2 Kings 4 14

2 Kings 4:14 kjv

And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.

2 Kings 4:14 nkjv

So he said, "What then is to be done for her?" And Gehazi answered, "Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old."

2 Kings 4:14 niv

"What can be done for her?" Elisha asked. Gehazi said, "She has no son, and her husband is old."

2 Kings 4:14 esv

And he said, "What then is to be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old."

2 Kings 4:14 nlt

Later Elisha asked Gehazi, "What can we do for her?" Gehazi replied, "She doesn't have a son, and her husband is an old man."

2 Kings 4 verses

2 Kings 4 14 Meaning

In 2 Kings 4:14, Elisha the prophet, seeking to deeply bless the benevolent Shunammite woman who provided him a living space, asks his servant Gehazi for a specific need. Gehazi insightfully reveals that the woman has no son and her husband is old. This exchange pinpoints her profoundest unfulfilled desire – the longing for an heir in a culture where progeny, especially a male child, was essential for familial continuation and social standing, setting the stage for a divine, miraculous intervention.

2 Kings 4 14 Context

This verse is situated within a series of Elisha's miracles that highlight God's provision and power through His prophet. Earlier in the chapter, Elisha multiplied oil for a widow to pay her debts. Here, the Shunammite woman, a wealthy and devout woman, shows exceptional hospitality by building and furnishing a room specifically for Elisha's use whenever he passed through. Out of gratitude, Elisha seeks to reward her. He initially asks if she needs advocacy with the king or army commander, to which she humbly replies she is content dwelling among her own people, indicating no immediate, worldly need. This verse then shows Elisha pressing Gehazi to identify a deeper, unexpressed desire. Gehazi's observation about her childlessness and her husband's advanced age identifies the most significant sorrow or unfulfilled aspiration in that cultural context. Childlessness, especially without a son, was considered a major hardship in ancient Israel, as it jeopardized the family lineage, inheritance, and social continuity, often interpreted as a lack of divine blessing. This cultural norm contrasts sharply with the expectation of fertility from the prevalent Baal cults, subtly affirming Yahweh as the true giver of life.

2 Kings 4 14 Word analysis

• Then he said (וַיֹּאמֶר wa-yo'mer): A common Hebrew narrative conjunction, literally "and he said." Here, it marks a continuation of the conversation. "He" refers to Elisha, indicating his active concern and initiative to bless the Shunammite.
• 'What then is to be done for her?' (מַה לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהּ mah la'asot lah?): Literally, "What to do for her?" Elisha's inquiry demonstrates his determination to provide a profound and fitting reward. It signifies his persistent desire to meet her needs beyond her expressed contentment, reflecting divine compassion.
• Gehazi answered, (וַיֹּאמֶר גֵּיחֲזִי wa-yo'mer Geiḥazi): Standard narration. Gehazi, Elisha's servant, is presented as perceptive. His answer highlights his close observation of the household.
• 'Well,' / 'Indeed,' (כִּי ki): This conjunction serves to introduce or emphasize Gehazi's crucial observation, acting as an explanatory "for" or an affirmative "indeed."
• she has no son, (אֵין־לָהּ בֵּן ein-lah ben): This is the central revelation. "Ein-lah" means "there is not for her" or "she has not." "Ben" means son. In ancient Israelite society, having a son was paramount for continuation of the family name, inheritance, and a source of security in old age. Barrenness (עֲקָרָה 'aqarah) was a great personal sorrow and often perceived as a sign of divine disfavor, making a child a profound blessing.
• and her husband is old.' (וְאִישָׁהּ זָקֵן ve'ishah zaqen): "Ve-ishah" means "and her husband." "Zaqen" (old) describes an elderly person, usually past the natural age of procreation. This phrase intensifies the preceding observation, emphasizing that her childlessness is not merely a waiting period but a seemingly impossible biological reality, underscoring the necessity of divine intervention for a son.
• 'she has no son, and her husband is old': This entire phrase together represents a summary of the Shunammite's greatest unspoken affliction and highlights the human impossibility of overcoming it, thereby elevating the subsequent divine act of blessing and bringing to prominence the theme of miraculous birth often found in biblical narratives involving key figures (e.g., Isaac, Samuel, John the Baptist).

2 Kings 4 14 Bonus section

• The discerning role of Gehazi here highlights a period when he was still operating faithfully as Elisha's assistant, showing a perceptive nature that contrasts sharply with his later actions and subsequent curse in 2 Kings 5:20-27.
• This verse and the ensuing miracle mirror God's past actions, particularly the promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah (Gen 18), establishing a clear theological link between Elisha's ministry and God's sovereign power over life and death.
• The Shunammite woman's contentment with "dwelling among her own people" might indicate she desired nothing that would remove her from her stable community or alter her respected position, reinforcing that her true need was not superficial but deeply personal and internal.

2 Kings 4 14 Commentary

2 Kings 4:14 captures a pivotal moment preceding one of Elisha's most significant life-giving miracles. It showcases Elisha's divine insight, or at least his discernment aided by his servant Gehazi, into the deeper, unexpressed needs of those he encounters. The Shunammite woman's initial response of "I dwell among my own people" demonstrated contentment with her existing social structure and lacked specific material desires. However, Elisha, embodying God's deep care, understood there might be an unarticulated longing. Gehazi's practical and culturally informed observation that she had no son and her husband was old immediately identified the deepest sorrow and social vulnerability for a woman of that time. This set the stage for a miracle that would not just provide a temporary blessing but address a fundamental human longing – an heir – a longing God repeatedly meets for His chosen individuals throughout Scripture. This miracle also served as a polemic against the false gods like Baal, worshipped for fertility, demonstrating Yahweh as the sole true source of life and blessing, intervening where natural means fail.