Berean Standard Bible
2 Kings 4:1
1Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”
2 Kings 4:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
- New International Version (NIV)The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves."
- New King James Version (NKJV)A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”
Context of 2 Kings 4:1
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!” 2“How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” 3“Go,” said Elisha, “borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few.
Read all of 2 Kings 42 Kings 4:1 word by word
וְאִשָּׁ֣ה אַחַ֣ת מִנְּשֵׁ֣י בְנֵֽי־הַ֠נְּבִיאִים צָעֲקָ֨ה אֶל־אֱלִישָׁ֜ע לֵאמֹ֗ר עַבְדְּךָ֤ אִישִׁי֙ מֵ֔ת וְאַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתָּ כִּ֣י עַבְדְּךָ֔ הָיָ֥ה יָרֵ֖א אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וְהַ֨נֹּשֶׁ֔ה בָּ֗א לָקַ֜חַת אֶת־שְׁנֵ֧י יְלָדַ֛י ל֖וֹ לַעֲבָדִֽים׃Read the interlinear
- Now the wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- of oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- of the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of the prophetsנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
- cried outצָעַקtsâ‛aq · to cryH6817
- toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
- Elishaאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Your servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- my husbandאִישׁ'îysh · man: husbandH376
- is deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- and youאַתָּ֫ה'attâh 'attâ 'ath 'attîy 'attem 'atten 'attênâh 'attênnâh · you(m.s.)H859
- knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- thatכִּיkîy · forH3588
- ·הָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- fearedיָרֵאyârê' · afraidH3373
- ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
- the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- And now his creditorנָשָׁהnâshâh · to lendH5383
- is comingבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- to takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- my twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- childrenיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206
Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:1
- 2 Kings 4:38When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet, he said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and boil some stew for the sons of the prophets.”
- 2 Kings 2:3Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.”
- 1 Kings 20:35Meanwhile, by the word of the LORD, one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me, please!” But the man refused to strike him.
- Genesis 22:12“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”
- 1 Kings 18:3and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD,
- Nehemiah 7:2Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.
- Psalms 103:11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.
- Psalms 112:1Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.
- Psalms 115:13He will bless those who fear the LORD— small and great alike.
- Psalms 147:11The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His loving devotion.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
- Malachi 3:16At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.
- Malachi 4:2“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.
- Acts 13:26Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
- Revelation 15:4Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Now there cried a certain woman - This woman, according to the Chaldee, Jarchi, and the rabbins, was the wife of Obadiah. Sons of the prophets - נבייא תלמידי talmidey nebiyaiya, "disciples of the prophets:" so the Targum here, and in all other places where the words occur, and properly too. The creditor is come - This, says Jarchi, was Jehoram son of Ahab, who lent money on usury to Obadiah, because he had in the days of Ahab fed the Lord's prophets. The…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The creditor is come - The Law of Moses, like the Athenian and the Roman law, recognized servitude for debt, and allowed that pledging of the debtor‘s person, which, in a rude state of society, is regarded as the safest and the most natural security (see the marginal reference). In the present case it would seem that, so long as the debtor lived, the creditor had not enforced his right over his sons, but now on his death he claimed their services, to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Elisha multiplies the widow's oil. (1-7) The Shunammite obtains a son. (8-17) The Shunammite's son restored to life. (18-37) The miracle of healing the pottage, and of feeding the sons of the prophets. (38-44) Verses 1-7 Elisha's miracles were acts of real charity: Christ's were so; not only great wonders, but great favours to those for whom they were wrought. God magnifies his goodness with his power. Elisha readily received a poor widow's complaint…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The widow's husband was part of the prophets who worked with Elisha (2 Kings 2:3–18). take my two children as his slaves: The law of Moses let a creditor make a debtor and their children work as slaves to pay off a debt (Exodus 21:2–4; Leviticus 25:10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-72Ki 4:1-7. Elisha Augments the Widow's Oil. 1. there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets--They were allowed to marry as well as the priests and Levites. Her husband, not enjoying the lucrative profits of business, had nothing but a professional income, which, in that irreligious age, would be precarious and very scanty, so that he was not in a condition to provide for his family. the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 4:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Kings 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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