2 Kings 2:24 “Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them…”

2 Kings 2:24

Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

World English Bible

He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the LORD’s name. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of those youths.

American Standard Version

And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two lads of them.

Geneva Bible 1599

And he turned backe, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two beares came out of the forest, and tare in pieces two and fourtie children of them.

Darby Translation

And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tore forty-two children of them.

Young's Literal Translation

And he looketh behind him, and seeth them, and declareth them vile in the name of Jehovah, and two bears come out of the forest, and rend of them forty and two lads.

Bible in Basic English

And turning back, he saw them, and put a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the wood and put forty-two of the children to death.

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Cross references

“cursed them”

Acts 13:9–11 Amos 7:17 Acts 5:5 Acts 5:9 2 Kings 1:10–12 Genesis 9:25

Acts 13:9–11 · BSB

Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas

Amos 7:17 · BSB

Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be divided by a measuring line, and you yourself will die on pagan…

Acts 5:5 · BSB

On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.

Acts 5:9 · BSB

“How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

2 Kings 1:10–12 · BSB

Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.

Genesis 9:25 · BSB

he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

“she bears”

Hosea 13:8 2 Samuel 17:8 Proverbs 17:12 Proverbs 28:15

Hosea 13:8 · BSB

Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart.

2 Samuel 17:8 · BSB

He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops.

Proverbs 17:12 · BSB

It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 28:15 · BSB

Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

“children of them”

Exodus 20:5 1 Kings 13:24 1 Kings 19:17 1 Kings 20:36

Exodus 20:5 · BSB

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

1 Kings 13:24 · BSB

As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it.

1 Kings 19:17 · BSB

Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

1 Kings 20:36 · BSB

Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, as soon as you depart from me a lion will kill you.” And when he left, a lion found him and killed him.

Also

Nehemiah 13:25–27

Nehemiah 13:25–27 · BSB

I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take th…

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

23From there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking up the road, a group of boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”

25And Elisha went on to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

Read 2 Kings 2