The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 18:4 Explained

2 Chronicles 18:4

KJV: And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.

YLT: And Jehoshaphat saith unto the king of Israel, 'Seek, I pray thee, this day, the word of Jehovah.'

Darby: And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, this day of the word of Jehovah.

ASV: And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray thee, for the word of Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Jehoshaphat  said  unto the king  of Israel,  Enquire,  I pray thee, at the word  of the LORD  to day. 

What does 2 Chronicles 18:4 Mean?

Chapter Summary: 2 Chronicles 18

1  Jehoshaphat, joined in affinity with Ahab, is persuaded to go against Ramoth Gilead
4  Ahab, seduced by false prophets, according to the word of Micaiah, is slain there

What do the individual words in 2 Chronicles 18:4 mean?

And said Jehoshaphat to the king of Israel inquire please today - For the word of Yahweh
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט אֶל־ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל דְּרָשׁ־ נָ֥א כַיּ֖וֹם אֶת־ דְּבַ֥ר יְהוָֽה

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט  Jehoshaphat 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹושָׁפָט 
Sense: son of king Asa and himself king of Judah for 25 years; one of the best, most pious, and prosperous kings of Judah.
מֶ֣לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
דְּרָשׁ־  inquire 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: דַּרְיׄושׁ 
Sense: to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require.
נָ֥א  please 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
כַיּ֖וֹם  today 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
דְּבַ֥ר  For  the  word 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
יְהוָֽה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.