New English Translation
2 Kings 4:1
1Now a wife of one of the prophets appealed to Elisha for help, saying, “Your servant, my husband is dead. You know that your servant was a loyal follower of the Lord. Now the creditor is coming to take away my two boys to be his servants.”
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 wife of one of the prophets appealed to Elisha for help, saying, “Your servant, my husband is dead. You know that your servant was a loyal follower of the Lord. Now the creditor is coming to take away my two boys to be his servants.” 2Elisha said to her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a small jar of olive oil.” 3He said, “Go and ask all your neighbors for empty containers. Get as many as you can.
Read all of 2 Kings 42 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Now there criedצָעַקtsâ‛aq · to cryH6817
- a certainאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
- of the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of the prophetsנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
- unto Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- my husbandאִישׁ'îysh · man: husbandH376
- is deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- and thou knowestיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- did fearיָרֵאyârê' · afraidH3373
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- and the creditorנָשָׁהnâshâh · to lendH5383
- is comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- to takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- unto him my twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- sonsיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206
Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:1
- 2 Kings 4:38Now Elisha went back to Gilgal, while there was famine in the land. Some of the prophets were visiting him and he told his servant, “Put the big pot on the fire and boil some stew for the prophets.”
- 2 Kings 2:3Some members of the prophetic guild in Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?” He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
- 1 Kings 20:35One of the members of the prophetic guild, speaking with divine authority, ordered his companion, “Wound me!” But the man refused to wound him.
- Genesis 22:12“Do not harm the boy!” the angel said. “Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.”
- 1 Kings 18:3So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who supervised the palace. (Now Obadiah was a very loyal follower of the Lord.
- Nehemiah 7:2I then put in charge over Jerusalem my brother Hanani and Hananiah the chief of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many do.
- Psalms 103:11For as the skies are high above the earth, so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers.
- Psalms 112:1Praise the Lord! How blessed is the one who obeys the Lord, who takes great delight in keeping his commands.
- Psalms 115:13He will bless his loyal followers, both young and old.
- Psalms 147:11The Lord takes delight in his faithful followers, and in those who wait for his loyal love.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time, yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people – for they stand in fear before him.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
- Malachi 3:16Then those who respected the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord took notice. A scroll was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the Lord and honored his name.
- Malachi 4:2But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication will rise with healing wings, and you will skip about like calves released from the stall.
- Acts 13:26Brothers, descendants of Abraham’s family, and those Gentiles among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us.
- Revelation 15:4Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name, because you alone are holy? All 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
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
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