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 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.” He said, “Go and ask all your neighbors for empty containers. Get as many as you can. 4Go and close the door behind you and your sons. Pour the olive oil into all the containers; set aside each one when you have filled it.” 5So she left him and closed the door behind her and her sons. As they were bringing the containers to her, she was pouring the olive oil.

2 Kings 4:3 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• borrowשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• thee vesselsכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
• abroadחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
• of all thy neighboursשָׁכֵןshâkên · neighborH7934
• emptyרֵיקrêyq rêq · worthlessH7386
• borrow not a fewמָעַטmâ‛aţ · to diminishH4591

Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:3

• 2 Kings 3:16and he said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Make many cisterns in this valley,’
• John 2:7Jesus told the servants, “Fill the water jars with water.” So they filled them up to the very top.
• 2 Kings 13:18Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows,” and he did so. He told the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” He struck the ground three times and stopped.
• Psalms 81:10I am the Lord, your God, the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!’
• John 16:24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive it, so that your joy may be complete.

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