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And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I am aware that this is a holy man of God passing by us repeatedly.
2 Kings 4:9 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB She said to her husband, “See now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God who passes by us continually.
  • KJV And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.
  • BSB Then the woman said to her husband, “Behold, now I know that the one who often comes our way is a holy man of God.
  • NKJV And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly.
  • NLT She said to her husband, “I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God.

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

She discerns that Elisha is a holy man of God passing by regularly. Spiritual perception leads her to honor God's servant rightly.

Overview

The woman recognizes Elisha's holiness, a discernment that marks genuine reverence for God. Her observation moves her toward practical care rather than mere admiration. Recognizing and supporting God's work is itself an act of faith. It models the welcome believers are to extend to those who labor in God's word.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 13

  • 1 Kgs 17:24The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that Yahweh’s word in your mouth is truth.”
  • Prov 31:10–11Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.
  • 2 Kgs 4:7Then 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.”
  • Titus 1:8but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled;
  • 1 Th 2:10You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe.
  • 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!”
  • Matt 5:16Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
  • 1 Pet 3:1In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word;
  • Deut 33:1This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
  • 2 Pet 1:21For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
  • 2 Pet 3:2that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior:
  • 1 Tim 6:11But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
  • 1 Kgs 13:1Behold, a man of God came out of Judah by Yahweh’s word to Beth El; and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 2 Kings videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 2 Kings 4:9YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 2 KingsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 4:9 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.