Christian Standard Bible
2 Kings 4:8
8One day Elisha went to Shunem. A prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to eat some food. So whenever he passed by, he stopped 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 they were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” But he replied, “There aren’t any more.” Then the oil stopped. 7She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt; you and your sons can live on the rest.” One day Elisha went to Shunem. A prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to eat some food. So whenever he passed by, he stopped there to eat. 9Then she said to her husband, “I know that the one who often passes by here is a holy man of God, 10so let’s make a small, walled-in upper room and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp there for him. Whenever he comes, 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it fell on a dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- that Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
- passedעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
- to Shunemשׁוּנֵםshûnêm · ShunemH7766
- a greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
- womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- and she constrainedחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: ensureH2388
- him to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899
- as oftדַּיday · sufficiencyH1767
- he turnedסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:8
- 2 Kings 4:11One day he came there and stopped at the upstairs room to lie down.
- 2 Kings 4:12He ordered his attendant Gehazi, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her and she stood before him.
- Joshua 19:18Their territory went to Jezreel, and included Chesulloth, Shunem,
- 1 Samuel 28:4The Philistines gathered and camped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.
- 1 Kings 1:3They searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel; they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
- 2 Samuel 19:32Barzillai was a very old man — eighty years old — and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the needs of the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.
- Job 1:3His estate included seven thousand sheep and goats, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.
- Job 32:9It is not only the old who are wise or the elderly who understand how to judge.
- Luke 1:15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.
- Genesis 19:3But he urged them so strongly that they followed him and went into his house. He prepared a feast and baked unleavened bread for them, and they ate.
- Judges 19:20“Welcome!” said the old man. “I’ll take care of everything you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.”
- Proverbs 7:21She seduces him with her persistent pleading; she lures with her flattering talk.
- Luke 14:23“Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.
- Luke 24:29But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
- Acts 16:15After she and her household were 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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