The Meaning of 2 Kings 2:12 Explained

2 Kings 2:12

KJV: And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

YLT: And Elisha is seeing, and he is crying, 'My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and its horsemen;' and he hath not seen him again; and he taketh hold on his garments, and rendeth them into two pieces.

Darby: And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father! the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof! And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own garments and rent them in two pieces.

ASV: And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof! And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Elisha  saw  [it], and he cried,  My father,  my father,  the chariot  of Israel,  and the horsemen  thereof. And he saw  him no more: and he took hold  of his own clothes,  and rent  them in two  pieces. 

What does 2 Kings 2:12 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 2:1-12 - Fitted To Succeed His Master
We are at a loss whether to admire most the humility of Elijah or the pertinacity of Elisha. The humility of the former is very beautiful. An ordinary man would have blazoned abroad the honor to be conferred upon him. He would have taken care to secure witnesses, that it might not be unrecognized and unknown. Instead of this Elijah sought to be alone, that no eye might see the chariot sent specially from heaven for His conveyance.
But the determination of Elisha is equally beautiful, and only they who stand such tests can behold and inherit the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. At Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho, Elisha might have stayed his steps at the call of indolence or love of ease; but the divine promptings would not allow him to remain. Do not allow yourself to be put back by apparent rebuffs. The Divine Spirit is only testing your mettle. Be ready with your request when He says: "Ask what I shall give thee." But you must have communion with the spirit-world, if you would have the double portion of the eldest son. They two went on; they two stood by Jordan; they two went over on dry ground; they two still went on and talked. Apply that to your intercourse with your Savior! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 2

1  Elijah, taking his leave of Elisha, with his mantle divides Jordan
9  and, granting Elisha his request, is taken up by a fiery chariot into heaven
12  Elisha, dividing Jordan with Elijah's mantle, is acknowledged his successor
16  The young prophets, hardly obtaining leave to seek Elijah, cannot find him
19  Elisha with salt heals the unwholesome waters
23  Bears destroy the children that mocked Elisha

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 2:12 mean?

And Elisha saw [it] and he cried out My father my father the chariot of Israel and its horsemen so no he saw him more And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces
וֶאֱלִישָׁ֣ע רֹאֶ֗ה וְה֤וּא מְצַעֵק֙ אָבִ֣י ׀ אָבִ֗י רֶ֤כֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וּפָ֣רָשָׁ֔יו וְלֹ֥א רָאָ֖הוּ ע֑וֹד וַֽיַּחֲזֵק֙ בִּבְגָדָ֔יו וַיִּקְרָעֵ֖ם לִשְׁנַ֥יִם קְרָעִֽים

וֶאֱלִישָׁ֣ע  And  Elisha 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלִישָׁע  
Sense: the great prophet who succeeded Elijah.
רֹאֶ֗ה  saw  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וְה֤וּא  and  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
מְצַעֵק֙  cried  out 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: צָעַק  
Sense: to cry, cry out, call, cry for help.
אָבִ֣י ׀  My  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
אָבִ֗י  my  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
רֶ֤כֶב  the  chariot 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֶכֶב  
Sense: a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙  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.
וּפָ֣רָשָׁ֔יו  and  its  horsemen 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּרָשׁ 
Sense: horse, steed, warhorse.
וְלֹ֥א  so  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
רָאָ֖הוּ  he  saw  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
ע֑וֹד  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
וַֽיַּחֲזֵק֙  And  he  took  hold 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
בִּבְגָדָ֔יו  of  his  own  clothes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
וַיִּקְרָעֵ֖ם  and  tore  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: קָרַע  
Sense: to tear, tear in pieces.
לִשְׁנַ֥יִם  into  two 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, md
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
קְרָעִֽים  pieces 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: קְרָעִים  
Sense: rag, torn pieces of garment or fabric.