2 Kings 4:8

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 one of her sons, ‘Bring me another jar.’ But he said, ‘There are no more jars.’ Then there was no more olive oil to pour from her jar. 7Then the widow went back to Elisha, the man of God. She told him what had happened. He said, ‘Go and sell the oil. Use some of the money to pay the debt to the man. Use the money that remains to buy food for you and your sons. Then you will live.’ One day, Elisha went to Shunem. A rich woman lived there. She asked Elisha to eat a meal with her family. So every time that he went near her house, he stopped there to eat a meal. 9Then the woman said to her husband, ‘Listen! I believe that this man who often eats with us is a holy man who serves God. 10We should make a small room on the roof of our house for him. We can put a bed, a table, a chair and a lamp in the room. Then, when he comes to visit us, he can stay there.’

2 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, Elisha came to Shunem again. He went up to the room on the roof. He lay down to rest there.
• 2 Kings 4:12He told Gehazi, his servant, ‘Ask the woman to come here.’ So Gehazi did that. The woman came and she stood in front of Elisha.
• Joshua 19:18Their land included Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem,
• 1 Samuel 28:4The Philistine army came together and they put up their tents at Shunem. Saul called together the whole Israelite army. They put up their tents at Gilboa.
• 1 Kings 1:3So they looked through all the land of Israel for a beautiful young woman. They chose Abishag, who lived in Shunem. They brought her to the king.
• 2 Samuel 19:32But Barzillai was a very old man, 80 years old. He had taken care of David when David was living in Mahanaim. He had helped David with many gifts, because he was a very rich man.
• Job 1:3He had 7,000 sheep and 3,000 camels. He had 500 pairs of oxen and 500 donkeys. He also had many servants. He was the richest person in the east part of the world.
• Job 32:9Not all old people are wise. Old people do not always understand what is right.
• Genesis 19:3But Lot continued to ask them to stay with him. So the angels went with Lot to his house. Lot prepared a big meal for them, with some bread that he had baked without yeast. The angels ate the food.
• Judges 19:20The old man said, ‘Do not worry. I will take care of you. Please come into my house, but do not stay for the night in this public place.’
• Proverbs 7:21With those sweet words she deceived the young man. She made him want to be with her.
• Luke 14:23The master spoke to his servant again. “Go to the roads and fields outside the town, and look for people there. Command them all to come here, so that my house will be full.
• Luke 24:29But they wanted him to stop there. They said to him, ‘Please stay in our home with us. It is getting late, and it will soon be night.’ So Jesus went into their house to stay with them.
• Acts 16:15Then Paul and Silas baptized Lydia and the other people who lived in her house. After this, Lydia asked us to go to her house. She said to us, ‘If you think that I really believe in the Lord Jesus, then please stay in my house.’ We agreed to go and to stay there.

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

• Hospitality
• Minister, Christian
• Shunammite
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Elisha
• Aside
• Careful
• Desire
• Shunem
• Constrain
• Daniel, Book of
• Gehazi
• Images
• Jehoahaz

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