New International Version
2 Kings 4:14
14“What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “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.
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Later Elisha asked Gehazi, “What can we do for her?” Gehazi replied, “She doesn’t have a son, and her husband is an old man.”
Context of 2 Kings 4:14
12He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. 13Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’ ” She replied, “I have a home among my own people.” “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.” 15Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16“About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead 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, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
- Genesis 17:17Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”
- Genesis 18:10Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was 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 was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
- Judges 13:2A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth.
- 1 Samuel 1:2He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
- Luke 1:7But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, 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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