2 Kings 4:1

2 Kings 4:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
• New International Version (NIV)The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves."
• New King James Version (NKJV)A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”

Context of 2 Kings 4:1

Now a woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “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.” 2So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3Then he said, “Go, borrow containers elsewhere for yourself, empty containers from all your neighbors--do not get too few.

2 Kings 4:1 word by word

וְאִשָּׁ֣ה אַחַ֣ת מִנְּשֵׁ֣י בְנֵֽי־הַ֠נְּבִיאִים צָעֲקָ֨ה אֶל־אֱלִישָׁ֜ע לֵאמֹ֗ר עַבְדְּךָ֤ אִישִׁי֙ מֵ֔ת וְאַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתָּ כִּ֣י עַבְדְּךָ֔ הָיָ֥ה יָרֵ֖א אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וְהַ֨נֹּשֶׁ֔ה בָּ֗א לָקַ֜חַת אֶת־שְׁנֵ֧י יְלָדַ֛י ל֖וֹ לַעֲבָדִֽים׃Read the interlinear

• Now a womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of the prophetsנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
• criedצָעַקtsâ‛aq · to cryH6817
• to Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Your servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• my husbandאִישׁ'îysh · man: husbandH376
• is deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• and you knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• the creditorנָשָׁהnâshâh · to lendH5383
• has comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• my twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• childrenיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206

Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:1

• 2 Kings 4:38When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting in front of him, he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.”
• 2 Kings 2:3Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel went out to Elisha and said to him, “Are you aware that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I am aware; say nothing about it.”
• 1 Kings 20:35Now a man from the sons of the prophets said to another by the word of the Lord, “Please strike me.” But the man refused to strike him.
• Genesis 22:12He said, “Do not reach out your hand against the boy, and do not do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
• 1 Kings 18:3Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly;
• Nehemiah 7:2then I put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the commander of the citadel, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.
• Psalms 103:11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.
• Psalms 112:1Praise the Lord! Blessed is a person who fears the Lord, Who greatly delights in His commandments.
• Psalms 115:13He will bless those who fear the Lord, The small together with the great.
• Psalms 147:11The Lord favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His faithfulness.
• Ecclesiastes 8:12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will go well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
• Malachi 3:16Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened attentively and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and esteem His name.
• Malachi 4:2But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall.
• Acts 13:26“Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.
• Revelation 15:4Who will not fear You, Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For all the nations will come and worship before You, For Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Now there cried a certain woman - This woman, according to the Chaldee, Jarchi, and the rabbins, was the wife of Obadiah. Sons of the prophets - נבייא תלמידי talmidey nebiyaiya, "disciples of the prophets:" so the Targum here, and in all other places where the words occur, and properly too. The creditor is come - This, says Jarchi, was Jehoram son of Ahab, who lent money on usury to Obadiah, because he had in the days of Ahab fed the Lord's prophets. The…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The creditor is come … - The Law of Moses, like the Athenian and the Roman law, recognized servitude for debt, and allowed that pledging of the debtor‘s person, which, in a rude state of society, is regarded as the safest and the most natural security (see the marginal reference). In the present case it would seem that, so long as the debtor lived, the creditor had not enforced his right over his sons, but now on his death he claimed their services, to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Elisha multiplies the widow's oil. (1-7) The Shunammite obtains a son. (8-17) The Shunammite's son restored to life. (18-37) The miracle of healing the pottage, and of feeding the sons of the prophets. (38-44) Verses 1-7 Elisha's miracles were acts of real charity: Christ's were so; not only great wonders, but great favours to those for whom they were wrought. God magnifies his goodness with his power. Elisha readily received a poor widow's complaint…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The widow's husband was part of the prophets who worked with Elisha (2 Kings 2:3–18). take my two children as his slaves: The law of Moses let a creditor make a debtor and their children work as slaves to pay off a debt (Exodus 21:2–4; Leviticus 25:10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-72Ki 4:1-7. Elisha Augments the Widow's Oil. 1. there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets--They were allowed to marry as well as the priests and Levites. Her husband, not enjoying the lucrative profits of business, had nothing but a professional income, which, in that irreligious age, would be precarious and very scanty, so that he was not in a condition to provide for his family. the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 4:1

• Children
• Creditor
• Debtor
• Elisha
• Miracles
• Oil
• Poor
• Prophets
• Readings, Select
• Servant
• Students
• Widow

In the dictionaries

• Elisha
• Aside
• Careful
• Desire
• Bondman
• Creditor
• Daniel, Book of
• Debt; Debtor
• Images
• Jehoahaz

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