What does 2 Kings 7:11 mean?
"And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within." - 2 Kings 7:11
The verse 2 Kings 7:11 from the King James Version of the Bible reads, "And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within."
To truly understand the meaning and significance of this verse, it is important to consider the context in which it was written. In the larger story of 2 Kings 7, we find that the city of Samaria in the land of Israel is under siege by the Syrian army. The inhabitants of the city are suffering from a severe famine as a result of being cut off from external food supplies. Desperate and starving, the people are at the brink of death.
Amidst this dire situation, God reveals a message to four lepers who are just outside the city gates. They discover that the Lord has caused the Syrian army to hear the sound of a great army with chariots and horses, causing them to flee in fear, leaving behind their tents, horses, and donkeys, as well as an abundance of food and supplies. The lepers partake of the spoils, but then realize that it is not right to keep this incredible news to themselves. This leads them to the realization that they need to share this good news with the people of Samaria.
In 2 Kings 7:11, we see one of the lepers taking action and calling the porters, or gatekeepers, of the city to inform them of the incredible turn of events. This simple act of sharing the good news has profound implications for the entire city. The porters then relay this message to the king's house, and as a result, there is an outpouring of joy and relief as the people of Samaria are finally delivered from their suffering and starvation.
In a broader sense, this verse underscores the importance of sharing the good news and spreading messages of hope, even in times of desperation and despair. It highlights the idea that no matter how dire the circumstances may seem, there is always the potential for God to bring about a miraculous and unexpected deliverance. The leper's decision to share the news with the porters and the king's house symbolizes the power of communication and the impact that a single act of sharing can have on a community.
Furthermore, this story can also be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual nourishment and sustenance that God provides for His people. Just as the inhabitants of Samaria were physically starving and in need of food, all people are spiritually hungry and in need of the sustenance that can only come from God. The spoils left behind by the fleeing army can be likened to the blessings and abundance that God provides for His children, often in unexpected and extraordinary ways.
In conclusion, 2 Kings 7:11 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of sharing good news, the potential for unexpected deliverance from desperate circumstances, and the abundance of spiritual nourishment that God provides for His people. It is a story of hope, joy, and the miraculous intervention of God, and it encourages us to look for and share the good news even in the darkest of times.
Have questions about 2 Kings 7:11?
Dive deeper into this scripture with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, get context, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.
Get Our Apps
2 Kings 7:11 Artwork
2 Kings 7:11 - "And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within."
"And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within." - 2 Kings 7:11
2 Kings 11:7 - "And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king."
1 Kings 7:11 - "And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars."
2 Kings 2:11
2 Kings 2:11
2 Kings 2:11
2 Kings 7:2
"And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars." - 1 Kings 7:11
2 Kings 15:11 - "And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel."
Psalm 24:7-11
2 Kings 2:11 – "As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared."
2 Kings 7:7 - "Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life."
"And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king." - 2 Kings 11:7
2 Chronicles 11:7 - "And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,"
1 Kings 11:7 - "Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon."
2 Kings 11:21 - "Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign."
2 Kings 24:11 - "And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it."
2 Kings 2:7 - "And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan."
2 Kings 19:11 - "Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?"
2 Kings 4:11 - "And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there."
1 Kings 7:27-38
Joshua 11:2 - "And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,"
2 Kings 11:20 - "And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house."
2 Kings 11:11 - "And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple."
2 Kings 2:11-12 (11) ... behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
2 Kings 8:11 - "And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept."
2 Chronicles 16:11 - "¶ And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel."
2 Kings 11:13 - "¶ And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD."
2 Kings 11:16 - "And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain."