Behold, fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty, with all their men. But now may my life be precious in your sight.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, fire came down from the sky, and consumed the last two captains of fifty with their fifties. But now let my life be precious in your sight.”
- KJV Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.
- NKJV Look, fire has come down from heaven and burned up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your sight.”
- NASB Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.”
- NLT See how the fire from heaven came down and destroyed the first two groups. But now please spare my life!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The captain acknowledges the fate of the previous companies and begs for mercy. His fear of God leads him to seek spared life.
Overview
By recounting the judgment that fell on the others, the captain confesses the reality of God's power working through Elijah. His appeal rests not on his own authority but on a plea for grace. The contrast teaches that those who humble themselves find mercy where the proud find judgment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Acts 20:24But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
- 1 Sam 26:24As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”
- 2 Kgs 1:10–11Elijah 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.
- 1 Sam 26:21Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”
- Ps 116:15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.
- Matt 16:25–26For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
- Ps 49:8For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,
- Prov 6:26For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.
- Ps 72:14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Amid the long decline toward exile, the promise to David's house refuses to die; the flickering lamp kept burning anticipates the coming King who will not fail or be cut off.
How 2 Kings 1:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.