2 Kings 2:23 nasb — Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked h…

NASB

"Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!""

— 2 Kings 2:23, NASB

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2 Kings 2:23 in Other Translations

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2 Kings 2 — Context

20

He said, "Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him.

21

He went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, "Thus says the LORD, 'I have purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer.'"

22

So the waters have been purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

23

Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!"

24

When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number.

25

He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 2:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Kings 2:23 say?
2 Kings 2:23 in the NASB reads: “Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!"”
Where is 2 Kings 2:23 in the Bible?
2 Kings 2:23 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Kings, chapter 2, verse 23.
Who wrote 2 Kings?
2 Kings is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Jeremiah). It was written c. 561–538 BC.
What is the book of 2 Kings about?
2 Kings carries the divided kingdom from Elijah and Elisha through the fall of both Israel and Judah. Despite the prophets' warnings, both kingdoms decline through idolatry — the north into Assyrian captivity, the south into Babylonian exile — fulfilling the covenant curses.
What are the major themes of 2 Kings?
2 Kings explores themes including Judgment, Exile, Prophets, Covenant Curses, Remnant. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Kings 2:23.
What translation should I read 2 Kings 2:23 in?
2 Kings 2:23 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Kings 2:23?
2 Kings 2:23 reads (NASB): “Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!"” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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