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Tuesday, August 26th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Read the Bible

Revised Standard Version

2 Kings 9:20

Again the watchman reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ahaziah;   Church and State;   Conspiracy;   Decision;   Driving;   Jehu;   Jezreel;   Joram;   Nimshi;   Usurpation;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Chariots;   Kings;   Watchmen;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jezebel;   Jezreel;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ahaziah;   Jehoram;   Jehu;   Jezreel;   Phoenicia;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Jezebel;   Jezreel;   Watches;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Chronology;   Jehu;   Rechab;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Nimshi;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Government;   Jehu;   Nimshi;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ahaziah ;   Jehu ;   Jezebel ;   Jezreel ;   Joram, Jehoram;   Nimshi ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Jehu;   Ramothgilead;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Chariot,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Jehu;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Jehoshaphat (1);   Jehu;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Again the watchman reported, “He reached them but hasn’t started back. Also, the driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a madman.”
Hebrew Names Version
The watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and isn't coming back: and the driving is like the driving of Yehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.
King James Version
And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.
English Standard Version
Again the watchman reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."
New Century Version
The lookout reported, "The second man reached them, but he is not coming back. The man in the chariot is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi. He drives as if he were crazy!"
New English Translation
The watchman reported, "He reached them, but hasn't started back. The one who drives the lead chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi; he drives recklessly."
Amplified Bible
And the watchman reported, "He approached them, but he has not returned; and the driving [of the chariot] is like that of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."
New American Standard Bible
And the watchman reported, "He came up to them, but he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the watchman tolde, saying, He came to them also, but commeth not againe, and the marching is like the marching of Iehu the sonne of Nimshi: for he marcheth furiously.
Legacy Standard Bible
And the watchman declared saying, "He came up to them, but he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives in madness."
Contemporary English Version
The guard in the watchtower said, "Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn't coming back either. Wait a minute! That one man is a reckless chariot driver—it must be Jehu!"
Complete Jewish Bible
The watchman reported, "He reached them, but he isn't coming back. Also, it looks like the driving of Yehu Nimshi's [grand]son — he's driving like a maniac!"
Darby Translation
And the watchman told saying, He came to them, and does not return. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.
Easy-to-Read Version
The guard told Joram, "The second messenger went to the group, but he has not come back yet. There is a man driving his chariot like a mad man. He is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi."
George Lamsa Translation
And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Jimshi; for he drives furiously.
Good News Translation
Once more the guard reported that the messenger had reached the group but was not returning. And he added, "The leader of the group is driving his chariot like a madman, just like Jehu!"
Lexham English Bible
So the sentinel reported, saying, "He went up to them, but he did not return, and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives with madness."
Literal Translation
And the watchman spoke, saying, He came to them, and he has not returned. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives madly.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the watchman tolde it, and sayde: He is come to them: and commeth not agayne, and the goynge is as it were the goynge of Iehu the sonne of Nimsi: for he dryueth on as he were mad.
American Standard Version
And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not back: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.
Bible in Basic English
And the watchman gave them word, saying, He went up to them and has not come back again; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu, son of Nimshi, for he is driving violently.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the watchman tolde, saying: He came to them also, and commeth not againe: And the driuing, is lyke the driuing of Iehu the sonne of Nimsi: for he driueth the charet as he were mad.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the watchman told, saying: 'He came even unto them, and cometh not back; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.'
King James Version (1611)
And the watchman tolde, saying, He came euen vnto them, and commeth not againe: and the driuing is like the driuing of Iehu the sonne of Nimshi; for he driueth furiously.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the watchman reported, saying, He came up to them, and has not returned: and the driver drives Ju the son of Namessi, for it is with furious haste.
English Revised Version
And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.
Berean Standard Bible
Again the watchman reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the charioteer is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi-he is driving like a madman!"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sotheli the aspiere telde, and seide, He cam `til to hem, and he turneth not ayen; forsothe the goyng is as the goyng of Hieu, sone of Namsi; sothely he goith faste.
Young's Literal Translation
And the watchman declareth, saying, `He came unto them, and he hath not returned, and the driving [is] like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi, for with madness he driveth.'
Update Bible Version
And the watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and didn't come back: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and doth not return? and the driving [is] like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.
World English Bible
The watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and isn't coming back: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.
New King James Version
So the watchman reported, saying, "He went up to them and is not coming back; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously!"
New Living Translation
The watchman exclaimed, "The messenger has met them, but he isn't returning either! It must be Jehu son of Nimshi, for he's driving like a madman."
New Life Bible
The watchman told Joram, "He came to them, and he did not return. The leader goes in his war-wagon like a mad man, just like Jehu."
New Revised Standard
Again the sentinel reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. It looks like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi; for he drives like a maniac."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the watchman told, saying, He came up to them, but hath not turned back, - and, the driving, is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi; for, with mad haste, doth he drive.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the watchman told, saying: He came even to them, but returneth not: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu, the son of Namsi; for he drives furiously.
THE MESSAGE
The sentry said, "The messenger reached them, but he's not returning. The driving is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi—crazy!"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The watchman reported, "He came even to them, and he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."

Contextual Overview

16 Then Jehu mounted his chariot, and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And Ahazi'ah king of Judah had come down to visit Joram. 17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, "I see a company." And Joram said, "Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, 'Is it peace?'" 18 So a man on horseback went to meet him, and said, "Thus says the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Turn round and ride behind me." And the watchman reported, saying, "The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back." 19 Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them, and said, "Thus the king has said, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What have you to do with peace? Turn round and ride behind me." 20 Again the watchman reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously." 21 Joram said, "Make ready." And they made ready his chariot. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahazi'ah king of Judah set out, each in his chariot, and went to meet Jehu, and met him at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 And when Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" He answered, "What peace can there be, so long as the harlotries and the sorceries of your mother Jez'ebel are so many?" 23 Then Joram reined about and fled, saying to Ahazi'ah, "Treachery, O Ahazi'ah!" 24 And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and shot Joram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart, and he sank in his chariot. 25 Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, "Take him up, and cast him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I rode side by side behind Ahab his father, how the LORD uttered this oracle against him:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

driving: or, marching, Habakkuk 1:6, Habakkuk 3:12

for he driveth: 2 Kings 10:16, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Isaiah 54:16, Daniel 11:44

furiously: Heb. in madness

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 18:27 - thinketh

Cross-References

Genesis 3:23
therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken.
Genesis 4:2
And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 5:29
and called his name Noah, saying, "Out of the ground which the LORD has cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the toil of our hands."
Genesis 9:18
The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan.
Genesis 9:19
These three were the sons of Noah; and from these the whole earth was peopled.
Genesis 9:24
When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him,
Genesis 9:26
He also said, "Blessed by the LORD my God be Shem; and let Canaan be his slave."
Deuteronomy 20:6
And what man is there that has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed its fruit? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man enjoy its fruit.
Deuteronomy 28:30
You shall betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her; you shall build a house, and you shall not dwell in it; you shall plant a vineyard, and you shall not use the fruit of it.
Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the watchman told, saying, he came even unto them, and cometh not again,.... Was detained, as the other was:

and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for, coming nearer, the watchman could discern the manner of his driving:

for he driveth furiously; in great haste, making much speed, being a man of a very warm and active spirit; and now being eager to come up with Joram, and seize him unprepared, and ascend the throne; the Targum is the reverse,

"for he driveth quietly or slowly,''

being desirous of drawing Joram out of the city, and get him into his hands, and slay him, that he might not have the trouble of besieging the place, which was able to hold out some time against him; and besides, he remembered the prophecy of Elisha, that Naboth's blood would be requited in the field of Jezreel, 2 Kings 9:26, and therefore was desirous of drawing him out of the city, in order to slay him there.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The driving ... furiously - The word translated “driving” means “leading” or “conducting” a band. The watchman observed that the “company” (or, multitude) was led forward madly, and associated this strange procedure with the known character of Jehu. It is curious that some versions, as well as Josephus, give an opposite sense: “he driveth quietly.”

Jehu was properly “the grandson” of Nimshi, who was probably a more famous person than Jehoshaphat 2 Kings 9:2.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 9:20. He driveth furiously — Jehu was a bold, daring, prompt, and precipitate general. In his various military operations he had established his character; and now it was almost proverbial.


 
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