The Meaning of 2 Kings 1:14 Explained

2 Kings 1:14

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.

YLT: Lo, come down hath fire from the heavens, and consumeth the two heads of the former fifties and their fifties; and, now, let my soul be precious in thine eyes.'

Darby: Behold, there came down fire from the heavens, and consumed the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties; but now, let my life be precious in thy sight.

ASV: Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in thy sight.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 2 Kings 1:14 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 1:14 mean?

Look has come down fire from heaven and burned up - two the captains of fifty first and [with] their fifty but now let be precious my life in your sight -
הִ֠נֵּה יָ֤רְדָה אֵשׁ֙ מִן־ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַ֠תֹּאכַל אֶת־ שְׁנֵ֞י שָׂרֵ֧י הַחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים וְאֶת־ חֲמִשֵּׁיהֶ֑ם וְעַתָּ֕ה תִּיקַ֥ר נַפְשִׁ֖י בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ ס

הִ֠נֵּה  Look 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
יָ֤רְדָה  has  come  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
אֵשׁ֙  fire 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם  heaven 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
וַ֠תֹּאכַל  and  burned  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
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.
שְׁנֵ֞י  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
שָׂרֵ֧י  the  captains 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
הַחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים  of  fifty 
Parse: Article, Number, common plural
Root: חֲמִשִּׁים 
Sense: fifty.
הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים  first 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.
חֲמִשֵּׁיהֶ֑ם  [with]  their  fifty 
Parse: Number, common plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חֲמִשִּׁים 
Sense: fifty.
וְעַתָּ֕ה  but  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
תִּיקַ֥ר  let  be  precious 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָקַר  
Sense: to esteem, be prized, be valuable, be precious, be costly, be appraised.
נַפְשִׁ֖י  my  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ  in  your  sight 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, second person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation