2 Kings 7:4 net — If we go into the city, we’ll die of starvation, and if we stay here we’ll die! So come on, let’s defect to the Syrian…

NET Bible

"If we go into the city, we’ll die of starvation, and if we stay here we’ll die! So come on, let’s defect to the Syrian camp! If they spare us, we’ll live; if they kill us– well, we were going to die anyway.”"

— 2 Kings 7:4, NET Bible

Read in Another Translation

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2 Kings 7:4 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.”

  • ASV

    “If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. ”

  • WEB

    “If we say, 'We will enter into the city,' then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. If we sit still here, we also die. Now therefore come, and let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die."”

  • DRB

    “If we will enter into the city, we shall die with the famine: and if we will remain here, we must also die: come therefore, and let us run over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare us, we shall live: but if they kill us, we shall but die.”

  • BBE

    “If we say, We will go into the town, there is no food in the town, and we will come to our end there; and if we go on waiting here, death will come to us. Come then, let us give ourselves up to the army of Aram: if they let us go on living, then life will be ours; and if they put us to death, then death will be ours.”

  • KJVA

    “If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.”

2 Kings 7 — Context

1

Elisha replied,“Listen to the LORD’s message. This is what the LORD has said,‘About this time tomorrow a seah of finely milled flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.’”

2

An officer who was the king’s right-hand man responded to the prophet,“Look, even if the LORD made it rain by opening holes in the sky, could this happen so soon?” Elisha said,“Look, you will see it happen with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of the food!”

3

Now four men with a skin disease were sitting at the entrance of the city gate. They said to one another,“Why are we just sitting here waiting to die?

4

If we go into the city, we’ll die of starvation, and if we stay here we’ll die! So come on, let’s defect to the Syrian camp! If they spare us, we’ll live; if they kill us– well, we were going to die anyway.”

5

So they started toward the Syrian camp at dusk. When they reached the edge of the Syrian camp, there was no one there.

6

The Lord had caused the Syrian camp to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a large army. Then they said to one another,“Look, the king of Israel has paid the kings of the Hittites and Egypt to attack us!”

7

So they got up and fled at dusk, leaving behind their tents, horses, and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives.

2 Kings 7:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Kings 7:4 say?
2 Kings 7:4 in the NET Bible reads: “If we go into the city, we’ll die of starvation, and if we stay here we’ll die! So come on, let’s defect to the Syrian camp! If they spare us, we’ll live; if they kill us– well, we were going to die anyway.””
Where is 2 Kings 7:4 in the Bible?
2 Kings 7:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Kings, chapter 7, verse 4.
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 7:4.
What translation should I read 2 Kings 7:4 in?
2 Kings 7:4 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 7:4?
2 Kings 7:4 reads (NET): “If we go into the city, we’ll die of starvation, and if we stay here we’ll die! So come on, let’s defect to the Syrian camp! If they spare us, we’ll live; if they kill us– well, we were going to die anyway.”” 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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