2 Kings 6:22 ““Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have capture…”

2 Kings 6:22

“Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.

World English Bible

He answered, “You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, then go to their master.”

American Standard Version

Geneva Bible 1599

And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: doest thou not smite them that thou hast taken with thy sworde, and with thy bowe? but set bread and water before them, that they may eate and drinke and goe to their master.

Darby Translation

And he said, Thou shalt not smite [them]: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.

Young's Literal Translation

And he saith, 'Thou dost not smite; those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow art thou smiting? set bread and water before them, and they eat, and drink, and go unto their lord.'

Bible in Basic English

But he said in answer, You are not to put them to death; have you any right to put to death those whom you have not taken prisoner with your sword and your bow? put bread and water before them, so that they may have food and drink and go to their master.

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Cross references

“wouldest”

Deuteronomy 20:11–16 2 Chronicles 28:8–13

Deuteronomy 20:11–16 · BSB

If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you.

2 Chronicles 28:8–13 · BSB

Then the Israelites took 200,000 captives from their kinsmen—women, sons, and daughters. They also carried off a great deal of plunder and brought it to Samaria.

“thy sword”

Genesis 48:22 Hosea 2:18 Joshua 24:12 Psalm 44:6 Hosea 1:7

Genesis 48:22 · BSB

And to you, as one who is above your brothers, I give the ridge of land that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”

Hosea 2:18 · BSB

On that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that crawl on the ground. And I will abolish bow and sword and battle in the land, and will make them li…

Joshua 24:12 · BSB

I sent the hornet ahead of you, and it drove out the two Amorite kings before you, but not by your own sword or bow.

Psalm 44:6 · BSB

For I do not trust in my bow, nor does my sword save me.

Hosea 1:7 · BSB

Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them—not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.”

“set bread”

Matthew 5:44 Proverbs 25:21 Proverbs 25:22 Romans 12:20 Romans 12:21

Matthew 5:44 · BSB

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Proverbs 25:21 · BSB

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

Proverbs 25:22 · BSB

For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

Romans 12:20 · BSB

On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Romans 12:21 · BSB

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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

In context

21And when the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”

23So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.

Read 2 Kings 6