So she left him, and after she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing jars to her, and she kept pouring.
Parallel translations
- WEB So she went from him, and shut the door on herself and on her sons. They brought the containers to her, and she poured oil.
- KJV So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
- NKJV So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out.
- NASB So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they began bringing the containers to her, and she poured the oil.
- NLT So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another.
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
The widow obeys exactly, shutting the door and pouring as her sons bring vessels. Her simple, immediate obedience is the channel through which God's power flows.
Overview
She does not argue or delay but does precisely as the man of God said. The family works together in faith, the sons supplying jars as the mother pours. Obedience precedes the visible blessing, as is often the case in Scripture. Her quiet faithfulness is rewarded with overflowing provision.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Heb 11:7–8By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
- 2 Kgs 5:11But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the spot to cure my leprosy.
- 1 Kgs 17:15–16So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and there was food every day for Elijah and the woman and her household.
- Luke 1:45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
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 4:5 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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