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As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. &#8220Get out of here, baldy!&#8221 they said. &#8220Get out of here, baldy!&#8221 <a href="/nlt/2_kings/2.htm">New Living Translation</a> Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!” <a href="/esv/2_kings/2.htm">English Standard Version</a> He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” <a href="/bsb/2_kings/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> From there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking up the road, a group of boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” <a href="/kjv/2_kings/2.htm">King James Bible</a> And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. <a href="/nkjv/2_kings/2.htm">New King James Version</a> Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” <a href="/nasb_/2_kings/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Now he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the road, some young boys came out from the city and ridiculed him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!” <a href="/nasb/2_kings/2.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, &#8220Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/2_kings/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!” <a href="/lsb/2_kings/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young boys came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!” <a href="/amp/2_kings/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then Elisha went up from Jericho to Bethel. On the way, young boys came out of the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” <a href="/csb/2_kings/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking up the path, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, baldy! Go up, baldy! ” <a href="/hcsb/2_kings/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking up the path, some small boys came out of the city and harassed him, chanting, &#8220Go up, baldy! Go up, baldy!&#8221 <a href="/asv/2_kings/2.htm">American Standard Version</a> And he went up from thence unto Beth-el; and as he was going up by the way, there came forth young lads out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou baldhead; go up, thou baldhead. <a href="/cev/2_kings/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Elisha left and headed toward Bethel. Along the way some boys started making fun of him by shouting, "Go away, baldy! Get out of here!" <a href="/erv/2_kings/2.htm">English Revised Version</a> And he went up from thence unto Beth-el: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. <a href="/gwt/2_kings/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> From there he went to Bethel. As he walked along the road, some boys came out of the city and mocked him. They said, "Go away, baldy! Go away!" <a href="/gnt/2_kings/2.htm">Good News Translation</a> Elisha left Jericho to go to Bethel, and on the way some boys came out of a town and made fun of him. "Get out of here, baldy!" they shouted. <a href="/isv/2_kings/2.htm">International Standard Version</a> Later, Elisha left there to go up to Bethel, and as he was traveling along the road, some insignificant young men came from the city and started mocking him. They told him, "Get on up, baldy! Get on up, baldy!" <a href="/msb/2_kings/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> From there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking up the road, a group of boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, ?Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!? <a href="/net/2_kings/2.htm">NET Bible</a> He went up from there to Bethel. As he was traveling up the road, some young boys came out of the city and made fun of him, saying, "Go on up, baldy! Go on up, baldy!" <a href="/nheb/2_kings/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up by the way, some youths came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, you baldy. Go up, you baldhead." <a href="/wbt/2_kings/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And he went up from thence to Beth-el: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, thou bald-head; go up, thou bald-head. <a href="/web/2_kings/2.htm">World English Bible</a> He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up by the way, some youths came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldy! Go up, you baldy!” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/2_kings/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And he goes up from there to Beth-El, and he is going up in the way, and little youths have come out from the city, and scoff at him, and say to him, “Go up, bald-head! Go up, bald-head!” <a href="/ylt/2_kings/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And he goeth up thence to Beth-El, and he is going up in the way, and little youths have come out from the city, and scoff at him, and say to him, 'Go up, bald-head! go up, bald-head!' <a href="/slt/2_kings/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And he will go up from thence to the house of God: and he going up in the way, and little boys will come forth from the city, and will scoff at him, and say to him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/2_kings/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And he went up from thence to Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, little boys came out of the city and mocked him, saying: Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. <a href="/cpdv/2_kings/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Then he went up from there into Bethel. And as he was ascending along the way, little boys departed from the city. And they were mocking him, saying: “Go up, bald head! Go up, bald head!” <a href="/nabre/2_kings/2.htm">New American Bible</a> From there Elisha went up to Bethel. While he was on the way, some little boys came out of the city and jeered at him: “Go away, baldy; go away, baldy!” <a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> He went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And he went up from thence to Beth-el; and as he was going up along the way, there came forth little boys out of the city and mocked him, saying, Go up, you bald head, go up, you bald head. <a href="/hpbt/2_kings/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And he went up from there to Bayth Eil, and he went up on the road, and small boys went out from the city and were mocking him, and they were saying: “Go up, bald head! Go up, bald head!”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/2_kings/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And he went up from thence unto Beth-el; and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him: 'Go up, thou baldhead; go up, thou baldhead.' <a href="/sep/2_kings/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And he went up thence to Baethel: and as he was going up by the way there came up also little children from the city, and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, bald-head, go up. <a href="/parallel/2_kings/2-23.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=552" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/2_kings/2.htm">Elisha Mocked</a> 23<a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: miš·šām (Prep-m:: Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">From there,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: way·ya·‘al (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">Elisha went up</a> <a href="/hebrew/1008.htm" title="1008: bêṯ- (Prep) -- From bayith and 'el; house of God; Beth-El, a place in Palestine.">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/1008.htm" title="1008: ’êl (N-proper-fs) -- From bayith and 'el; house of God; Beth-El, a place in Palestine.">Bethel,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: wə·hū (Conj-w:: Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">and as he</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: ‘ō·leh (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">was walking up</a> <a href="/hebrew/1870.htm" title="1870: ḇad·de·reḵ (Prep-b, Art:: N-cs) -- Way, road, distance, journey, manner. From darak; a road; figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb.">the road,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5288.htm" title="5288: ū·nə·‘ā·rîm (Conj-w:: N-mp) -- A boy, lad, youth, retainer. From na'ar; a boy, from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also, a girl.">a group of boys</a> <a href="/hebrew/6996.htm" title="6996: qə·ṭan·nîm (Adj-mp) -- Small, young, unimportant. Or qaton; from quwt; abbreviated, i.e. Diminutive, literally or figuratively."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3318.htm" title="3318: yā·ṣə·’ū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to go out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.">came out</a> <a href="/hebrew/4480.htm" title="4480: min- (Prep) -- From. Or minniy; or minney; for men; properly, a part of; hence, from or out of in many senses.">of</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: hā·‘îr (Art:: N-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">the city</a> <a href="/hebrew/7046.htm" title="7046: way·yiṯ·qal·lə·sū- (Conj-w:: V-Hitpael-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To mock, scoff. A primitive root; to disparage, i.e. Ridicule.">and jeered at</a> <a href="/hebrew/ḇōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">him,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">chanting,</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: ‘ă·lêh (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">“Go up,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7142.htm" title="7142: qê·rê·aḥ (Adj-ms) -- Bald. From qarach; bald.">you baldhead!</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: ‘ă·lêh (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">Go up,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7142.htm" title="7142: qê·rê·aḥ (Adj-ms) -- Bald. From qarach; bald.">you baldhead!”</a> 24Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/leviticus/19-32.htm">Leviticus 19:32</a> You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD. <a href="/proverbs/20-20.htm">Proverbs 20:20</a> Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness. <a href="/proverbs/30-17.htm">Proverbs 30:17</a> As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it. <a href="/2_chronicles/36-16.htm">2 Chronicles 36:16</a> But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy. <a href="/isaiah/57-4.htm">Isaiah 57:4</a> Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit, <a href="/hosea/7-5.htm">Hosea 7:5</a> The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him. <a href="/matthew/5-11.htm">Matthew 5:11-12</a> Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. <a href="/matthew/27-39.htm">Matthew 27:39-44</a> And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads / and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” / In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, ... <a href="/mark/15-29.htm">Mark 15:29-32</a> And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, / come down from the cross and save Yourself!” / In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! ... <a href="/luke/6-22.htm">Luke 6:22-23</a> Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man. / Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in the same way. <a href="/luke/23-35.htm">Luke 23:35-39</a> The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” / The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine. / “If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!” ... <a href="/john/15-18.htm">John 15:18-20</a> If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. <a href="/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51-52</a> You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— <a href="/romans/12-14.htm">Romans 12:14</a> Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. <a href="/1_corinthians/4-12.htm">1 Corinthians 4:12-13</a> We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; / when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And he went up from there to Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, you bald head; go up, you bald head.Beth-el<a href="/1_kings/12-28.htm">1 Kings 12:28-32</a> Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt… <a href="/hosea/4-15.htm">Hosea 4:15</a> Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.<a href="/hosea/10-5.htm">Hosea 10:5,15</a> The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it… <a href="/job/19-18.htm">Job 19:18</a> Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.<a href="/job/30-1.htm">Job 30:1,8</a> But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock… <a href="/proverbs/20-11.htm">Proverbs 20:11</a> Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.mocked<a href="/genesis/21-9.htm">Genesis 21:9</a> And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.<a href="/2_chronicles/36-16.htm">2 Chronicles 36:16</a> But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.<a href="/job/30-1.htm">Job 30:1,8,9</a> But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock… Go up<a href="/2_kings/2-11.htm">2 Kings 2:11</a> And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, 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.<a href="/matthew/27-29.htm">Matthew 27:29-31,40-43</a> And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! … <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/13-43.htm">Bald</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-3.htm">Bethel</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-3.htm">Beth-El</a> <a href="/numbers/31-17.htm">Boys</a> <a href="/1_kings/21-26.htm">Children</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-19.htm">City</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-12.htm">Crying</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-22.htm">Elisha</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-21.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-5.htm">Head</a> <a href="/luke/8-53.htm">Jeered</a> <a href="/1_kings/20-27.htm">Little</a> <a href="/1_kings/18-27.htm">Mocked</a> <a href="/acts/17-32.htm">Scoff</a> <a href="/1_kings/22-31.htm">Small</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-14.htm">Sport</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-21.htm">Thence</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-15.htm">Way</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-19.htm">Young</a> <a href="/2_samuel/18-15.htm">Youths</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/3-17.htm">Bald</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-29.htm">Bethel</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-29.htm">Beth-El</a> <a href="/job/19-18.htm">Boys</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-24.htm">Children</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-19.htm">City</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-26.htm">Crying</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-11.htm">Elisha</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-24.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/2_kings/4-19.htm">Head</a> <a href="/luke/8-53.htm">Jeered</a> <a href="/2_kings/4-2.htm">Little</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-21.htm">Mocked</a> <a href="/job/11-3.htm">Scoff</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-18.htm">Small</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/36-16.htm">Sport</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-25.htm">Thence</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-8.htm">Way</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-21.htm">Young</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-24.htm">Youths</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 2</div>1. <a href="/2_kings/2-1.htm">Elijah, taking his leave of Elisha, with his mantle divides Jordan</a> 9. <a href="/2_kings/2-9.htm">and, granting Elisha his request, is taken up by a fiery chariot into heaven</a> 12. <a href="/2_kings/2-12.htm">Elisha, dividing Jordan with Elijah's mantle, is acknowledged his successor</a> 16. <a href="/2_kings/2-16.htm">The young prophets, hardly obtaining leave to seek Elijah, cannot find him.</a> 19. <a href="/2_kings/2-19.htm">Elisha with salt heals the unwholesome waters</a> 23. <a href="/2_kings/2-23.htm">Bears destroy the children that mocked Elisha</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/2_kings/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>From there, Elisha went up to Bethel Elisha's journey to Bethel follows his succession of Elijah, marking the beginning of his prophetic ministry. Bethel, meaning "House of God," was a significant religious site, originally established by Jacob (<a href="/genesis/28-19.htm">Genesis 28:19</a>). However, by Elisha's time, it had become a center of idolatry under Jeroboam's reign (<a href="/1_kings/12-28.htm">1 Kings 12:28-29</a>). This context highlights the spiritual decline Elisha faced, setting the stage for his prophetic challenges.and as he was walking up the road The road to Bethel symbolizes Elisha's path of obedience and mission. Roads in biblical narratives often represent journeys of faith or divine appointments. Elisha's walk signifies his commitment to God's calling, despite the spiritual opposition he would encounter.a group of boys came out of the city The term "boys" here can refer to young men or adolescents, not necessarily children. This group represents the influence of Bethel's idolatrous culture, likely reflecting the community's disdain for true prophetic authority. Their emergence from the city suggests a collective mindset shaped by the prevailing spiritual corruption.and jeered at him Jeering indicates a deep disrespect for Elisha's prophetic office. In biblical times, prophets were God's messengers, deserving honor and reverence. The mockery signifies a rejection of God's word and authority, echoing Israel's broader rebellion against divine guidance.chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” The chant "Go up" may allude to Elijah's recent ascension to heaven (<a href="/2_kings/2-11.htm">2 Kings 2:11</a>), mocking Elisha's prophetic legitimacy. "Baldhead" could refer to Elisha's physical appearance or be a term of derision, possibly implying a lack of authority or divine favor. This taunt underscores the spiritual blindness and disrespect prevalent in Bethel, contrasting with the honor due to God's chosen servants.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/e/elisha.htm">Elisha</a> A prophet of God and successor to Elijah, known for his miracles and leadership in Israel. 2. <a href="/topical/b/bethel.htm">Bethel</a> A significant town in Israel, often associated with idolatry during this period, despite its earlier history as a place of worship to God. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_boys.htm">The Boys</a> A group of young individuals from Bethel who mocked Elisha, showing disrespect not only to him but to God’s appointed prophet. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_road_to_bethel.htm">The Road to Bethel</a> The setting of this event, symbolizing a journey and the challenges faced by God’s messengers. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_jeering.htm">The Jeering</a> Represents a broader cultural and spiritual disrespect towards God’s authority and His messengers.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/r/respect_for_god's_anointed.htm">Respect for God’s Anointed</a> We must honor those whom God has placed in positions of spiritual authority, recognizing their role in His divine plan. <a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disrespect.htm">The Consequences of Disrespect</a> Disrespect towards God’s representatives can lead to serious consequences, as seen in the subsequent verses of this chapter. <a href="/topical/c/cultural_influence_on_behavior.htm">Cultural Influence on Behavior</a> The environment in Bethel, known for idolatry, likely influenced the boys’ behavior, reminding us to be cautious of cultural influences that lead us away from God. <a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_words.htm">The Power of Words</a> Our words have the power to build up or tear down. We should strive to speak words that honor God and His people. <a href="/topical/s/standing_firm_in_faith.htm">Standing Firm in Faith</a> Like Elisha, we may face mockery or persecution for our faith, but we are called to stand firm and trust in God’s justice.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_kings_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 2</a> <a href="/q/why_did_god_allow_bears_to_kill_youths.htm">2 Kings 2:23–24 – Why would God allow bears to kill 42 youths simply for mocking Elisha? </a> <a href="/q/why_was_'baldhead'_an_insult_then.htm">Why was "baldhead" considered an insult in Elisha's time?</a> <a href="/q/why_do_2_chron._35_and_2_kings_23_differ.htm">Why do 2 Chronicles 35 and 2 Kings 23 differ in their accounts of Josiah's death, raising questions about the actual historical events?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_verbal_abuse.htm">What does the Bible say about verbal abuse?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_kings/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(23) Went up.--From Jericho, in the plain, Elisha goes now to visit the prophetic community established at Beth-el, the chief seat of the illicit cultus.By the way.--The way par excellence; the highroad leading directly up to the gates of the town.Little children.--Young boys (or, lads). Na'ar is not used rhetorically here, as in <a href="/1_chronicles/29-1.htm" title="Furthermore David the king said to all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.">1Chronicles 29:1</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/13-7.htm" title="And there are gathered to him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.">2Chronicles 13:7</a>. The boys who mocked Elisha might be of various ages, between six or seven years and twenty. "Little children" would not be likely to hit upon a biting sarcasm, nor to sally forth in a body to insult the prophet (<a href="/2_kings/2-24.htm" title="And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.">2Kings 2:24</a>).Mocked.--<a href="/habakkuk/1-10.htm" title="And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn to them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.">Habakkuk 1:10</a>. In Syriac and Chaldee the root implies "to praise, and to praise ironically," i.e., to deride. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 23. - And he went up from thence unto Bethel. The ascent is steep and long from the Jordan valley to the highlands of Benjamin, on which Bethel stood, probably one of not less than three thousand feet. The object of Elisha's visit may have been to inform the "sons of the prophets" at Bethel (ver. 3) of the events that had befallen Elijah. And as he was going up by the way - i.e., by the usual road or pathway, for, in the strict sense of the word, roads did not exist in Palestine - there came forth little children out of the city. "Little children" is an unfortunate translation, raising quite a wrong idea of the tender age of the persons spoken cf. On the other hand, Bishop Patrick's assertion that the words are to be "understood of adult persons, who had a hatred to the prophet," is quite untenable. Naarim ketanaim would be best translated (as by our Revisers in the margin) "young lads" - boys, that is, from twelve to fifteen. Such mischievous youths are among the chief nuisances of Oriental towns; they waylay the traveler, deride him, jeer him - are keen to remark any personal defect that he may have, and merciless in flouting it; they dog his steps, shout out their rude remarks, and sometimes proceed from abusive words to violent acts, as the throwing of sticks, or stones, or mud. On this occasion they only got as far as rude words. And mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head! go up, thou bald head! It has been maintained that the scoff of the lads contained an allusion to the ascension of Elijah (Patrick, Pool, Clarke), of which they had beard, and was a call upon Elisha to follow his master's example in quitting the world, that they might be no longer troubled with him. But it is not at all apparent that the lads even knew who Elisha was - they would probably have jeered at any aged person with whom they had fallen in; and by "Go up" they merely meant "Go on thy way; 'the force of their jeer was not in the word' aleh, but in the word kereach, "bald head." Baldness was sometimes produced by leprosy, and then made a man unclean (<a href="/leviticus/13-42.htm">Leviticus 13:42-44</a>); but the boys probably flouted the mere natural defect, in which there was no "uncleanness" (<a href="/leviticus/13-40.htm">Leviticus 13:40, 41</a>), but which they regarded as a fit subject for ridicule. Their sin was disrespect towards old age, combined, perhaps, with disrespect for the prophetical order, to which they may have known from his dress that Elisha belonged. <a href="/commentaries/2_kings/2-23.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>From there, מִשָּׁ֖ם (miš·šām) Preposition-m | Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> There, then, thither Elisha went up וַיַּ֥עַל (way·ya·‘al) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> To ascend, in, actively to בֵּֽית־ (bêṯ-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> Bethel, אֵ֑ל (’êl) Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1008.htm">Strong's 1008: </a> Bethel -- 'house of God', a city in Ephraim, also a place in southern Judah and as he וְה֣וּא ׀ (wə·hū) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> He, self, the same, this, that, as, are was walking up עֹלֶ֣ה (‘ō·leh) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> To ascend, in, actively the road, בַדֶּ֗רֶךְ (ḇad·de·reḵ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1870.htm">Strong's 1870: </a> A road, a course of life, mode of action a group of young men וּנְעָרִ֤ים (ū·nə·‘ā·rîm) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5288.htm">Strong's 5288: </a> A boy, lad, youth, retainer came out יָצְא֣וּ (yā·ṣə·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3318.htm">Strong's 3318: </a> To go, bring, out, direct and proxim of מִן־ (min-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4480.htm">Strong's 4480: </a> A part of, from, out of the city הָעִ֔יר (hā·‘îr) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> Excitement and jeered at וַיִּתְקַלְּסוּ־ (way·yiṯ·qal·lə·sū-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7046.htm">Strong's 7046: </a> To disparage, ridicule him, בוֹ֙ (ḇōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> chanting, וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “Go up, עֲלֵ֥ה (‘ă·lêh) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> To ascend, in, actively you baldhead! קֵרֵ֖חַ (qê·rê·aḥ) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7142.htm">Strong's 7142: </a> Bald Go up, עֲלֵ֥ה (‘ă·lêh) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> To ascend, in, actively you baldhead!” קֵרֵֽחַ׃ (qê·rê·aḥ) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7142.htm">Strong's 7142: </a> Bald <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/2-23.htm">2 Kings 2:23 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/2_kings/2-23.htm">2 Kings 2:23 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/2_kings/2-23.htm">2 Kings 2:23 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/2_kings/2-23.htm">2 Kings 2:23 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/2_kings/2-23.htm">2 Kings 2:23 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/2-23.htm">2 Kings 2:23 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/2-23.htm">2 Kings 2:23 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/2-23.htm">2 Kings 2:23 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/2-23.htm">2 Kings 2:23 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/2_kings/2-23.htm">2 Kings 2:23 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-23.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 2:23 He went up from there to Bethel (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/2-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 2:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 2:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/2-24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 2:24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 2:24" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>