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.”
Parallel translations
- 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.
- BSB 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.”
- 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 18:10He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
- Luke 1:13But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his 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 18:12–15Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
- Gen 17:21But my covenant I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”
- Ps 116:11I said in my haste, “All men are liars.”
- Gen 17:16–17I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”
- 2 Kgs 2:19The men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, please, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land is barren.”
- Luke 1:30–31The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- Luke 1:18–20Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
- 1 Kgs 17:18She said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!”
- 1 Kgs 18:9He said, “How have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?
- 2 Kgs 5:10–11Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall 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.