The Meaning of 2 Kings 2:21 Explained

2 Kings 2:21

KJV: And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.

YLT: and he goeth out unto the source of the waters, and casteth there salt, and saith, 'Thus said Jehovah, I have given healing to these waters; there is not thence any more death and sterility.'

Darby: And he went forth to the source of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith Jehovah: I have healed these waters: there shall not be from thence any more death or barrenness.

ASV: And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast salt therein, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or miscarrying.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he went forth  unto the spring  of the waters,  and cast  the salt  in there, and said,  Thus saith  the LORD,  I have healed  these waters;  there shall not be from thence any more death  or barren  [land]. 

What does 2 Kings 2:21 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 2:13-25 - Elijah's Spirit On Elisha
We, too, may have a double portion of Elijah's spirit, but everything depends on the purity of our hearts. Only the pure in heart can see, and if we can see into the spiritual, it is proof that our hearts are pure enough to become the residence of the Holy Spirit. Had Elisha been unable to see the translation of his friend, his nature would have been shown to be gross and sensual, and how should such a one have God's supreme gift?
When we receive this power, we must begin to use it at once. Whether we feel possessed of a fresh accession of spiritual dynamic or not, is immaterial. We must reckon that we have received, and must proceed to use; and as we make the attempt, the parting water will prove not only to ourselves, but to others, the reality of our experience. The reception of spiritual power is a quiet, secret act, known only to God and the soul; but the results are manifest to all. Hear these young men talk! Has God ever been known to take up a man and then cast him away on valley or mountain? That is not His way of dealing with those whom He loves and would honor. [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 2:21 mean?

And he went out to the source of the water and cast in there the salt and said thus says Yahweh I have healed waters these no there shall be from it more death or barrenness
וַיֵּצֵא֙ אֶל־ מוֹצָ֣א הַמַּ֔יִם וַיַּשְׁלֶךְ־ שָׁ֖ם מֶ֑לַח וַיֹּ֜אמֶר כֹּֽה־ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה רִפִּ֙אתִי֙ לַמַּ֣יִם הָאֵ֔לֶּה לֹֽא־ יִהְיֶ֥ה מִשָּׁ֛ם ע֖וֹד מָ֥וֶת וּמְשַׁכָּֽלֶת

וַיֵּצֵא֙  And  he  went  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
מוֹצָ֣א  the  source 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֹוצָא  
Sense: act or place of going out or forth, issue, export, source, spring.
הַמַּ֔יִם  of  the  water 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
וַיַּשְׁלֶךְ־  and  cast 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַךְ  
Sense: to throw, cast, hurl, fling.
שָׁ֖ם  in  there 
Parse: Adverb
Root: שָׁם  
Sense: there, thither.
מֶ֑לַח  the  salt 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלַח  
Sense: salt.
וַיֹּ֜אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
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.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
רִפִּ֙אתִי֙  I  have  healed 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: רָפָא  
Sense: to heal, make healthful.
לַמַּ֣יִם  waters 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
הָאֵ֔לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
לֹֽא־  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִהְיֶ֥ה  there  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מִשָּׁ֛ם  from  it 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: שָׁם  
Sense: there, thither.
ע֖וֹד  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
מָ֥וֶת  death 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָוֶת  
Sense: death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead.
וּמְשַׁכָּֽלֶת  or  barrenness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Participle, feminine singular
Root: מְשַׁכֶּלֶת 
Sense: to be bereaved, make childless, miscarry.