“Go,” said Elisha, “borrow jars, even empty ones, from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then he said, “Go, borrow empty containers from of all your neighbors. Don’t borrow just a few containers.
- KJV Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
- NKJV Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
- NASB Then he said, “Go, borrow containers elsewhere for yourself, empty containers from all your neighbors—do not get too few.
- NLT And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors.
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 tells her to borrow many empty vessels from her neighbors. Her capacity to receive will be limited only by how much room she makes for God's gift.
Overview
The command to gather not just a few jars calls for bold expectation of God's generosity. The empty vessels represent faith reaching out to receive blessing. The widow must act before she sees any miracle, trusting the prophet's word. It illustrates that God's provision meets faith that prepares for grace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- John 2:7Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.
- Ps 81:10I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.
- John 16:24Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
- 2 Kgs 13:18–19Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them, and Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped.
- 2 Kgs 3:16and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 4:3 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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