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.
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.
- KJV And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait 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.
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 2:3The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?” He said, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.”
- Isa 54:2–3“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare: lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.
- Isa 49:19–20“For, as for your waste and your desolate places, and your land that has been destroyed, surely now that land will be too small for the inhabitants, and those who swallowed you up will be far away.
- 1 Sam 19:20Saul sent messengers to seize David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, God’s Spirit came on Saul’s messengers, and they also prophesied.
- Josh 19:47The border of the children of Dan went out beyond them; for the children of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and lived therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their forefather.
- 1 Kgs 20:35A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by Yahweh’s word, “Please strike me!” The man refused to strike him.
- 2 Kgs 4:1Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead. You know that your servant feared Yahweh. Now the creditor has come to take for himself my two children to be slaves.”
- Josh 17:14The children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me just one lot and one part for an inheritance, since we are a numerous people, because Yahweh has blessed us so far?”
- Job 36:16Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
- 2 Kgs 4:38Elisha came again to Gilgal. There was a famine in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Get the large pot, and boil stew 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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