2 Kings 5:7 Meaning and Explanation
“And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The king of Israel tears his clothes in panic, certain the request is a pretext for war.
What Does 2 Kings 5:7 Mean?
The king of Israel reads the letter and despairs, tearing his garments in distress. He rightly knows that only God can kill and make alive, but having no living faith in that God, he sees only a trap and the threat of war. His own words, Am I God, are true, yet he forgets there is a man of God in his very kingdom.
How often fear blinds us to the help that stands near. The king possesses the truth that healing belongs to God, but not the faith to seek God for it. Knowing about the Lord is not the same as trusting Him. Where the king sees only catastrophe, God has already prepared deliverance through His prophet.
2 Kings 5:7 in the Original Language
chayah (חָיָה), 'make alive' -- to give or restore life, a power Scripture reserves to God alone.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 5:7
What does 2 Kings 5:7 mean?
The king of Israel tears his clothes in panic, certain the request is a pretext for war.