English Standard Version
2 Kings 4:34
34Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm.
2 Kings 4:34 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.
- New International Version (NIV)Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hands on the child’s hands. And as he stretched out on him, the child’s body began to grow warm again!
Context of 2 Kings 4:34
32When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. 33So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. 35Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36Then he summoned Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite." So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, "Pick up your son."
Read all of 2 Kings 42 Kings 4:34 word by word
וַיַּ֜עַל וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב עַל־הַיֶּ֗לֶד וַיָּשֶׂם֩ פִּ֨יו עַל־פִּ֜יו וְעֵינָ֤יו עַל־עֵינָיו֙ וְכַפָּ֣יו עַל־כַּפָּ֔יו וַיִּגְהַ֖ר עָלָ֑יו וַיָּ֖חָם בְּשַׂ֥ר הַיָּֽלֶד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he went upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- and layשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: lay downH7901
- upon the childיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206
- and putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- his mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
- and his eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- and his handsכַּףkaph · palmH3709
- and he stretchedגָּהַרgâhar · to bend (down)H1457
- himself upon the child; and the fleshבָּשָׂרbâώâr · fleshH1320
- waxed warmחָמַםchâmam · to warmH2552
Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:34
Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34Lay upon the child - Endeavored to convey a portion of his own natural warmth to the body of the child; and probably endeavored, by blowing into the child's mouth, to inflate the lungs, and restore respiration. He uses every natural means in his power to restore life, while praying to the Author of it to exert a miraculous influence. Natural means are in our power; those that are supernatural belong to God. We should always do our own work, and beg of God…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34Be stretched himself - Or, “prostrated himself.” The word is a different one from that used of Elijah, and expresses closer contact with the body. Warmth may have been actually communicated from the living body to the dead one; and Elisha‘s persistence Hebrews 11:35, may have been a condition of the child‘s return to life.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-37Verses 18-37 Here is the sudden death of the child. All the mother's tenderness cannot keep alive a child of promise, a child of prayer, one given in love. But how admirably does the prudent, pious mother, guard her lips under this sudden affliction! Not one peevish word escapes from her. Such confidence had she of God's goodness, that she was ready to believe that he would restore what he had now taken away. O woman, great is thy faith! He that wrought…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 34-35lay on the boy: His actions and faith in the Lord were like Elijah's (1 Kings 17:17–24).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3434. lay upon the child, &c.--(see 1Ki 17:21; Ac 20:10). Although this contact with a dead body would communicate ceremonial uncleanness, yet, in performing the great moral duties of piety and benevolence, positive laws were sometimes dispensed with, particularly by the prophets.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 4:34
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries