Go
Articles on

2 Kings 4

2 Kings 4:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

+
1
Now there cried
tsa`aq (Hebrew #6817)
to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly)
KJV usage: X at all, call together, cry (out), gather (selves) (together).
Pronounce: tsaw-ak'
Origin: a primitive root
a certain
'echad (Hebrew #259)
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
KJV usage: a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), + eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
Pronounce: ekh-awd'
Origin: a numeral from 258
woman
'ishshah (Hebrew #802)
irregular plural, nashiym {naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as 582)
KJV usage: (adulter)ess, each, every, female, X many, + none, one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
Pronounce: ish-shaw'
Origin: feminine of 376 or 582
of the wives
'ishshah (Hebrew #802)
irregular plural, nashiym {naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as 582)
KJV usage: (adulter)ess, each, every, female, X many, + none, one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
Pronounce: ish-shaw'
Origin: feminine of 376 or 582
of the sons
ben (Hebrew #1121)
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like 1, 251, etc.))
KJV usage: + afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, + spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
Pronounce: bane
Origin: from {SI 11129}1129{/SI}
m of the prophets
nabiy' (Hebrew #5030)
a prophet or (generally) inspired man
KJV usage: prophecy, that prophesy, prophet.
Pronounce: naw-bee'
Origin: from 5012
unto Elisha
'Eliysha` (Hebrew #477)
Elisha, the famous prophet
KJV usage: Elisha.
Pronounce: el-ee-shaw'
Origin: contracted for 474.
, saying
'amar (Hebrew #559)
to say (used with great latitude)
KJV usage: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.
Pronounce: aw-mar'
Origin: a primitive root
, Thy servant
`ebed (Hebrew #5650)
a servant
KJV usage: X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant, (man-)servant.
Pronounce: eh'-bed
Origin: from 5647
my husband
'iysh (Hebrew #376)
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
KJV usage: also, another, any (man), a certain, + champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people, person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare 802.
Pronounce: eesh
Origin: contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant)
is dead
muwth (Hebrew #4191)
causatively, to kill
KJV usage: X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), X must needs, slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in (no) wise.
Pronounce: mooth
Origin: a primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively)
; and thou knowest
yada` (Hebrew #3045)
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.) (as follow)
KJV usage: acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), X will be, wist, wit, wot.
Pronounce: yaw-dah'
Origin: a primitive root
that thy servant
`ebed (Hebrew #5650)
a servant
KJV usage: X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant, (man-)servant.
Pronounce: eh'-bed
Origin: from 5647
did fear
yare' (Hebrew #3373)
fearing; morally, reverent
KJV usage: afraid, fear (-ful).
Pronounce: yaw-ray'
Origin: from 3372
the Lord
Yhovah (Hebrew #3068)
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
KJV usage: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
Pronounce: yeh-ho-vaw'
Origin: from 1961
: and theo creditor
nashah (Hebrew #5383)
to lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest
KJV usage: creditor, exact, extortioner, lend, usurer, lend on (taker on) usury.
Pronounce: naw-shaw'
Origin: a primitive root (rather identical with 5382, in the sense of 5378)
is come
bow' (Hebrew #935)
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
KJV usage: abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, + besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken (in age), X surely, take (in), way.
Pronounce: bo
Origin: a primitive root
to take
laqach (Hebrew #3947)
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
KJV usage: accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
Pronounce: law-kakh'
Origin: a primitive root
unto him my two
shnayim (Hebrew #8147)
feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also (as ordinal) twofold
KJV usage: both, couple, double, second, twain, + twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
Pronounce: shen-ah'-yim
Origin: dual of 8145
sons
yeled (Hebrew #3206)
something born, i.e. a lad or offspring
KJV usage: boy, child, fruit, son, young man (one).
Pronounce: yeh'-led
Origin: from 3205
to be bondmen
`ebed (Hebrew #5650)
a servant
KJV usage: X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant, (man-)servant.
Pronounce: eh'-bed
Origin: from 5647
.
m
1 Kings 20:35• 35And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of Jehovah, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him. (1 Kings 20:35)
o
Lev. 25:39• 39And if thy brother grow poor beside thee, and be sold to thee, thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bond-servant: (Lev. 25:39)
;
Matt. 18:25• 25But as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and the children and all that he had, and payment to be made. (Matt. 18:25)

More on:

+
Debtor,
Elisha,
Husband,
Prophet,
Servant,
Sons of the Prophets,
Wife,
Woman

Cross References

+

Ministry on This Verse

+
1-7:  Elisha multiplies the widow's oil.
8-17:  He obtains a son for the good Shunammite.
18-37:  He restores her son when dead.
38-41:  At Gilgal he heals the deadly pottage.
42-44:  He satisfies an hundred men with twenty loaves.
A.M. 3110.
B.C. 894.
sons.
2 Kings 4:38• 38And Elisha came again to Gilgal. And there was a famine in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. And he said to his servant, Set on the great pot, and boil pottage for the sons of the prophets. (2 Kings 4:38)
;
2 Kings 2:3,5• 3And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head today? And he said, Yea, I know it, hold ye your peace.
 5And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head today? And he answered, Yea, I know it, hold ye your peace. (2 Kings 2:3,5)
;
1 Kings 20:35• 35And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of Jehovah, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him. (1 Kings 20:35)
thy servant did fear.
Gen. 22:12• 12And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me. (Gen. 22:12)
;
1 Kings 18:3• 3and Ahab called Obadiah which was the governor of his house (now Obadiah feared Jehovah greatly; (1 Kings 18:3)
;
Neh. 7:2• 2And I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the citadel, charge over Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man and feared God above many. (Neh. 7:2)
;
Psa. 103:11,17• 11For, as height of heavens [is] above the earth,{HR}His lovingkindness is mighty over those that fear them.
 17But the mercy of Jehovah [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon those that fear him;{HR}And his righteousness [is] to sons of sons, (Psa. 103:11,17)
;
Psa. 112:1‑2• 1Praise ye Jah.{HR}Blessed [is] the man fearing Jehovah,{HR}In his commandments delighting greatly.
 2Mighty on the earth shall be his seed;{HR}The generation of the upright shall be blessed. (Psa. 112:1‑2)
;
Psa. 115:13• 13He will bless them that fear Jehovah,{HR}The small with the great. (Psa. 115:13)
;
Psa. 147:11• 11Jehovah taketh pleasure in those fearing him,{HR}In those hoping in his mercy. (Psa. 147:11)
;
Eccl. 8:12• 12Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days,{HR}Yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, (Eccl. 8:12)
;
Eccl. 12:13• 13[This is] the end of the matter;{HR}All hath been heard:{HR}Fear God, and keep His commandments;{HR}For this [is] the whole [duty] of man. (Eccl. 12:13)
;
Mal. 3:16• 16Then they that feared Jehovah spake often one to another: and Jehovah hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name. (Mal. 3:16)
;
Mal. 4:2• 2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. (Mal. 4:2)
;
Acts 13:26• 26Brethren sons of Abraham's race, and those among you that fear God, to us was the word of this salvation sent forth. (Acts 13:26)
;
Rev. 15:4• 4Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all the nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy righteousnesses were manifested. (Rev. 15:4)
;
Rev. 19:5• 5And a voice came forth out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, the little and the great. (Rev. 19:5)
the creditor.
Lev. 25:39‑40,48• 39And if thy brother grow poor beside thee, and be sold to thee, thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bond-servant:
 40as a hired servant, as a sojourner, he shall be with thee; until the year of jubilee he shall serve with thee.
 48after he is sold, there shall be right of redemption for him; one of his brethren may redeem him; (Lev. 25:39‑40,48)
;
Neh. 5:2‑5• 2And there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many, and we must procure corn that we may eat and live.
 3And there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards and houses that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
 4There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
 5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already; neither is it in the power of our hand to redeem them, for other men have our fields and our vineyards. (Neh. 5:2‑5)
;
Neh. 10:31• 31and that if the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we would not take it of them on the Sabbath, or on any holy day; and that we would leave the land uncultivated the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt. (Neh. 10:31)
;
Jer. 34:14• 14At the end of seven years ye shall let go every man his brother, a Hebrew, who hath sold himself unto thee; when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee. But your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear. (Jer. 34:14)
;
Matt. 18:25,30,35• 25But as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and the children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
 30And he would not, but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay what was owing.
 35Thus also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if ye forgive not from your hearts each his brother. (Matt. 18:25,30,35)
;
James 2:13• 13for the judgment [is] merciless to him that showed no mercy. Mercy glorieth over judgment. (James 2:13)
• As these chapters unfold before our eyes, we are able to notice in them the contrast between the days of Elijah and those of Elisha. Elijah still acknowledges Israel and its king, though it be to pronounce judgment upon them. For Elisha the king no longer exists. (“The Prophet's Widow: 2 Kings 4:1-7” by H.L. Rossier)
• In the days of Elisha this remnant comes into the full light. It is to this remnant that the prophet addresses himself; the sons of the prophets are the special object of his ministry. This ministry no doubt reaches beyond them, as we shall see, but their role is quite the preponderant one. (“The Prophet's Widow: 2 Kings 4:1-7” by H.L. Rossier)
• The prophet’s wife is without any outward support whatever; the head of the family has been taken away through death; a heartless creditor wants to seize her two sons to make them his slaves. The widow has nothing with which to ransom them from his hand, nothing except a little oil in the house, and the oil, the symbol of spiritual power, is very nearly gone. (“The Prophet's Widow: 2 Kings 4:1-7” by H.L. Rossier)

J. N. Darby Translation

+
1
And a woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha saying, Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant feared Jehovah; and the creditor is come to take my two children to be bondmen.

W. Kelly Translation

+
1
Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear Jehovah; and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons as bondmen.