# heard the words of the woman

The words "the words" are a metonym for what the woman said. Alternate translation: "heard the woman tell what she and the other woman had done" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# he tore his clothes

The king ripped his outer garment to show his distress. Alternate translation: "he tore his clothes in grief" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])

# now he was passing by on the wall

He had been walking on the city wall when the woman called out to him in [2 Kings 6:24](./24.md). Now he continued walking along it.

# he had sackcloth underneath, against his skin

By wearing sackcloth even for his undergarments, the king showed that he was very sad and upset. Alternate translation: "he had sackcloth underneath his outer garment, against his skin" or "he was wearing sackcloth underneath his robe because he was very upset" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])