2 Kings 13:16He said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow;" and he put his hand on it. Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.
The setting
Samaria, Israel, ~798 BC. Elisha's deathbed becomes an altar. The dying prophet places his weathered hands over the king's hands on the bow, transferring God's power for the final time...
The emotion here: pouring out remaining strength in one final act of faith
The original word
samak (סָמַךְ) — to lay hands with intention to transfer authority or blessing
Why it matters
This hand-laying ceremony was how prophets formally transferred God's anointing to kings and successors
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Kings 13:16
Elisha isn't just helping aim — he's channeling God's power through physical touch, making the king's hands instruments of divine victory
Common misconceptionPeople see this as just helping the king aim better, but it's actually a formal transfer of prophetic authority — Elisha is making Joash his spiritual successor in this moment.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Kings 13:16
Bible Genome reading
2 Kings 13:16 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Kings 13:16 comes from the book of 2 Kings, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Elisha. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include prophetic blessing, symbolic action, mentorship. Notable phrases: Put your hand on the bow; Elisha laid his hands. This verse contains a command. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does 2 Kings 13:16 mean to you, today?
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