The Meaning of 2 Kings 1:4 Explained

2 Kings 1:4

KJV: Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

YLT: and therefore, thus said Jehovah, The bed whither thou hast gone up, thou dost not come down from it, for thou dost certainly die;' and Elijah goeth on.

Darby: Now therefore thus saith Jehovah: Thou shalt not come down from the bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt certainly die. And Elijah departed.

ASV: Now therefore thus saith Jehovah, Thou shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now therefore thus saith  the LORD,  Thou shalt not come down  from that bed  on which thou art gone up,  but shalt surely  die.  And Elijah  departed. 

What does 2 Kings 1:4 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 1:1-8 - A Message From The True God
The king's accident was probably due to the giving way of the balustrade that surrounded the roof of his palace. The Law expressly provided that this lattice-work should be made very strong to obviate just such an occurrence, Deuteronomy 22:8. Let us be careful to maintain the barriers of good custom, whether of purity, or total abstinence, or the observance of the Lord's day. In this manner we shall preserve our children and ourselves from peril. All good habits are strong battlements.
To reach Ekron the messengers must pass Jerusalem. What a direct insult to Jehovah! Even Ahab had some regard for Micaiah, but Ahaziah went beyond his father in openly flouting the religion of David and Moses. In the interests of the whole nation, this insult could not be passed over in silence, and at God's bidding Elijah appeared upon the scene. He rebuked the messengers for their idolatrous quest and told them that the king would surely die. They returned with the report that a man clad in a hairy garment had met them, and had said that the king would not recover. It was enough. The apprehensions of Ahaziah's guilty conscience were confirmed, and he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite!" [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 1:4 mean?

and therefore thus says Yahweh the bed to which you have gone up on that not You shall come down from but surely you shall die so departed Elijah
וְלָכֵן֙ כֹּֽה־ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הַמִּטָּ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־ עָלִ֥יתָ שָּׁ֛ם לֹֽא־ תֵרֵ֥ד מִמֶּ֖נָּה כִּ֣י מ֣וֹת תָּמ֑וּת וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אֵלִיָּֽה

וְלָכֵן֙  and  therefore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
כֹּֽה־  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַמִּטָּ֞ה  the  bed 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִטָּה  
Sense: couch, bed, bier.
אֲשֶׁר־  to  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עָלִ֥יתָ  you  have  gone  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
שָּׁ֛ם  on  that 
Parse: Adverb
Root: שָׁם  
Sense: there, thither.
תֵרֵ֥ד  You  shall  come  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
מ֣וֹת  surely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
תָּמ֑וּת  you  shall  die 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ  so  departed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
אֵלִיָּֽה  Elijah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵלִיָּה 
Sense: the great prophet of the reign of Ahab.