The Meaning of 2 Kings 1:11 Explained

2 Kings 1:11

KJV: Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.

YLT: And he turneth and sendeth unto him another head of fifty and his fifty, and he answereth and speaketh unto him, 'O man of God, thus said the king, Haste, come down.'

Darby: And again he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he spoke and said to him, Man of God, thus says the king: Come down quickly!

ASV: And again he sent unto him another captain of fifty and his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Again  also he sent  unto him another  captain  of fifty  with his fifty.  And he answered  and said  unto him, O man  of God,  thus hath the king  said,  Come down  quickly. 

What does 2 Kings 1:11 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 1:9-18 - Consuming Fire
An awful fate overtook the first two captains; but it must be noted that they were extremely violent and arrogant in their behavior and speech. The altered tone of the last captain wrought an instant alteration in the prophet's attitude and response. That there was no personal malice in Elijah is clear from his willingness to accompany the third captain into the royal presence. Our Lord expressly cautioned His followers from attempting to imitate this episode. We belong to another dispensation, which savors of forbearance and meekness. See Luke 9:54.
On a former day Jezebel's message made the prophet flee; but now he does not hesitate to pass through the crowded streets of the capital and to enter the palace of the king. Elijah was dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and standing before Jehovah, as aforetime. His faith was able to avail itself of the panoply of God. He quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, and out of weakness was made strong. Let us admire the loving forbearance of God who restores the wavering ones, brings them up from the grave, holds them as stars in His right hand, Revelation 1:16, and uses them once more in His glorious service. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 1

1  Moab rebels
2  Ahaziah, sending to Baal-Zebub, has his judgement by Elijah
5  Elijah twice brings fire from heaven on those Ahaziah sent to apprehend him
13  He pities the third captain,
15  and, encouraged by an angel, tells the king of his death
17  Jehoram succeeds Ahaziah

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 1:11 mean?

And and he sent to him captain of fifty another and [with his] fifty [men] And he answered and said to him Man of God thus has said the king quickly come down
וַיָּ֜שָׁב וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח אֵלָ֛יו שַׂר־ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אַחֵ֖ר וַחֲמִשָּׁ֑יו וַיַּ֙עַן֙ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָ֔יו אִ֚ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים כֹּֽה־ אָמַ֥ר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מְהֵרָ֥ה רֵֽדָה

וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח  and  he  sent 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
אֵלָ֛יו  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
שַׂר־  captain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים  of  fifty 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: חֲמִשִּׁים 
Sense: fifty.
אַחֵ֖ר  another 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אַחֵר  
Sense: another, other, following.
וַחֲמִשָּׁ֑יו  and  [with  his]  fifty  [men] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֲמִשִּׁים 
Sense: fifty.
וַיַּ֙עַן֙  And  he  answered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אֵלָ֔יו  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אִ֚ישׁ  Man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים  of  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
כֹּֽה־  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֥ר  has  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
מְהֵרָ֥ה  quickly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְהֵרָה  
Sense: haste, speed.
רֵֽדָה  come  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.