Berean Standard Bible
2 Kings 4:8
8One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat.
2 Kings 4:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
- New International Version (NIV)One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat.
- English Standard Version (ESV)One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.
Context of 2 Kings 4:8
6When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another.” But he replied, “There are no more jars.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt. Then you and your sons can live on the remainder.” One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat. 9Then the woman said to her husband, “Behold, now I know that the one who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.”
Read all of 2 Kings 42 Kings 4:8 word by word
וַיְהִ֨י הַיּ֜וֹם וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ר אֱלִישָׁ֣ע אֶל־שׁוּנֵ֗ם וְשָׁם֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה וַתַּחֲזֶק־בּ֖וֹ לֶאֱכָל־לָ֑חֶם וַֽיְהִי֙ מִדֵּ֣י עָבְר֔וֹ יָסֻ֥ר שָׁ֖מָּה לֶאֱכָל־לָֽחֶם׃Read the interlinear
- ·הָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- One dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
- wentעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
- toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- Shunemשׁוּנֵםshûnêm · ShunemH7766
- and a prominentגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
- womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- who lived thereשָׁםshâm · thereH8033
- persuadedחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: ensureH2388
- to have a mealאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- to have a mealלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899
- So wheneverדַּיday · sufficiencyH1767
- he would stopסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:8
- 2 Kings 4:11One day Elisha came to visit and went to his upper room to lie down.
- 2 Kings 4:12And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call the Shunammite woman.” And when he had called her, she stood before him,
- Joshua 19:18Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
- 1 Samuel 28:4The Philistines gathered together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.
- 1 Kings 1:3Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
- 2 Samuel 19:32Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.
- Job 1:3and he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East.
- Job 32:9It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice.
- Luke 1:15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
- Genesis 19:3But Lot insisted so strongly that they followed him into his house. He prepared a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
- Judges 19:20“Peace to you,” said the old man. “Let me supply everything you need. Only do not spend the night in the square.”
- Proverbs 7:21With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.
- Luke 14:23So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.
- Luke 24:29But they pleaded with Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them.
- Acts 16:15And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Elisha passed to Shunem - This city was in the tribe of Issachar, to the south of the brook Kishon, and at the foot of Mount Tabor. Where was a great woman - In Pirkey Rab. Eliezer, this woman is said to have been the sister of Abishag, the Shunammite, well known in the history of David. Instead of great woman, the Chaldee has, a woman fearing sin; the Arabic, a woman eminent for piety before God. This made her truly great.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8And it fell on a day - The original of the expression here used, which occurs three times in the present narrative 2 Kings 4:11, 2 Kings 4:18, is also found in Job 1:6, Job 1:13; Job 2:1. The character of the expression perhaps supports the view that the author of Kings has collected from various sources his account of the miracles of Elisha, and has kept in each case the words of the original writer. A great woman - That is, “a rich woman.” Compare 1…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. 8-37Elisha's interactions with the woman from Shunem are shown in two similar parts (2 Kings 4:8–20, 21–37). Shunem was a border town in the land given to the tribe of Issachar (Joshua 19:18).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Elisha passed to Shunem--now Sulam, in the plain of Esdraelon, at the southwestern base of Little Hermon. The prophet, in his journey, was often entertained here by one of its pious and opulent inhabitants.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 4:8
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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