and called his servants
The king's immediate response is to summon his inner circle, indicating the seriousness of the situation. In ancient Near Eastern courts, "servants" often referred to high-ranking officials or advisors. This action reflects the king's desperation to find the source of his military failures. It also shows the hierarchical nature of ancient monarchies, where the king relied heavily on his advisors for counsel and information.

to demand of them
The king's demand is forceful, reflecting his authority and the urgency of the situation. The Hebrew root (שָׁאַל, sha'al) implies a strong request or inquiry, often used in contexts where the asker expects a definitive answer. This highlights the king's suspicion and the pressure on his servants to provide an explanation.

'Tell me, which of us
The king's question reveals his suspicion of betrayal within his ranks. The phrase "which of us" suggests an internal threat, a common concern in ancient courts where loyalty was paramount. This suspicion reflects the king's inability to comprehend the true source of his military failures—divine intervention through Elisha.

is on the side of the king of Israel?'
The king of Aram assumes that his plans are being leaked to the king of Israel, Jehoram, due to espionage. This reflects the common practice of espionage in ancient warfare, where intelligence was crucial. However, the true "spy" is the prophet Elisha, who receives divine insight. This misunderstanding underscores the theme of divine sovereignty and the futility of human plans against God's will. The phrase also highlights the ongoing conflict between Aram and Israel, emphasizing the political and military tension of the time.

(11) Troubled.--Literally, storm-tost. The phrase is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament. (Comp. the use of the same verb in Jonah 1:11; Jonah 1:13; Isaiah 54:11.)

Which of us is for the king of Israel?--"Which of us?" is an expression only found here (mishshell?n-). Pointed differently, the word would give the sense of the LXX., ??? ????????? ?? ??????? ?????? --"Who betrays me to the king of Israel?"--malshin?n-, "our betrayer," an Aramaic term. (Comp. Prov. XXX. 10.) Better still is B?ttcher's correction: "Who leads us astray unto the king of Israel?" (mashl?n-). This would be the natural supposition of the Syrian king when he found himself unexpectedly confronting an armed Israelitish force, and harmonises well enough with the LXX. and Vulg. The received text, which the Targum, Syriac, and Arabic support, can only mean, "Which of those who belong to us inclines to the king of Israel?" (Comp. Psalm 123:2.) The Syriac follows the Hebrew exactly; the Targum and Arabic add a verb--"reveals secrets"--before "to the king of Israel."

Verse 11. - Therefore the heart of the King of Syria was sore troubled for this thing. Keil says, "The King of the Syrians was enraged at this;" but סָעַר exactly expresses "trouble," "disturbance," not "rage," being used of the tossing of the sea, in Jonah 1:11. And he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel? Benhadad not unnaturally suspected treachery among his own subjects. How otherwise could the King of Israel become, over and over again, aware of his intentions? Some one or other of his officers must, he thought, betray his plans to the enemy. Cannot the others point out the traitor?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

this
הַזֶּ֑ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

reason,
הַדָּבָ֖ר (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

the king
מֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Aram
אֲרָ֔ם (’ă·rām)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 758: Aram -- Syria

became enraged
וַיִּסָּעֵר֙ (way·yis·sā·‘êr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5590: To rush upon, to toss

and called
וַיִּקְרָ֤א (way·yiq·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

his servants
עֲבָדָיו֙ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

to demand
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

of them,
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“Tell me,
תַּגִּ֣ידוּ (tag·gî·ḏū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

which one
מִ֥י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

of us
מִשֶּׁלָּ֖נוּ (miš·šel·lā·nū)
Preposition-m, Pronoun - relative | Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 7945: On account of, whatsoever, whichsoever

[is] on the side
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

of the king
מֶ֥לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Israel?”
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT History: 2 Kings 6:11 The heart of the king of Syria (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 6:10
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