New American Standard Bible 1995
2 Kings 4:8
8Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to 1Shunem, where there was a 2prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat 3food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat 4food.
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 the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not one vessel more.” And the oil stopped. 7Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.” Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat food. 9She said to her husband, “Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God passing by us continually. 10Please, let us make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”
Read all of 2 Kings 42 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
- Now there cameהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- a dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- when Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
- passedעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
- Shunemשׁוּנֵםshûnêm · ShunemH7766
- whereשָׁםshâm · thereH8033
- prominentגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
- womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- and she persuadedחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: ensureH2388
- him to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- foodלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899
- And so it was, as oftenדַּיday · sufficiencyH1767
- by, he turnedסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493
Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:8
- 2 Kings 4:11One day he came there and turned in to the upper chamber and rested.
- 2 Kings 4:12Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” And when he had called her, she stood before him.
- Joshua 19:18Their territory was to Jezreel and included Chesulloth and Shunem,
- 1 Samuel 28:4So the Philistines gathered together and came and camped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together and they camped in Gilboa.
- 1 Kings 1:3So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
- 2 Samuel 19:32Now Barzillai was very old, being eighty years old; and he had sustained the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.
- Job 1:3His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
- Job 32:9The abundant in years may not be wise, Nor may elders understand justice.
- Luke 1:15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.
- Genesis 19:3Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
- Judges 19:20The old man said, “Peace to you. Only let me take care of all your needs; however, do not spend the night in the open square.”
- Proverbs 7:21With her many persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she seduces him.
- Luke 14:23And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.
- Luke 24:29But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them.
- Acts 16:15And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
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
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. 2 Kings 4:8 Josh 19:18 ↩
- 2. 2 Kings 4:8 Lit great ↩
- 3. 2 Kings 4:8 Lit bread ↩
- 4. 2 Kings 4:8 Lit bread ↩
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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries