Please, let’s make a little walled upper room, and let’s set up a bed for him there, and a table, a chair, and a lampstand; then it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Please let us make a little room on the roof. Let us set for him there a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp stand. When he comes to us, he can stay there.”
- KJV Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
- BSB Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.”
- NKJV Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.”
- NLT Let’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.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
She proposes building a small rooftop room furnished for Elisha's stays. Her thoughtful, generous hospitality provides for God's servant's needs.
Overview
The simple furnishings, bed, table, chair, and lamp, show careful attention to Elisha's comfort and ministry. Her hospitality is deliberate and sacrificial, made with her husband's agreement. Providing for God's servants is a tangible expression of love for God. This kindness sets the stage for God's abundant return of blessing to her.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Rom 12:13contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
- Matt 10:41–42He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
- Matt 25:40“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
- Heb 10:24Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,
- 1 Pet 4:9–10Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
- Luke 8:3and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others; who served them from their possessions.
- Isa 32:8But the noble devises noble things; and he will continue in noble things.
- Heb 13:2Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.
- Mark 9:41For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
- 1 Kgs 17:19He said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the room where he stayed, and laid him on his own bed.
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Christ at the center
Amid the long decline toward exile, the promise to David's house refuses to die; the flickering lamp kept burning anticipates the coming King who will not fail or be cut off.
How 2 Kings 4:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.