God’s Word Translation
2 Kings 4:28
28The woman said, “I didn’t ask you for a son. I said, ‘Don’t raise my hopes.’ ”
2 Kings 4:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?
- New International Version (NIV)“Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me?'"
- New King James Version (NKJV)So she said, “Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”
Context of 2 Kings 4:28
26Run to meet her and ask her how she, her husband, and the boy are doing.” “Everyone’s fine,” she answered. 27When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi went to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone. She is bitter. The Lord has hidden the reason from me. He hasn’t told me.” The woman said, “I didn’t ask you for a son. I said, ‘Don’t raise my hopes.’ ” 29The man of God told Gehazi, “Put on a belt, take my shepherd’s staff in your hand, and go. Whenever you meet anyone, don’t stop to greet him. If he greets you, don’t stop to answer him. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.” 30The boy’s mother said, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord and you live, I will not leave without you.” So Elisha got up and followed her.
Read all of 2 Kings 42 Kings 4:28 word by word
וַתֹּ֕אמֶר הֲשָׁאַ֥לְתִּי בֵ֖ן מֵאֵ֣ת אֲדֹנִ֑י הֲלֹ֣א אָמַ֔רְתִּי לֹ֥א תַשְׁלֶ֖ה אֹתִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:28
- 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!”
- 2 Kings 4:16Elisha 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.”
Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28Did I desire a son of my lord? - I expressed no such wish to thee; I was contented and happy; and when thou didst promise me a son, did I not say, Do not deceive me? Do not mock me with a child which shall grow up to be attractive and engaging, but of whom I shall soon be deprived by death.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28Great grief shrinks from putting itself into words. The Shunammite cannot bring herself to say, “My son is dead;” but by reproaching the prophet with having “deceived” her, she sufficiently indicates her loss.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. 28Losing her son took away all the joy she had felt when he was born. It felt like a cruel trick.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 26-2826-28. And she answered, It is well--Her answer was purposely brief and vague to Gehazi, for she reserved a full disclosure of her loss for the ear of the prophet himself. She had met Gehazi at the foot of the hill, and she stopped not in her ascent till she had disburdened her heavy-laden spirit at Elisha's feet. The violent paroxysm of grief into which she fell on approaching him, appeared to Gehazi an act of disrespect to his master; he was preparing…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 4:28
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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