2 Kings 6:27

If the Lord do not help thee There is some difficulty here. The word rendered -if … not" is that which in Hebrew is generally put with an imperative = -Let not". So that the sense would be -May the Lord not help thee". So the LXX. But such a wish could hardly have come at such a time into the king's mind. The R.V. (marg.) attempts to keep the imperative force thus, -Nay, let the Lord help thee". This comes a little nearer the sense of the English versions. But there is no warrant for separating the negative particle in this way from its verb. Perhaps it is best to explain the negative particle, as if the verb belonging to it were suppressed. Thus -Do not (cry to me); the Lord must help thee; for I cannot". In this way the sense given in the English versions would be the correct force of the words.

out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? i.e. with anything to eat or to drink. The supply of both was utterly spent, as the whole city knew. For the expression cf. Hosea 9:2.