The Meaning of 2 Kings 14:7 Explained

2 Kings 14:7

KJV: He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.

YLT: He hath smitten Edom, in the valley of salt -- ten thousand, and seized Selah in war, and one calleth its name Joktheel unto this day,

Darby: He smote of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Sela in the war, and called the name of it Joktheel to this day.

ASV: He slew of Edom in the Valley of Salt ten thousand, and took Sela by war, and called the name of it Joktheel, unto this day.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He slew  of Edom  in the valley  of salt  ten  thousand,  and took  Selah  by war,  and called  the name  of it Joktheel  unto this day. 

What does 2 Kings 14:7 Mean?

Study Notes

Edom
See 2 Chronicles 25:5-16 .

Context Summary

2 Kings 14:1-14 - The Penalty Of Pride
There were good traits in Amaziah's character, such as humanity to the children of his father's murderers, and his willingness to forfeit the aid of the army of Israel, because of the prophet's remonstrance. See 2 Chronicles 25:1-28. But he fell a victim to Edom's idols, though he conquered Edom that worshiped them; and from that moment God's Spirit and guidance seemed to desert him. He was puffed up with pride and vainglory, challenged the king of Israel to battle, and brought disaster on his people and himself.
But what a profound lesson is presented by his life! Do we never become elated with success, so that our heart is lifted up? Do we not fling ourselves in an hour of self-confidence from the Temple terrace, and find that no hand of might and love is stretched out to intercept our fall and make us alight uninjured on the ground? Let those who are successful and prosperous remember the Giver of every good and perfect gift and walk humbly with God. When we are evidently summoned to a supreme conflict with our foes, no weapon formed against us prospers: but if we are foolhardy, we are left to the results of our folly. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 14

1  Amaziah's good reign
5  His justice on the murderers of his father
7  His victory over Edom
8  Amaziah, provoking Jehoash, is overcome
15  Jeroboam succeeds Jehoash
17  Amaziah slain by a conspiracy
21  Azariah succeeds him
23  Jeroboam's wicked reign
28  Zachariah succeeds him

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 14:7 mean?

He killed - Edom in the Valley of Salt - the Valley of Salt ten thousand and took Sela by war and called its name Joktheel to day this -
הוּא־ הִכָּ֨ה אֶת־ אֱד֤וֹם בְּגֵיא־ [המלח] (מֶ֙לַח֙) עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת אֲלָפִ֔ים וְתָפַ֥שׂ הַסֶּ֖לַע בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֤א שְׁמָהּ֙ יָקְתְאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה פ

הִכָּ֨ה  killed 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
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.
אֱד֤וֹם  Edom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱדֹום 
Sense: Edom.
בְּגֵיא־  in  the  Valley  of  Salt 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גַּיְא  
Sense: valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge.
[המלח]  - 
Parse:
(מֶ֙לַח֙)  the  Valley  of  Salt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֶלַח  
Sense: salt.
עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת  ten 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: עֶשֶׂר 
Sense: ten.
אֲלָפִ֔ים  thousand 
Parse: Number, masculine plural
Root: אֶלֶף 
Sense: a thousand.
וְתָפַ֥שׂ  and  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: תָּפַשׂ  
Sense: to catch, handle, lay hold, take hold of, seize, wield.
הַסֶּ֖לַע  Sela 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: סֶלַע  
Sense: a place in Edom.
בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה  by  war 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
וַיִּקְרָ֤א  and  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
שְׁמָהּ֙  its  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
יָקְתְאֵ֔ל  Joktheel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יָקְתְאֵל  
Sense: a city in the low country of Judah named next to Lachish.
הַיּ֥וֹם  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַזֶּֽה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation