2 Kings 4:14

2 Kings 4:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.
• New International Version (NIV)“What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, "What then is to be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”

Context of 2 Kings 4:14

12And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call the Shunammite woman.” And when he had called her, she stood before him, 13and Elisha said to Gehazi, “Now tell her, ‘Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’” “I have a home among my own people,” she replied. So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?” “Well, she has no son,” Gehazi replied, “and her husband is old.” 15“Call her,” said Elisha. So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.”

2 Kings 4:14 word by word

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר וּמֶ֖ה לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת לָ֑הּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גֵּיחֲזִ֗י אֲבָ֛ל בֵּ֥ן אֵֽין־לָ֖הּ וְאִישָׁ֥הּ זָקֵֽן׃Read the interlinear

• So he askedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Then whatמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• should be doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• Wellאֲבָל'ăbâl · trulyH61
• noאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• Gehaziגֵּיחֲזִיgêychăzîy gêchăzîy · GehaziH1522
• and her husbandאִישׁ'îysh · man: husbandH376
• is oldזָקֵןzâqên · be oldH2204

Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:14

• Genesis 15:2But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
• Genesis 17:17Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?”
• Genesis 18:10Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.
• Genesis 25:21Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
• Genesis 30:1When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.
• Judges 13:2Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children.
• 1 Samuel 1:2He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
• Luke 1:7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14What then is to be done for her? - It seems that the woman retired as soon as she had delivered the answer mentioned in the preceding verse.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-17Verses 8-17 Elisha was well thought of by the king of Israel for his late services; a good man can take as much pleasure in serving others, as in raising himself. But the Shunammite needed not any good offices of this kind. It is a happiness to dwell among our own people, that love and respect us, and to whom we are able to do good. It would be well with many, if they did but know when they are really well off. The Lord sees the secret wish which is…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-14Elisha wanted to repay his host's kindness. Gehazi his servant: Gehazi was Elisha's apprentice, just as Elisha had been with Elijah (1 Kings 19:21). It was common for a prophet to seek advice from his assistant.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1613-16. what is to be done for thee?--Wishing to testify his gratitude for the hospitable attentions of this family, he announced to her the birth of a son "about this time next year." The interest and importance of such an intelligence can only be estimated by considering that Oriental women, and Jewish in particular, connect ideas of disgrace with barrenness, and cherish a more ardent desire for children than women in any other part of the world (Ge…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 4:14

• Shunammite
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Aside
• Careful
• Desire
• Gehazi
• Shunem
• Daniel, Book of
• Elisha
• Images
• Jehoahaz
• Jehoram; Joram

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