31 Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
31 He said, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today!"
31 and he said, "May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today."
31 And he called out, "God do his worst to me - and more - if Elisha son of Shaphat still has a head on his shoulders at this day's end."
31 Then he said, "God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today."
31 "May God strike me and even kill me if I don't separate Elisha's head from his shoulders this very day," the king vowed.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 6:31
Commentary on 2 Kings 6:24-33
(Read 2 Kings 6:24-33)
Learn to value plenty, and to be thankful for it; see how contemptible money is, when in time of famine it is so freely parted with for any thing that is eatable! The language of Jehoram to the woman may be the language of despair. See the word of God fulfilled; among the threatenings of God's judgments upon Israel for their sins, this was one, that they should eat the flesh of their own children, Deuteronomy 28:53-57. The truth and the awful justice of God were displayed in this horrible transaction. Alas! what miseries sin has brought upon the world! But the foolishness of man perverts his way, and then his heart frets against the Lord. The king swears the death of Elisha. Wicked men will blame any one as the cause of their troubles, rather than themselves, and will not leave their sins. If rending the clothes, without a broken and contrite heart, would avail, if wearing sackcloth, without being renewed in the spirit of their mind, would serve, they would not stand out against the Lord. May the whole word of God increase in us reverent fear and holy hope, that we may be stedfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord.