God’s Word Translation
2 Kings 4:14
14“What should we do for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
2 Kings 4:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.
- New International Version (NIV)“What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, "What then is to be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old."
- New King James Version (NKJV)So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
Context of 2 Kings 4:14
12He told his servant Gehazi, “Call this Shunem woman.” Gehazi called her, and she stood in front of him. 13Elisha said to Gehazi, “Ask her what we can do for her, since she has gone to a lot of trouble for us. Maybe she would like us to speak to the king or the commander of the army for her.” She answered, “I’m already living among my own people.” “What should we do for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15Elisha said, “Call her.” So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16Elisha said, “At this time next spring, you will hold a baby boy in your arms.” She answered, “Don’t say that, sir. Don’t lie to me. You’re a man of God.”
Read all of 2 Kings 42 Kings 4:14 word by word
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר וּמֶ֖ה לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת לָ֑הּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גֵּיחֲזִ֗י אֲבָ֛ל בֵּ֥ן אֵֽין־לָ֖הּ וְאִישָׁ֥הּ זָקֵֽן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:14
- Genesis 15:2Abram asked, “Almighty Lord, what will you give me? Since I’m going to die without children, Eliezer of Damascus will inherit my household.
- Genesis 17:17Immediately, Abraham bowed with his face touching the ground. He laughed as he thought to himself, “Can a son be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, have a child?”
- Genesis 18:10The Lord said, “I promise I’ll come back to you next year at this time, and your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah happened to be listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind him.
- Genesis 25:21Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
- Genesis 30:1Rachel saw that she could not have children for Jacob, and she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
- Judges 13:2There was a man from Zorah named Manoah. Manoah was from the family of Dan. His wife was not able to have children.
- 1 Samuel 1:2Elkanah had two wives, one named Hannah, the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
- Luke 1:7Yet, they never had any children because Elizabeth couldn’t become pregnant. Both of them were too old to have children.
Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14What then is to be done for her? - It seems that the woman retired as soon as she had delivered the answer mentioned in the preceding verse.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. 11-14Elisha wanted to repay his host's kindness. Gehazi his servant: Gehazi was Elisha's apprentice, just as Elisha had been with Elijah (1 Kings 19:21). It was common for a prophet to seek advice from his assistant.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 4:14
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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