Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 1:8
And they answered him, [He was] a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It [is] Elijah the Tishbite.
8. He was a hairy man ] Literally, ‘lord, i.e. possessor, of hair’. This might equally be used of the long hair of the head and beard, or of the shaggy cloak of hair worn as a garment. But when we know of him who came ‘in the spirit and power of Elijah’ that ‘his raiment was of camel’s hair and a leathern girdle about his loins’, it seems better to accept the expression as a description of Elijah’s dress. We know too that the prophets (Zec 13:4) did wear a mantle of hair, probably adopted from the garb of this greatest among them, Elijah.
It is Elijah the Tishbite ] Though the messengers might not know the prophet, the king, from his father’s experience, must have heard a great deal about Elijah, and of his appearance and dress.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
An hairy man – Either in allusion to his shaggy cloak of untanned skin; or, more probably, an expression descriptive of the prophets person, of his long flowing locks, abundant beard, and general profusion of hair. His costume was that of a thorough ascetic. Generally the Jews wore girdles of linen or cotton stuff, soft and comfortable. Under the girdle they wore one or two long linen gowns or shirts, and over these they had sometimes a large shawl. Elijah had only his leather girdle and his sheepskin cape or mantle.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. He was a hairy man] That is, he wore a rough garment, either made of camels’ hair, as his successor John Baptist’s was, or he wore a skin dressed with the hair on. Some think that the meaning is, he had very long hair and a long beard. The ancient prophets all wore rough garments, or upper coats made of the skins of beasts: They wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, says the apostle, Heb 11:37.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
An hairy man; either,
1. As to his body; the hair of his head and beard being through neglect grown long, and spread over much of his time. Or rather,
2. As to his outward garment, which was rough and hairy, such as were sometimes worn by eminent persons in Greece in ancient times, and were the proper habit of the prophets. See Isa 20:2; Zec 13:4; Mat 3:4; Heb 11:37.
With a girdle of leather about his loins; as John the Baptist also had, Mat 3:4, that by his very outward habit he might represent Elias, in whose spirit and power he came.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. an hairy manThis was thedescription not of his person, as in the case of Esau, but of hisdress, which consisted either of unwrought sheep or goatskins (Heb11:37), or of camel’s haircloththe coarser manufacture of thismaterial like our rough haircloth. The Dervishes and Bedouins areattired in this wild, uncouth manner, while their hair flows loose onthe head, their shaggy cloak is thrown over their shoulders and tiedin front on the breast, naked, except at the waist, round which is askin girdlea broad, rough leathern belt. Similar to this was thegirdle of the prophets, as in keeping with their coarse garments andtheir stern, uncompromising office.
2Ki1:9-16. ELIJAH BRINGSFIRE FROM HEAVENON AHAZIAH’SMESSENGERS.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And they answered him, he was an hairy man,…. Either the hair of his head and beard were grown very long, having been much neglected for a great while; or he had an hairy garment on, either of goats’ hair, such as the Chinese wear f, whose women spin it, see
Ex 35:26 and of which garments are made; or of camels’ hair, such as John the Baptist wore, who came in his spirit and power, and imitated him in his dress, being also, as Elijah here,
girt with a girdle of leather about his loins: for more expeditious travelling, not for warmth, the climate being hot:
and he said, it is Elijah the Tishbite; for he had seen him formerly in his father’s court in this dress.
f Semedo’s History of China, part 1. ch. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(8) Answered.Said unto.
An hairy man.Literally, a lord of hair. This might refer to length of hair and beard (so LXX., , hirsute, shaggy); or to a hairy cloak or mantle. The second alternative is right, because a hairy mantle was a mark of the prophetic office from Elijah downwards. (Comp. Zec. 13:4, a rough garment; and Mat. 3:4, where it is said of John Baptistthe second Eliasthat he was clad in camels hair, and had a leather girdle about his loins.) The girdle, as Thenius remarks, would not be mentioned alone. The common dress of the Bedawis is a sheep or goats skin with the hair left on.
Girt with a girdle of leather.Such as only the poorest would wear. The girdle was ordinarily of linen or cotton, and often costly. The prophets dress was a sign of contempt for earthly display, and of sorrow for the national sins and their consequences, which it was his function to proclaim. (Comp. Isa. 20:2.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. A hairy man Literally, a man, a lord, of hair; lord of the hairy mantle. A rough garment, woven of goats’ hair, and fastened with a leather strap about his loins, formed, apparently, the sole dress of Elijah. “Inaccurately as the word mantle represents such a garment, it has yet become so identified with Elijah that it is impossible now to alter it. It is desirable therefore, to substitute “mantle” for “garment” in Zec 13:4, a passage from which it would appear that since the time of Elijah his garb had become the recognised sign of a prophet of Jehovah.” Grove. The prophets were wont to wear a distinctive dress, expressive, in some way, of the nature of their work. Isaiah wore a garment of sackcloth, as a mark of sorrow and self-abasement for the sins of the people. Isa 20:2. John the Baptist attired himself like Elijah, (in whose spirit and power he came, Mat 3:4😉 and the outer garb was a representative of his inner character and spirit.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 1:8. He was an hairy man Elijah being a hairy man may either denote his wearing long hair on his head and his beard, according to the manner of the ancient Greek philosophers, or it may denote his habit, which was made of skins, rough, and with the hair on; as the ancient heroes were clothed with the skins of tygers, lions, and bears; as the evangelist represents the Baptist, in a raiment of camel’s hair; or as the apostle describes the prophets, wandering about in sheep-skins and goat-skins.
Note; 1. It is a vain curiosity to enquire when we shall die; but it is our best wisdom to be always ready. 2. If once we offer worship to any object below the glorious, self-existent Jehovah, a fly is as worthy a god as any other subordinate created being. The difference is inconsiderable between an Arian and an Ekronite. 3. They who will not sue to God for mercy, may expect to hear from him in judgment. 4. Neglect of God, or setting the affections on any thing upon earth more than on him, is practical atheism.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ki 1:8 And they answered him, [He was] an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It [is] Elijah the Tishbite.
Ver. 8. He was a hairy man. ] Hispidus et hirsutus. Either because Elijah had much hair on his head and face, or because, as a prophet, he wore a rough garment, Zec 13:4 as a pattern of repentance.
And girt with a girdle of leather.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
hairy = clad in a garment consisting of a skin. Prophets wore coarse clothing (Zec 13:4. Mat 3:4).
girdle of leather. Worn by Palestine peasants to-day.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
an hairy man: That is, he wore a rough garment, either made of camels’ hair, as that of John Baptist, or of a skin, dressed with the hair on. Sir J. Chardin informs us, in a manuscript note on this place, cited by Mr. Harmer, that the eastern dervishes and fakeers are clothed just as Elijah was, with a hairy garment, girded with a leathern girdle. Isa 20:2, Zec 13:4, Mat 3:4, Mat 11:8, Luk 1:17, Rev 11:3
Reciprocal: 2Ki 1:3 – Elijah 2Ki 2:8 – his mantle Mar 1:6 – clothed Luk 7:25 – A man Heb 11:37 – in sheepskins
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 1:8. They answered, He was a hairy man This may either denote his wearing long hair on his head and beard, according to the manner of the ancient Greek philosophers, or it may signify that he was clad with a hairy garment, that is, with a skin that had not been dressed, such as the prophets were wont to wear, (Isa 20:2; Zec 13:4; Mat 3:4,) and eminent persons in Greece in ancient times; and such clothing the poorer Arabians use at this day. The prophets, doubtless, used this habit to show their utter contempt of a luxurious, effeminate life. And girt with a girdle of leather As John the Baptist also was, that by his very outward appearance he might represent Elijah, in whose power and spirit he came. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite This conclusion he draws from their description of him, having seen him in this dress in his fathers court.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1:8 And they answered him, [He was] an {e} hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It [is] Elijah the Tishbite.
(e) Some think that this meant his garments, which were rough and made of hair.