New English Translation
2 Kings 4:14
14So he asked Gehazi, “What can I do for her?” Gehazi replied, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”
2 Kings 4:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.
- New International Version (NIV)“What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, "What then is to be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old."
- New King James Version (NKJV)So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
Context of 2 Kings 4:14
12He told his servant Gehazi, “Ask the Shunammite woman to come here.” So he did so and she came to him. 13Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tell her, ‘Look, you have treated us with such great respect. What can I do for you? Can I put in a good word for you with the king or the commander of the army?’” She replied, “I’m quite secure.” So he asked Gehazi, “What can I do for her?” Gehazi replied, “She has no son, and her husband is old.” 15Elisha told him, “Ask her to come here.” So he did so and she came and stood in the doorway. 16He said, “About this time next year you will be holding a son.” She said, “No, my master! O prophet, do not lie to your servant!”
Read all of 2 Kings 42 Kings 4:14 word by word
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר וּמֶ֖ה לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת לָ֑הּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גֵּיחֲזִ֗י אֲבָ֛ל בֵּ֥ן אֵֽין־לָ֖הּ וְאִישָׁ֥הּ זָקֵֽן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:14
- Genesis 15:2But Abram said, “O sovereign Lord, what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus?”
- Genesis 17:17Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”
- Genesis 18:10One of them said, “I will surely return to you when the season comes round again, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” (Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, not far behind him.
- Genesis 25:21Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
- Genesis 30:1When Rachel saw that she could not give Jacob children, she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children or I’ll die!”
- Judges 13:2There was a man named Manoah from Zorah, from the Danite tribe. His wife was infertile and childless.
- 1 Samuel 1:2He had two wives; the name of the first was Hannah and the name of the second was Peninnah. Now Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.
- Luke 1:7But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.
Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14What then is to be done for her? - It seems that the woman retired as soon as she had delivered the answer mentioned in the preceding verse.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. 11-14Elisha wanted to repay his host's kindness. Gehazi his servant: Gehazi was Elisha's apprentice, just as Elisha had been with Elijah (1 Kings 19:21). It was common for a prophet to seek advice from his assistant.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1613-16. what is to be done for thee?--Wishing to testify his gratitude for the hospitable attentions of this family, he announced to her the birth of a son "about this time next year." The interest and importance of such an intelligence can only be estimated by considering that Oriental women, and Jewish in particular, connect ideas of disgrace with barrenness, and cherish a more ardent desire for children than women in any other part of the world (Ge…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 4:14
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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