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2 Kings 4

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 4 of 25

1 And a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets had cried to Elisha, saying, My husband, your servant, is dead. And you know that your servant has seen Jehovah. And the one who loaned has come to take my two boys to himself for slaves.

2 And Elisha said to her, What shall I do for you? Tell me. What do you have in the house? And she said, Your handmaid has nothing in the house except a pot of oil.

3 And he said, Go, ask vessels for yourself from outside, from your neighbors, empty vessels. Do not let them be few.

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Chapter Summary

Elisha multiplies the widow's oil. He gives a son to the good Shunammite. He raises again her dead son. He satisfies a hundred men with twenty loaves.

Key Hebrew Words

שֶׁ֫מֶן oil H8081 · TWOT 2410c
בֵּן son H1121 · TWOT 254
אֱלֹהִים God H430 · TWOT 93c
כְּלִי vessel H3627 · TWOT 982g
מָ֫וֶת death H4194 · TWOT 1169a
רָעָב famine H7458 · TWOT 2183a

People & Context

Elisha

Prophet who multiplies the widow's oil, gives and raises the Shunammite's son, and feeds a hundred men

Gehazi

Elisha's servant who runs ahead with the staff and summons the Shunammite

Timeline

Widow's Oil Multiplied

A prophet's widow cries out to Elisha about a creditor. Elisha tells her to borrow empty vessels; he miraculously multiplies her single pot of oil to fill them all to pay her debt.

2 Kings 4:1-7
Shunammite Provides Room

A wealthy woman in Shunem regularly feeds Elisha and has a walled roof room built specifically for him to stay in.

2 Kings 4:8-10
Elisha Prophesies a Son

Wanting to repay the Shunammite, Elisha learns from Gehazi she is childless. Elisha prophesies she will have a son by the next season, which comes to pass.

2 Kings 4:11-17

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