And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.”
Parallel translations
- WEB He said, “At this season, when the time comes around, you will embrace a son.” She said, “No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your servant.”
- KJV And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.
- NKJV Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!”
- NASB Then he said, “At this season next year, you are going to embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your servant.”
- NLT “Next year at this time you will be holding a son in your arms!” “No, my lord!” she cried. “O man of God, don’t deceive me and get my hopes up like that.”
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 promises she will hold a son within a year, but she fears false hope. God grants the deepest longing she dared not ask.
Overview
The prophet announces new life to a barren home, echoing God's promise to Abraham and Sarah. Her protest, begging him not to lie, reveals how guarded her heart had become against disappointment. God delights to give what seems impossible. The promised son foreshadows the greater Son given to bring life to the barren and hopeless.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Gen 18:10Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.
- Luke 1:13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
- 2 Kgs 4:28Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’”
- Gen 18:12–15So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
- Gen 17:21But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”
- Ps 116:11In my alarm I said, “All men are liars!”
- Gen 17:16–17And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”
- 2 Kgs 2:19Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please note, our lord, that the city’s location is good, as you can see. But the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.”
- Luke 1:30–31So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- Luke 1:18–20“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
- 1 Kgs 17:18“O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”
- 1 Kgs 18:9But Obadiah replied, “How have I sinned, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death?
- 2 Kgs 5:10–11Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.”
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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 4:16 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.