And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
Parallel translations
- WEB The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we live and meet with you is too small for us.
- BSB Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Please take note that the place where we meet with you is too small for us.
- NKJV And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.
- NASB Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Behold now, the place before you where we are living is too cramped for us.
- NLT One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, “As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small.
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 growing company of prophets tells Elisha their dwelling is too cramped. It signals the flourishing of a faithful prophetic community under his leadership.
Overview
The 'sons of the prophets' were a guild or school gathered around Elisha for instruction and worship. Their need for larger quarters reflects the spiritual fruitfulness of his ministry even during a period of national apostasy. The scene introduces the everyday setting for the miracle that follows, showing God's care extending to ordinary practical needs. It reminds readers that God preserves a faithful remnant and provides for those devoted to His word.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 2 Kgs 2:3And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
- Isa 54:2–3Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
- Isa 49:19–20For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
- 1 Sam 19:20And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
- Josh 19:47And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
- 1 Kgs 20:35And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.
- 2 Kgs 4:1Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
- Josh 17:14And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?
- Job 36:16Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
- 2 Kgs 4:38And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.
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 6:1 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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