What does 2 Kings 3:22 mean?
"And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:" - 2 Kings 3:22
2 Kings 3:22 - "And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:"
The Bible verse 2 Kings 3:22 from the King James Version (KJV) reads, "And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood."
This verse comes from the historical books of the Old Testament, specifically the second book of Kings, which accounts for the activities of the kings of Israel and Judah. In this particular verse, we find the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom heading to battle against the Moabites, who had rebelled against the king of Israel. The journey takes them through the wilderness of Edom, where they soon run out of water for themselves and their animals. They seek the prophet Elisha for guidance and through him, God provides a miraculous solution.
The significance of this verse lies in the symbolism and themes it presents. One of the central themes is the faithfulness and provision of God despite the dire circumstances His people find themselves in. The rising of the sun upon the water symbolizes the dawn of a new day and the light of God shining upon the situation. The sudden change in the appearance of the water, from its natural color to appearing as red as blood, serves as a miraculous sign from God. It represents His power to transform and provide for His people, even in the midst of their desperation.
The imagery of water turning into what appears to be blood holds great symbolic significance. In the Bible, blood is often associated with sacrifice, redemption, and atonement. The Old Testament sacrificial system required the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins. The New Testament reveals Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, shedding His blood for the atonement of humanity's sins. Therefore, the appearance of blood in this context points to the redemptive and sacrificial nature of God's provision.
Furthermore, the miraculous transformation of the water would have invoked the memory of the Exodus for the Israelites. The turning of the water into blood during the time of Moses was one of the ten plagues that ultimately led to the liberation of the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt. This parallel serves to remind the people of God's past faithfulness and deliverance, instilling hope and trust in His ongoing providence.
Another theme present in this verse is the notion of divine intervention. The fact that the Moabites saw the water as red as blood suggests that this miraculous event was also intended to instill fear and confusion among the enemy forces. It serves as a reminder that God is not only the provider and sustainer of His people, but also their protector and deliverer in times of conflict and adversity.
In conclusion, 2 Kings 3:22 from the King James Version of the Bible presents a powerful and evocative depiction of God's provision, intervention, and faithfulness. Its rich symbolism and themes of redemption, sacrifice, and divine intervention serve to deepen our understanding of God's character and His relationship with His people. This verse reminds us that even in the most desperate of circumstances, we can trust in God's miraculous ability to transform and provide for our needs. It challenges us to remain steadfast in our faith and to look to God as our ultimate source of hope and deliverance.
2 Kings 3:22 Artwork
2 Kings 3:22 - "And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:"
2 Kings 22:3 - "¶ And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,"
2 Kings 23:22 - "Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;"
2 Chronicles 9:22 - "And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom."
2 Kings 13:22 - "¶ But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz."
2 Kings 3:6 - "¶ And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel."
2 Kings 14:22 - "He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers."
2 Kings 3:16 - "And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches."
2 Kings 2:22 - "So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake."
2 Kings 21:22 - "And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD."
1 Kings 22:2 - "And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel."
2 Kings 22:6 - "Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house."
2 Kings 15:22 - "And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead."
2 Kings 22:7 - "Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully."
2 Kings 3:10 - "And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!"
2 Kings 3:23 - "And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil."
1 Kings 22:3 - "And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is our's, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?"
1 Kings 3:22 - "And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king."
2 Kings 17:22 - "For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;"
2 Kings 3:5 - "But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel."
2 Kings 22:11 - "And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes."
Jeremiah 25:22 - "And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea,"
2 Kings 22:2 - "And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left."
2 Kings 8:22 - "Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time."
2 Kings 3:8 - "And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom."
2 Kings 22:10 - "And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king."
2 Kings 22:12 - "And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,"
1 Kings 22:47 - "There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king."
2 Kings 3:3 - "Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom."
Kings 3:16