2 Kings 4:16

2 Kings 4:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.
• New International Version (NIV)“About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, "At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!”

Context of 2 Kings 4:16

14But Elisha asked Gehazi again, ‘What can we do to help her?’ Gehazi said, ‘She has no son. But her husband is an old man.’ 15Elisha said, ‘Ask her to come here.’ When Gehazi did that, she came and she stood near the door. Elisha said to her, ‘About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.’ The woman said, ‘No, my master! You are a man of God. Please do not tell me lies.’ 17But the woman did become pregnant. At that time next year she gave birth to a son. Elisha had said that this would happen. 18One day, when the child was older, he went out to see his father. His father was working in a field with his men at harvest time.

2 Kings 4:16 word by word

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לַמּוֹעֵ֤ד הַזֶּה֙ כָּעֵ֣ת חַיָּ֔ה אַ֖תְּ חֹבֶ֣קֶת בֵּ֑ן וַתֹּ֗אמֶר אַל־אֲדֹנִי֙ אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אַל־תְּכַזֵּ֖ב בְּשִׁפְחָתֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• About this seasonמוֹעֵדmô‛êd mô‛êd mô‛âdâh · meeting: time appointedH4150
• according to the timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• of lifeחַיchay · aliveH2416
• thou shalt embraceחָבַקchâbaq · to embraceH2263
• a sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• Nay, my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• do not lieכָּזַבkâzab · to lieH3576
• unto thine handmaidשִׁפְחָהshiphchâh · maidservantH8198

Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:16

• Genesis 17:21But I will make my covenant with Isaac, not with Ishmael. At about this time next year, Sarah will give birth to your son, Isaac.’
• Genesis 18:10Then one of the men said, ‘I will certainly return to you at about this time next year. At that time Sarah, your wife, will have a son!’ Sarah was listening to all this. She was at the door of the tent, near to where they were talking.
• Genesis 17:16I will bless her. She will give birth to a son for you. Many nations of people will be her descendants. Some of them will become kings. That is how much I will bless her!’
• Luke 1:13The angel said to him, ‘Zechariah, do not be afraid. God has heard what you prayed. He will give you what you asked for. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a baby boy. You will give him the name “John”.
• 2 Kings 2:19One day, the leaders in Jericho said to Elisha, ‘Please listen to us, sir. You can see that our city is in a good place. But the water here is bad. The land does not give us good crops.’
• 2 Kings 18:9When Hezekiah had been king for four years, Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria, took his army to attack Samaria. That was when Hoshea had been king of Israel for seven years. The Assyrian army made their camp around the city of Samaria.
• Psalms 116:11I was confused and I said, ‘Everybody tells lies.’
• Luke 1:18Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure about this? You know that I am an old man. My wife is also old.’

Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Thou shalt embrace a son - This promise, and the circumstances of the parties, are not very dissimilar to that relative to the birth of Isaac, and those of Abraham and Sarah. Do not lie - That is, Let thy words become true; or, as the rabbins understand it, Do not mock me by giving me a son that shall soon be removed by death; but let me have one that shall survive me.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Do not lie - Compare a similar incredulity in Genesis 17:17; Genesis 18:12; Luke 1:20. The expression, “do not lie,” which is harsh to us, accords with the plain, straightforward simplicity of ancient speech. It would not mean more than “deceive” (compare the marginal reference).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. 15-16Compare similar promises and responses in Genesis 18:9–15 and Luke 1:6–20.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 4:16

• Elisha
• Shunammite
• Vicegerency
• Women

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• man of God
• Aside
• Careful
• Desire
• Shunem
• Daniel, Book of
• Elisha
• Embrace

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