2 Kings 1:10

Translations

Modern

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.

Traditional

And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

Literal

And Elijah answered and said to the captain of the fifty, “And if I am a man of God, let fire come down from the heavens and consume you and your fifty.” And fire came down from the heavens and consumed him and his fifty.

Latin

Respondensque Elias, dixit quinquagenario: Si homo Dei sum, descendat ignis de cælo, et devoret te, et quinquaginta tuos. Descendit itaque ignis de cælo, et devoravit eum, et quinquaginta qui erant cum eo.

Original

Hebrew

English

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.

Notes

2 Kings 1:9–10

The proud words of the army captain contradicted themselves. Elijah showed this: If Elijah was truly a man of God (a prophet of God), then his authority came from God. To ignore him was to invite danger (see Deuteronomy 18:15–19).
Fire often represents God's presence in the Scriptures (see Exodus 3:1–6; 19:18; compare 1 Kings 18:38).
Fifty soldiers was a typical group size (1 Kings 18:4); here it shows a division in Israel's military organization.

Theme notes and profiles

Elijah

Events

Prophecies of Elijah

Related verses

Luke 9:54
When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”
Daniel 3:25
“Look!” he exclaimed. “I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!”
Daniel 3:22
The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the fiery flames killed the men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
1 Kings 18:36–38
At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command.
Psalm 106:18
Then fire blazed through their company; flames consumed the wicked.
Hebrews 12:29
“For our God is a consuming fire.”
Numbers 16:28–30
Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things, for it was not my own doing:
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!”
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.
Matthew 23:34–37
Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.
Acts 5:3–10
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?
1 Kings 22:28
But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”

Parallels

1 Kings 22:51–53

People

Elijah: A prophet during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah

Glossary

Ahaziah Beelzebul, Beelzebub Ekron, Ekronites Furniture Gods and Goddesses Jehoram Kings, Books of First and Second

Topics

Elijah: Miracles of Calls Fire Down Upon the Soldiers of Ahaziah Elijah: Prophecies of The Death of Ahaziah Fire: Miraculous: Destroyed the Enemies of Elijah Fire: The Captains of Fifties Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena: Phenomena of Fire from Heaven at Elijah's Command Miracles Wrought Through Servants of God: Elijah: Men Destroyed by Fire Miracles: Catalogue of Brings Fire Down Upon Ahaziah's Army Prophecy: Miscellaneous, Fulfilled: The Death of Ahaziah

2 Kings 1:10

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