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2 Kings 4 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

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The Widow’s Oil

4 Now a certain woman of the wives of (A)the sons of the prophets cried out to [a]Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and (B)the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except (C)a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. 4 And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured. 6 When (D)the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not one vessel more.” And the oil stopped. 7 Then she came and told (E)the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

The Shunammite Woman

8 Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to (F)Shunem, where there was a [b]prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat [c]food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat [d]food. 9 She said to her husband, “Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy (G)man of God passing by us continually. 10 Please, let us (H)make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”

11 [e]One day he came there and turned in to the upper chamber and [f]rested. 12 Then he said to (I)Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13 He said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Behold, you have been [g]careful for us with all this [h]care; what can I do for you? Would you be spoken for to the king or to the captain of the army?’” And she [i]answered, “I live among my own people.” 14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi [j]answered, “Truly she has no son and her husband is old.” 15 He said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 Then he said, “(J)At this season [k]next year you will embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God, (K)do not lie to your maidservant.”

17 The woman conceived and bore a son at that season [l]the next year, as Elisha had said to her.

The Shunammite’s Son

18 When the child was grown, the day came that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19 He said to his father, “My head, my head.” And he said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her [m]lap until noon, and then died. 21 She went up and (L)laid him on the bed of (M)the man of God, and shut the door behind him and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and return.” 23 He said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither (N)new moon nor sabbath.” And she said, “It will be well.” 24 Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, “Drive and go forward; do not slow down [n]the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she went and came to the man of God to (O)Mount Carmel.

When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold, [o]there is the Shunammite. 26 Please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’” And she [p]answered, “It is well.” 27 When she came to the man of God (P)to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to push her away; but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for her soul is [q]troubled within her; and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, ‘(Q)Do not deceive me’?”

29 Then he said to Gehazi, “(R)Gird up your loins and (S)take my staff in your hand, and go your way; if you meet any man, do not (T)salute him, and if anyone salutes you, do not answer him; and (U)lay my staff on the lad’s face.” 30 The mother of the lad said, “(V)As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” And he arose and followed her. 31 Then Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the lad’s face, but there was no sound or [r]response. So he returned to meet him and told [s]him, “The lad (W)has not awakened.”

32 When Elisha came into the house, behold the lad was dead and laid on his bed. 33 So he entered and (X)shut the door behind them both and prayed to the Lord. 34 And (Y)he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up and (Z)stretched himself on him; and the lad sneezed seven times and the lad opened his eyes. 36 He called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Take up your son.” 37 Then she went in and fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground, and (AA)she took up her son and went out.

The Poisonous Stew

38 When Elisha returned to (AB)Gilgal, there was (AC)a famine in the land. [t]As (AD)the sons of the prophets (AE)were sitting before him, he said to his servant, “(AF)Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” 39 Then one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, for they did not know what they were. 40 So they poured it out for the men to eat. And as they were eating of the stew, they cried out and said, “O man of God, there is (AG)death in the pot.” And they were unable to eat. 41 But he said, “Now bring meal.” (AH)He threw it into the pot and said, “Pour it out for the people that they may eat.” Then there was no harm in the pot.

42 Now a man came from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, “(AI)Give them to the people that they may eat.” 43 His attendant said, “What, (AJ)will I set this before a hundred men?” But he said, “Give them to the people that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left over.’” 44 So he set it before them, and they ate and (AK)had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 4:1 Lit Elisha, saying
  2. 2 Kings 4:8 Lit great
  3. 2 Kings 4:8 Lit bread
  4. 2 Kings 4:8 Lit bread
  5. 2 Kings 4:11 Lit Now a day came that
  6. 2 Kings 4:11 Lit lay there
  7. 2 Kings 4:13 Lit fearful
  8. 2 Kings 4:13 Lit fear
  9. 2 Kings 4:13 Lit said
  10. 2 Kings 4:14 Lit said
  11. 2 Kings 4:16 Lit when the time revives
  12. 2 Kings 4:17 Lit when the time revived
  13. 2 Kings 4:20 Lit knees
  14. 2 Kings 4:24 Lit riding
  15. 2 Kings 4:25 Lit this Shunammite
  16. 2 Kings 4:26 Lit said
  17. 2 Kings 4:27 Lit bitter
  18. 2 Kings 4:31 Lit attentiveness
  19. 2 Kings 4:31 Lit him, saying
  20. 2 Kings 4:38 Lit And

Cross references

  1. 2 Kings 4:1 : 2 Kin 2:3
  2. 2 Kings 4:1 : Lev 25:39-41, 48; 1 Sam 22:2; Neh 5:2-5
  3. 2 Kings 4:2 : 1 Kin 17:12
  4. 2 Kings 4:6 : Matt 14:20
  5. 2 Kings 4:7 : 1 Kin 12:22
  6. 2 Kings 4:8 : Josh 19:18
  7. 2 Kings 4:9 : 2 Kin 4:7
  8. 2 Kings 4:10 : Matt 10:41, 42; 25:40; Rom 12:13
  9. 2 Kings 4:12 : 2 Kin 4:29-31; 5:20-27; 8:4, 5
  10. 2 Kings 4:16 : Gen 18:14
  11. 2 Kings 4:16 : 2 Kin 4:28
  12. 2 Kings 4:21 : 2 Kin 4:32
  13. 2 Kings 4:21 : 2 Kin 4:7
  14. 2 Kings 4:23 : Num 10:10; 28:11; 1 Chr 23:31
  15. 2 Kings 4:25 : 2 Kin 2:25
  16. 2 Kings 4:27 : 2 Kin 4:25
  17. 2 Kings 4:28 : 2 Kin 4:16
  18. 2 Kings 4:29 : 1 Kin 18:46; 2 Kin 9:1
  19. 2 Kings 4:29 : Ex 4:17; 2 Kin 2:14
  20. 2 Kings 4:29 : Luke 10:4
  21. 2 Kings 4:29 : Ex 7:19, 20; 14:16
  22. 2 Kings 4:30 : 2 Kin 2:2, 4
  23. 2 Kings 4:31 : John 11:11
  24. 2 Kings 4:33 : 2 Kin 4:4; Matt 6:6; Luke 8:51
  25. 2 Kings 4:34 : 1 Kin 17:21-23
  26. 2 Kings 4:35 : 1 Kin 17:21
  27. 2 Kings 4:37 : Heb 11:35
  28. 2 Kings 4:38 : 2 Kin 2:1
  29. 2 Kings 4:38 : 2 Kin 8:1
  30. 2 Kings 4:38 : 2 Kin 2:3
  31. 2 Kings 4:38 : Luke 10:39; Acts 22:3
  32. 2 Kings 4:38 : Ezek 11:3, 7, 11; 24:3
  33. 2 Kings 4:40 : Ex 10:17
  34. 2 Kings 4:41 : Ex 15:25; 2 Kin 2:21
  35. 2 Kings 4:42 : Matt 14:16-21; 15:32-38
  36. 2 Kings 4:43 : Luke 9:13; John 6:9
  37. 2 Kings 4:44 : Matt 14:20; 15:37; John 6:13

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4 And a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets hath cried unto Elisha, saying, `Thy servant, my husband, is dead, and thou hast known that thy servant was fearing Jehovah, and the lender hath come to take my two children to him for servants.' 2 And Elisha saith unto her, `What do I d...
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2 Kings 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 Forsooth a woman of the wives of prophets cried to Elisha, and said, Thy servant, mine husband, is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant dreaded God; and lo! the creancer, that is, he to whom debt is owed, cometh to take my two sons to serve him. (And a woman of the wives of the sons of the prop...
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2 Kings 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead. You know that your servant feared Yahweh. Now the creditor has come to take for himself my two children to be slaves.” 2 Elisha said to her, “What should I do for you? Tell m...
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2 Kings 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

4 The wife of one of the prophets’ disciples pleaded with Elisha.Woman: My husband who served you is now dead. He greatly feared the Eternal. You yourself know this to be true. The creditor is now trying to take away my only two children and make them into slaves. Elisha: 2 What is it that you want ...
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2 Kings 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Miracle of Multiplying Oil4 Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha saying, “Your servant my husband is dead—you know that your servant feared Adonai. Now the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 “What should I do for you?” Elisha as...
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2 Kings 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Elisha and the Widow’s Oil4 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Eli′sha, “Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 And Eli′sha said to her, “What shall I do for you? T...
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2 Kings 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Elisha and the Widow’s Oil4 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Eli′sha, “Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 And Eli′sha said to her, “What shall I do for you? T...
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2 Kings 4 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Elisha and the Widow’s Oil4 Now the wife of a member of the company of prophets[a] cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but a creditor has come to take my two children as slaves.” 2 Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, ...
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2 Kings 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Elisha and the Widow’s Oil4 Now the wife of a member of the company of prophets[a] cried to Elisha, ‘Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but a creditor has come to take my two children as slaves.’ 2 Elisha said to her, ‘What shall I do for you? Tell me, ...
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2 Kings 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Elisha and the Widow’s Oil4 Now the wife of a member of the company of prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but a creditor has come to take my two children as slaves.”(A)2 Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, wh...
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2 Kings 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Elisha Helps a Poor Widow4 One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.” 2 “What can I do to help you?” Elisha aske...
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2 Kings 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

Elisha and the Jar of Oil4 Now the wife of the son of one of the men who tell what will happen in the future cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead. You know that your servant honored the Lord with fear. But the man to whom he owed money has come to take my two children to make them...
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2 Kings 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Elisha and the Widow’s Oil(A)4 A certain woman of the wives of (B)the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming (C)to take my two sons to be his slaves.” 2 So Elisha said to her, “Wha...
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2 Kings 4 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The widow’s olive oil4 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, ‘Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.’ 2 Elisha replied to her, ‘How can I help you? Tell me, what do yo...
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2 Kings 4 - New International Version (NIV)

The Widow’s Olive Oil4 The wife of a man from the company(A) of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor(B) is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” 2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what...
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2 Kings 4 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Elisha Provides Olive Oil for a Widow4 The wife of a man from the group of the prophets cried out to Elisha. She said, “My husband is dead. You know how much respect he had for the Lord. But he owed money to someone. And now that person is coming to take my two boys away. They will become his slaves...
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2 Kings 4 - New English Translation (NET)

Elisha Helps a Widow and Her Sons4 Now a wife of one of the prophets[a] appealed[b] to Elisha for help, saying, “Your servant, my husband is dead. You know that your servant was a loyal follower of the Lord.[c] Now the creditor is coming to take away my two boys to be his servants.” 2 Elisha said t...
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