2 Kings 4:3

2 Kings 4:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
• New International Version (NIV)Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then he said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.

Context of 2 Kings 4:3

1One of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, has died. You know that your servant feared the Lord. Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves.” 2Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go out and borrow empty containers from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few. 4Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these containers. Set the full ones to one side.” 5So she left. After she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing her containers, and she kept pouring.

2 Kings 4:3 word by word

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לְכִ֨י שַׁאֲלִי־לָ֤ךְ כֵּלִים֙ מִן־הַח֔וּץ מֵאֵ֖ת כָּל־שְׁכֵנָ֑יִךְ כֵּלִ֥ים רֵקִ֖ים אַל־תַּמְעִֽיטִי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• borrowשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• thee vesselsכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
• abroadחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
• of all thy neighboursשָׁכֵןshâkên · neighborH7934
• emptyרֵיקrêyq rêq · worthlessH7386
• borrow not a fewמָעַטmâ‛aţ · to diminishH4591

Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:3

• 2 Kings 3:16Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this wadi.’
• John 2:7“Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim.
• 2 Kings 13:18Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them. Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped.
• Psalms 81:10I am the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
• John 16:24Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:3

• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-42-4. a pot--or cruet of oil. This comprising her whole stock of domestic utensils, he directs her to borrow empty vessels not a few; then, secluding herself with her children, [the widow] was to pour oil from her cruse into the borrowed vessels, and, selling the oil, discharge the debt, and then maintain herself and family with the remainder.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 4:3

• Debtor
• Elisha
• Miracles
• Oil
• Poor
• Readings, Select
• Servant
• Widow

In the dictionaries

• Aside
• Careful
• Desire
• Daniel, Book of
• Debt; Debtor
• Elisha
• Images
• Jehoahaz
• Jehoram; Joram
• Kings, Books of

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