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

1Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. 4And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.” 5So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured.

2 Kings 4:3 word by word

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לְכִ֨י שַׁאֲלִי־לָ֤ךְ כֵּלִים֙ מִן־הַח֔וּץ מֵאֵ֖ת כָּל־שְׁכֵנָ֑יִךְ כֵּלִ֥ים רֵקִ֖ים אַל־תַּמְעִֽיטִי׃Read the interlinear

• Then he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• borrowשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• vesselsכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
• at largeחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
• for yourself from allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• your neighborsשָׁכֵןshâkên · neighborH7934
• emptyרֵיקrêyq rêq · worthlessH7386
• do not getמָעַטmâ‛aţ · to diminishH4591

Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:3

• 2 Kings 3:16He said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’
• John 2:7Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim.
• 2 Kings 13:18Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground,” and he struck it three times and stopped.
• Psalms 81:10I, the Lord, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
• John 16:24Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

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