2 Kings 4:16 kjv
And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.
2 Kings 4:16 nkjv
Then he said, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!"
2 Kings 4:16 niv
"About this time next year," Elisha said, "you will hold a son in your arms." "No, my lord!" she objected. "Please, man of God, don't mislead your servant!"
2 Kings 4:16 esv
And he said, "At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant."
2 Kings 4:16 nlt
"Next year at this time you will be holding a son in your arms!" "No, my lord!" she cried. "O man of God, don't deceive me and get my hopes up like that."
2 Kings 4 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 18:10 | And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son... | Prophecy of son to barren Sarah |
| Gen 21:1-2 | And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken... | God's faithfulness to a promised birth |
| Judg 13:2-3 | And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites... and his wife was barren, and bare not. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman... saying unto her, Behold now, thou art barren... but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. | Angel announces son to barren Manoah's wife |
| Lk 1:13 | But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son... | Angel announces John to barren Elizabeth |
| Heb 11:11 | Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. | Faith enabling conception |
| Gen 18:12 | Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? | Skepticism regarding promised son |
| Lk 1:18-20 | And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? ...And the angel answering said... thou shalt be dumb... | Skepticism leading to consequence |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? | God's faithfulness and inability to lie |
| 1 Sam 1:20 | Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son... | God answers barren Hannah's prayer |
| Isa 7:14 | Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son... | Prophecy of miraculous birth |
| Lk 1:34-35 | Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?... The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee... | Questioning miraculous conception |
| Ps 33:11 | The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. | God's plans are unchangeable |
| Mt 10:41 | He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward... | Receiving prophet leads to reward |
| Dt 18:18 | I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. | The authority of a true prophet |
| Jer 1:5 | Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. | Divine calling of a prophet |
| Rom 4:18-20 | Who against hope believed in hope... He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith... | Believing God's impossible promises |
| Job 14:1 | Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. | Child as part of human life |
| Eccl 3:1 | To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: | God's perfect timing |
| Eph 2:10 | For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. | God's preordained purposes |
| Ps 127:3 | Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. | Children as God's blessing and gift |
2 Kings 4 verses
2 Kings 4 16 Meaning
Elisha, the man of God, declares to the hospitable Shunammite woman that within a year, around the usual time for birth, she will embrace a son. Her immediate response, steeped in humble reverence and caution, is a plea to Elisha, acknowledging his title as "man of God," not to give her false hope or mislead her with an unfulfillable promise.
2 Kings 4 16 Context
The book of 2 Kings documents the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah, highlighting the ministry of Elisha, successor to Elijah. Chapter 4 records several of Elisha's miracles, showcasing God's power working through His prophet to meet specific needs. This verse directly follows the Shunammite woman's profound hospitality towards Elisha, having provided him with a special room and all necessities for his stays. Elisha, wanting to repay her kindness, inquires what he can do for her. Upon learning through Gehazi that she has no son and her husband is old, Elisha discerns the deeper longing and potential spiritual barrenness in their lives. The prophecy in verse 16 is Elisha's divine response to her unarticulated desire, setting the stage for the miraculous birth and subsequent events in her family's life. It is spoken precisely to a woman of standing who seemingly has everything except a child, fulfilling an ancient longing for an heir.
2 Kings 4 16 Word analysis
- And he said: Refers to Elisha, speaking as a prophet of God.
- About this season: From Hebrew ka-`eth chayyah (כעת חיה), meaning "at this living time" or "at this time next year." It signifies a precise, imminent, and naturally recurring time cycle (e.g., spring/harvest, or full term of pregnancy), indicating a timely fulfillment.
- according to the time of life: Further clarification of ka-`eth chayyah, emphasizing the cyclical, annual return to a "living time" conducive for bringing forth life, highlighting the specific, almost calendrical precision of the promise.
- thou shalt embrace: From Hebrew chobēqeth (חבקת), the participle of chabaq (חבק), meaning "to hug, to enfold, to hold closely." It paints a picture of intimate maternal affection, not merely conception or birth, but the act of a mother holding her own child.
- a son: Hebrew bēn (בֵּן). The focus of the miracle, emphasizing a male heir, which was crucial for family continuity and societal standing in ancient Israel.
- And she said: Her immediate reaction to the incredible prophecy.
- Nay: From Hebrew `al (אַל), a strong negative particle expressing a plea or prohibition: "do not" or "by no means." It shows her earnest desire not to have her hopes falsely raised.
- my lord: From Hebrew 'adoni (אֲדֹנִי). A respectful address acknowledging Elisha's authority and status as a respected man and prophet.
- thou man of God: From Hebrew 'iysh ha'Elohim (אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים). A title specifically used for Elisha throughout Kings, underscoring his divine commission and close relationship with God. By using this title, she implicitly recognizes the weight and divine source of his words, making her plea against deception even more poignant.
- do not lie: From Hebrew tekāzēv (תְּכַזֵּב), a form of kāzāv (כָּזַב), meaning "to lie, deceive, fail, prove disappointing." Her fear is not that Elisha is a liar, but that she might misinterpret his words or that such a seemingly impossible promise would prove to be a source of future sorrow.
- unto thine handmaid: From Hebrew le'amathekā (לַאֲמָתֶךָ). A humble form of self-reference, demonstrating deference and respect. Despite her wealth, she considers herself merely Elisha's humble servant, reinforcing her earnest appeal.
2 Kings 4 16 Bonus section
- The parallelism with Abraham and Sarah's promise in Gen 18:10 is striking. In both cases, the timing ("time of life") is mentioned, a son is promised to an elderly, barren woman, and there is an element of doubt/disbelief from the woman, though expressed differently. Sarah laughed, while the Shunammite made a humble plea not to be lied to. This establishes a biblical pattern of God working through extraordinary circumstances.
- The title "man of God" (אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים, 'iysh ha'Elohim) is significant, identifying Elisha not as an ordinary human, but as someone uniquely separated and authorized by God to speak His very words. This context elevates the promise and the Shunammite's caution.
- The detail of Elisha asking Gehazi "What then is to be done for her?" (v. 14) shows his intent to repay kindness with a specific, deeply meaningful gift, indicative of divine insight into unexpressed desires. God often blesses beyond what we ask or imagine (Eph 3:20).
2 Kings 4 16 Commentary
This verse encapsulates a pivotal moment where divine grace intervenes in a seemingly complete life. Elisha, acting as God's vessel, articulates a miracle for a woman who did not even express such a request, highlighting God's responsive generosity. The precision of "about this season, according to the time of life" speaks to God's exact timing and purposeful action, assuring the fulfillment of the miraculous birth. The Shunammite's reaction—"Nay, my lord... do not lie unto thine handmaid"—is a profound display of cautious humility and fear of disappointment. She understands the gravity of the "man of God's" words, yet her past experiences or her perceived limitations lead her to guard her heart from potential pain. It reflects a human struggle with receiving a promise that seems too good to be true, a mix of reverence and realistic apprehension, echoing Sarah's internal struggle yet expressed outwardly as a plea for truthful dealing from God's prophet.