2 Kings 6:5 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

But as one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell off the handle and dropped into the water. He cried out, 'Oh no, my master! I borrowed this axe!'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

One of the prophets accidentally lost a borrowed axe head in the water and was distressed because it wasn't his to lose.

📚 Historical Context

This occurred during the ministry of the prophet Elisha, when a group of prophets (likely students at a prophetic school) were building new living quarters because their current place had become too small. In ancient times, iron tools were expensive and valuable, making the loss of a borrowed axe head a serious financial burden for someone who couldn't afford to replace it.

Explore Similar Verses

Exodus 22:14

If someone borrows something from their neighbor, and it gets damaged or dies while the owner isn't there with it, the borrower must definitely pay to replace it.

Exodus 22:15

But if the owner was there with the animal when it was injured or died, the borrower doesn't have to pay for it. If it was a rented animal, the loss is already covered by the rental fee that was paid.

John 15:6

If someone doesn't stay connected to me, they're like a branch that gets cut off from the tree — it just dries up and dies. People gather up those dead branches and throw them in the fire where they burn up.

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