Overview
The Bible addresses hazael across 16 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Ben-Hadad, Kings, Ramoth-Gilead and Syria. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Hazael, Ahab, Elisha and Jehoshaphat.
Key Bible verses about hazael
Old Testament
2 Kings
And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? with: Heb. in his hand
And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die.
And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. stedfastly: Heb. and set it
And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.
And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.
So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.
And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.
And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick. which: Heb. wherewith the Syrians had wounded Ramah: called Ramoth sick: Heb. wounded
In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel; to cut: Heb. to cut off the ends
From Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan. eastward: Heb. toward the rising of the sun even: or, even to Gilead and Bashan
Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.
And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem. went: Heb. went up
2 Chronicles
He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.
And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick. which: Heb. wherewith they wounded him Azariah: also called, Ahaziah, ver.I. or, Jehoahaz, ver.21.17.
People in the Bible and hazael
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying hazael for yourself
- Begin with 2 Kings 8:8, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Hazael, Ahab and Elisha and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Ben-Hadad, Kings, Ramoth-Gilead and Syria.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about hazael?
The Bible addresses hazael across 16 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Ben-Hadad, Kings, Ramoth-Gilead and Syria. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Hazael, Ahab, Elisha and Jehoshaphat.
How many Bible verses are about hazael?
The Bible references hazael in 16 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention hazael?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is 2 Kings 8:8: “And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?”
Which people in the Bible are associated with hazael?
Hazael, Ahab, Elisha and Jehoshaphat.
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