2 Kings 6:21The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, "My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?"
The setting
Samaria's palace courtyard, Israel, ~850 BC. The king of Israel sees dozens of helpless enemy soldiers who moments ago were trying to capture his prophet, and his first instinct is to kill them all.
The emotion here: bloodthirsty excitement barely contained by respect for the prophet
The original word
nakah (נָכָה) — to strike down, smite, kill; often used for military execution of prisoners
Why it matters
By ancient Near Eastern customs, captured enemy soldiers were typically executed or enslaved
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Kings 6:21
The king calls Elisha 'My father' — showing deep respect but also trying to get religious permission for violence
Common misconceptionPeople think the king is asking a genuine question, but he's really seeking validation for what he already wants to do — kill them all.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Kings 6:21
Bible Genome reading
2 Kings 6:21 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Kings 6:21 comes from the book of 2 Kings, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to king of Israel. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include military decision, seeking counsel. Notable phrases: shall I strike them.
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 6:21 mean to you, today?
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