Read & explore together
Elisha’s power is contrasted with the people’s refusal to repent
Sirach 48:12–16 praises Elisha’s strength and wonders, then turns sharply to the people’s response. The passage contrasts a powerful prophet with a community that still would not repent.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In this part of Sirach, the writer speaks about Elijah and then Elisha. These verses focus on Elisha’s courage, the remarkable works connected with him in life and death, and the sad result that the people still did not turn from sin. This is from the Catholic additional books.
Sirach 48:12–16Main takeaway
This passage teaches that even striking signs and mighty works do not guarantee repentance when people continue in sin.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Elisha receives strengthThe passage first recalls Elijah being wrapped in a whirlwind, then says Elisha was filled with his spirit.
Explanation
The passage first recalls Elijah being wrapped in a whirlwind, then says Elisha was filled with his spirit. Elisha is described as steady and fearless in the face of rulers. No one brought him into subjection. The emphasis is on unusual boldness and strength connected with Elisha’s ministry.
02Wonderful works in life and deathSirach then speaks in very strong praise, saying nothing was too hard for Elisha. It adds that when he was buried, his body prophesied.
Explanation
Sirach then speaks in very strong praise, saying nothing was too hard for Elisha. It adds that when he was buried, his body prophesied. The next verse explains the point by linking his whole life and death together: as he did wonders while living, his works were also marvellous in death.
03The people still would not turnAfter all this praise, the passage gives its painful contrast: the people did not repent and did not depart from their sins.
Explanation
After all this praise, the passage gives its painful contrast: the people did not repent and did not depart from their sins. The result named here is judgement. They were carried away as plunder from their land and scattered through all the earth. Yet the verse also says they were left very few in number, but with a ruler from the house of David.
04Not everyone is described the same wayThe final verse adds an important distinction. Sirach does not flatten every person into one identical response.
Explanation
The final verse adds an important distinction. Sirach does not flatten every person into one identical response. It says some did what was right, but some multiplied sins. That keeps the warning precise: there was real obedience among some, yet increasing sin among others remained a serious and growing problem.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What qualities of Elisha are highlighted before the passage speaks about the people?
Look for the phrases about being filled with Elijah’s spirit, fearing no ruler, and nothing being too hard for him.
02What exact outcomes are named when the people did not repent?
Notice that the verse mentions being carried away as plunder, being scattered, being left very few in number, and still having a ruler from the house of David.
03How does verse 16 keep the passage from making every person sound identical?
The verse distinguishes between some who did what was right and some who multiplied sins.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 48:12–16
12Elijah was wrapped in a whirlwind. Elisha was filled with his spirit. In his days he was not moved by the fear of any ruler, and no one brought him into subjection.
13Nothing was too hard for him. When he was buried, his body prophesied.
14As in his life he did wonders, so his works were also marvelous in death.
15For all this the people didn’t repent. They didn’t depart from their sins, until they were carried away as a plunder from their land, and were scattered through all the earth. The people were left very few in number, but with a ruler from the house of David.
16Some of them did that which was right, but some multiplied sins.