He said to his servant Gehazi, “Tell the woman from Shunem I want to speak to her.” When she appeared,
Parallel translations
- WEB He said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him.
- KJV And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.
- BSB And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call the Shunammite woman.” And when he had called her, she stood before him,
- NKJV Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him.
- NASB Then he said to his servant Gehazi, “Call this Shunammite.” And when he had called her, she stood before him.
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
Elisha sends Gehazi to summon the Shunammite woman. Grateful for her kindness, the prophet seeks to repay her generosity.
Overview
Elisha does not take her hospitality for granted but moves to bless her in return. Through his servant Gehazi he calls her to stand before him. This sets up God's gracious reward for her faithfulness. It reflects the principle that God remembers and honors kindness done to His servants.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 2 Kgs 8:4–5Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Please tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.”
- 2 Kgs 3:11But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here, that we may inquire of Yahweh by him?” One of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah, is here.”
- 2 Kgs 4:29–31Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don’t answer him again. Then lay my staff on the child’s face.”
- 2 Kgs 5:20–27But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As Yahweh lives, I will run after him, and take something from him.”
- 1 Kgs 19:3When he saw that, he arose, and ran for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
- Acts 13:5When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They had also John as their attendant.
- 1 Kgs 18:43He said to his servant, “Go up now, and look toward the sea.” He went up, and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” He said, “Go again” seven times.
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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 4:12 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
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