2 Kings 4:8

2 Kings 4:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
• New International Version (NIV)One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat.
• English Standard Version (ESV)One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.

Context of 2 Kings 4:8

6Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. 7When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.” One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat. 9She said to her husband, “I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God. 10Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by.”

2 Kings 4:8 word by word

וַיְהִ֨י הַיּ֜וֹם וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ר אֱלִישָׁ֣ע אֶל־שׁוּנֵ֗ם וְשָׁם֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה וַתַּחֲזֶק־בּ֖וֹ לֶאֱכָל־לָ֑חֶם וַֽיְהִי֙ מִדֵּ֣י עָבְר֔וֹ יָסֻ֥ר שָׁ֖מָּה לֶאֱכָל־לָֽחֶם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it fell on a dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• that Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• passedעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• to Shunemשׁוּנֵםshûnêm · ShunemH7766
• a greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• and she constrainedחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: ensureH2388
• him to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899
• as oftדַּיday · sufficiencyH1767
• he turnedסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: turn asideH5493

Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:8

• 2 Kings 4:11One day Elisha returned to Shunem, and he went up to this upper room to rest.
• 2 Kings 4:12He said to his servant Gehazi, “Tell the woman from Shunem I want to speak to her.” When she appeared,
• Joshua 19:18Its boundaries included the following towns: Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem,
• 1 Samuel 28:4The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa.
• 1 Kings 1:3So they searched throughout the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king.
• 2 Samuel 19:32He was very old—eighty years of age—and very wealthy. He was the one who had provided food for the king during his stay in Mahanaim.
• Job 1:3He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.
• Job 32:9Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.
• Luke 1:15for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.
• Genesis 19:3But Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him. Lot prepared a feast for them, complete with fresh bread made without yeast, and they ate.
• Judges 19:20“You are welcome to stay with me,” the old man said. “I will give you anything you might need. But whatever you do, don’t spend the night in the square.”
• Proverbs 7:21So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery.
• Luke 14:23So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.
• Luke 24:29but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them.
• Acts 16:15She and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Elisha passed to Shunem - This city was in the tribe of Issachar, to the south of the brook Kishon, and at the foot of Mount Tabor. Where was a great woman - In Pirkey Rab. Eliezer, this woman is said to have been the sister of Abishag, the Shunammite, well known in the history of David. Instead of great woman, the Chaldee has, a woman fearing sin; the Arabic, a woman eminent for piety before God. This made her truly great.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8And it fell on a day - The original of the expression here used, which occurs three times in the present narrative 2 Kings 4:11, 2 Kings 4:18, is also found in Job 1:6, Job 1:13; Job 2:1. The character of the expression perhaps supports the view that the author of Kings has collected from various sources his account of the miracles of Elisha, and has kept in each case the words of the original writer. A great woman - That is, “a rich woman.” Compare 1…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. 8-37Elisha's interactions with the woman from Shunem are shown in two similar parts (2 Kings 4:8–20, 21–37). Shunem was a border town in the land given to the tribe of Issachar (Joshua 19:18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Elisha passed to Shunem--now Sulam, in the plain of Esdraelon, at the southwestern base of Little Hermon. The prophet, in his journey, was often entertained here by one of its pious and opulent inhabitants.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 4:8

• Hospitality
• Minister, Christian
• Shunammite
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Elisha
• Aside
• Careful
• Desire
• Shunem
• Constrain
• Daniel, Book of
• Gehazi
• 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