So she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Then she came and told the man of God. He said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”
- KJV Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
- BSB She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt. Then you and your sons can live on the remainder.”
- NKJV Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”
- NLT When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”
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 sell the oil, pay her debt, and live on the rest. God's provision both rescues from bondage and supplies ongoing need.
Overview
The miracle is practical: it clears the debt that threatened her sons and leaves enough to live on. God meets the immediate crisis and the future too. This complete deliverance reflects His thorough care for His people. It foreshadows the fullness of provision in Christ, who not only pays our debt but gives abundant life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 2 Th 3:7–12For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you,
- 1 Kgs 12:22But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
- Phil 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
- Rom 12:17Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.
- Ps 37:21The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.
- 1 Th 2:9–10For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.
- 1 Th 4:12that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.
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 4:7 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.