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

1There was a woman whose husband belonged to the group of prophets. When her husband died, she called out to Elisha for help. She said, ‘Your servant, my husband, is dead. He served the Lord faithfully. My husband was in debt to a certain man. Now that man wants to take my two children to be his slaves.’ 2Elisha said to her, ‘How can I help you? Tell me, what things do you have in your house?’ She said to Elisha, ‘Please sir, I have nothing in the house. All I have is a small jar of olive oil.’ Then Elisha said to her, ‘Go to all your neighbours. Ask them to lend you empty jars. Make sure that you get a lot of them. 4Then take the jars into your house. Go in with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour the olive oil from your jar into all the other jars. When each jar is full, put it in a safe place.’ 5The widow left Elisha. She went into her house with her sons and she shut the door behind her. They brought the jars to her and she poured the oil into them.

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 3:16Elisha said, ‘This is what the Lord says: Dig many holes in this dry valley,
• John 2:7Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the pots with water.’ So they filled the pots to the top.
• 2 Kings 13:18Then Elisha said, ‘Pick up the other arrows.’ When the king of Israel took them, Elisha said to him, ‘Hit the ground with them.’ The king hit the ground three times and then he stopped.
• Psalms 81:10I am the Lord, your God. I brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with many good things.”
• John 16:24Until now, you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask God, and you will receive what you ask for. Then you will be completely happy.

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