The passage in question is from 2 Kings 2:23-24, which tells of an incident involving the prophet Elisha shortly after he inherited the prophetic mantle from Elijah. The verses state:

“From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. ‘Get out of here, baldy!’ they said. ‘Get out of here, baldy!’ He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.”

The Hebrew word used for “boys” in this passage is “נְעָרִים” (na’arim), which can refer to males of various ages, from young boys to young men. The term does not precisely specify the age of the individuals involved. It is used in different contexts throughout the Old Testament to describe individuals ranging from children to young adult males.

The nature of their behavior—coming out to jeer and mock a prophet of God—suggests they were not merely innocent children unaware of the gravity of their actions. Their conduct represents a form of disrespect not only towards Elisha but also towards the prophetic office and, by extension, towards God whom Elisha served. This story is often discussed in theological contexts to explore themes of respect, the seriousness of mocking God’s servants, and the consequences of such actions.

Understanding the cultural and historical context of biblical narratives is essential for extracting lessons and principles. In this case, the term used implies they were likely of an age to understand their actions, making this a serious act of disrespect rather than an innocent mistake by very young children.