2 Kings 4:38

2 Kings 4:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.
• New International Version (NIV)Elisha returned to Gilgal and there was a famine in that region. While the company of the prophets was meeting with him, he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot and cook some stew for these prophets.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, "Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. Now the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.”

Context of 2 Kings 4:38

36And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. 37Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out. And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. 39And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. 40So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.

2 Kings 4:38 word by word

וֶאֱלִישָׁ֞ע שָׁ֤ב הַגִּלְגָּ֙לָה֙ וְהָרָעָ֣ב בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּבְנֵי֙ הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים יֹשְׁבִ֖ים לְפָנָ֑יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְנַעֲר֗וֹ שְׁפֹת֙ הַסִּ֣יר הַגְּדוֹלָ֔ה וּבַשֵּׁ֥ל נָזִ֖יד לִבְנֵ֥י הַנְּבִיאִֽים׃Read the interlinear

• And Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• came againשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• to Gilgalגִּלְגָּלgilgâl · GilgalH1537
• a dearthרָעָבrâ‛âb · famineH7458
• in the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• and the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of the prophetsנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
• sittingיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• him: and he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto his servantנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• Setשָׁפַתshâphath · to setH8239
• on the greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• potסִירsîyr sîyrâh sirâh · potH5518
• and seetheבָּשַׁלbâshal · to boilH1310
• pottageנָזִידnâzîyd · stewH5138

Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:38

• 2 Kings 2:1And it came to pass, when Yhwh would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
• 1 Samuel 7:16And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth–el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
• Acts 10:38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
• Acts 15:36And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
• 2 Kings 8:1Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for Yhwh hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.
• Leviticus 26:26And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.
• Deuteronomy 28:22Yhwh shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
• 2 Samuel 21:1Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of Yhwh. And Yhwh answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
• Jeremiah 14:1The word of Yhwh that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.
• Ezekiel 14:13Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
• Luke 4:25But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
• 2 Kings 2:3And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth–el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Yhwh will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
• 1 Samuel 19:20And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
• Proverbs 8:34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
• Luke 2:46And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
• Luke 8:35Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38Came again to Gilgal - He had been there before with his master, a short time prior to his translation. Set on the great pot and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets - It was in a time of dearth, and all might now stand in need of refreshment; and it appears that the prophet was led to put forth the power he had from God to make a plentiful provision for those who were present. The father of the celebrated Dr. Young, author of the Night Thoughts…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38There was a dearth in the land - Rather, “The famine was in the land.” The seven years‘ dearth of which Elisha had prophesied (marginal reference) had begun. The sons of the prophets - See 1 Kings 20:35 note. They were sitting before him as scholars before their master, hearing his instructions.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 38-44Verses 38-44 There was a famine of bread, but not of hearing the word of God, for Elisha had the sons of the prophets sitting before him, to hear his wisdom. Elisha made hurtful food to become safe and wholesome. If a mess of pottage be all our dinner, remember that this great prophet had no better for himself and his guests. The table often becomes a snare, and that which should be for our welfare, proves a trap: this is a good reason why we should not…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38Similar to Bethel (2 Kings 2:3) and Jericho (2 Kings 2:5, 15), Gilgal was a hub for a group of prophets (2 Kings 2:1). Elisha led these groups and sat at the head of the table during meals.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. there was a dearth in the land--(see on 2Ki 8:1). the sons of the prophets were sitting before him--When receiving instruction, the scholars sat under their masters. This refers to their being domiciled under the same roof (compare 2Ki 6:1). Set on the great pot--As it is most likely that the Jewish would resemble the Egyptian "great pot," it is seen by the monumental paintings to have been a large goblet, with two long legs, which stood over the fire…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 4:38

• Broth
• Elisha
• Gilgal
• Minister, Christian
• Miracles
• Prophets
• School
• Teachers
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Elisha
• Gilgal
• Aside
• Careful
• Dearth
• Desire
• Food
• Gourd
• Pottage
• Prophet

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