2 Kings 4:18 kjv
And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.
2 Kings 4:18 nkjv
And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers.
2 Kings 4:18 niv
The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers.
2 Kings 4:18 esv
When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers.
2 Kings 4:18 nlt
One day when her child was older, he went out to help his father, who was working with the harvesters.
2 Kings 4 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 18:10-14 | 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 a miraculous birth, similar to the Shunammite's. |
| Judg 13:2-5 | There was a certain man of Zorah... whose wife was barren... and the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not; but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. | Another promised birth to a barren woman. |
| 1 Sam 1:19-20 | ...Hannah conceived, and bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. | Hannah's prayer and birth of Samuel. |
| Ps 127:3 | Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. | Children as a divine blessing and gift. |
| Eccl 9:11 | I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong... nor bread to the wise... nor favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. | The unpredictable nature of life's events. |
| Is 38:1 | In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death... | Sudden severe illness mentioned. |
| Is 38:5 | Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. | Divine intervention in sickness. |
| Jon 4:8 | ...the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted... | Harmful effects of intense sun. |
| 2 Ki 8:1-6 | ...the woman, whose son he had restored to life, crying unto the king for her house... | Later mention of the same Shunammite woman and her restored son. |
| 1 Ki 17:17 | And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman... fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. | Parallel narrative: Elijah and the Zarephath widow's son. |
| 1 Ki 17:21-22 | And he stretched himself upon the child three times... And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. | Elijah raising the dead. |
| 2 Ki 4:33-35 | And he went in, therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD... and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. | The miracle of resuscitation that follows this verse. |
| Lk 7:12-15 | ...and he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise... | Jesus raising the son of the widow of Nain. |
| Jn 11:43-44 | And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth... | Jesus raising Lazarus. |
| Mk 5:35 | While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead... | Similar sorrow over a child's death. |
| Mk 5:41-42 | And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose... | Jesus raising Jairus's daughter. |
| Gal 6:9 | And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. | Reference to reaping, but in a spiritual sense. |
| Lev 23:10 | ...when ye be come into the land which I give you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest. | Context of harvest season in Israel. |
| 1 Cor 15:20-22 | But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept... | Hope in resurrection overcoming death. |
| Heb 11:35 | Women received their dead raised to life again... | General affirmation of raising the dead. |
2 Kings 4 verses
2 Kings 4 18 Meaning
2 Kings 4:18 sets the stage for a tragic turn in the narrative of the Shunammite woman and her miraculous son. It describes the passage of time, the child's growth, and his departure from the safety of home on a specific day to join his father with the reapers in the field. This seemingly ordinary daily event immediately precedes his sudden and severe illness.
2 Kings 4 18 Context
2 Kings chapter 4 focuses primarily on the prophetic ministry of Elisha, specifically his benevolent miracles. The immediate context of verse 18 is the account of the Shunammite woman. Having received hospitality from her, Elisha prophesied that she, though barren, would conceive and bear a son within a year, a prophecy that came to pass (2 Ki 4:8-17). Verse 18 directly follows this fulfillment, showing the passage of time.
Historically, this event occurs in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the period of the divided monarchy. Elisha succeeded Elijah as the leading prophet, working wonders amidst widespread idolatry and moral decline, largely counteracting the influence of Baal worship. The story takes place in Shunem, a town in the Jezreel Valley, known for its fertile land suitable for agriculture. The depiction of father and son among reapers highlights the typical rural life and the agricultural cycles of ancient Israel, where hot, sunny harvest days could pose risks. This everyday setting serves to emphasize the extraordinary nature of the subsequent crisis and Elisha's miraculous intervention.
2 Kings 4 18 Word analysis
- And when: Hebrew wa•yehi. This common biblical conjunction often marks a shift or introduction of a new significant event in the narrative, indicating that what follows is important.
- the child: Hebrew hayyeled. This refers to the son who was miraculously born. The definite article "the" points to a specific child, already known from the preceding narrative. It emphasizes his young age, not yet an adult, making his sudden distress more poignant.
- was grown: Hebrew wayyigdal. From the root gadal, meaning "to grow, become great." It indicates a period of development from infancy, suggesting he was old enough to accompany his father to the fields and communicate. This period of growth highlights the brief time of joy the parents experienced with their God-given son before the tragedy.
- it fell on a day: Hebrew wayyehi hayyom. Literally, "it happened the day" or "it came to pass on a day." This is an idiomatic expression often used to introduce a precise, often fateful, day or moment when a particular event occurs. It conveys a sense of suddenness and inevitability, signaling a turning point.
- that he went out: Hebrew wayyetse. From the root yatsa, "to go out, come forth." It indicates the boy's independent action of leaving the safety of his home, entering the potentially harsh environment of the fields.
- to his father: Hebrew el-‘abihyw. This shows the natural connection between the son and father, highlighting the boy's familial bond and his likely curiosity or desire to be with his father in his work. It anchors the scene within a family context.
- to the reapers: Hebrew ’el-haq•qotsrim. From qatsar, "to reap." These are agricultural workers harvesting grain, typically under the hot sun. This detail provides the setting for the boy's exposure to the heat, hinting at the cause of his imminent affliction and grounding the miracle within everyday life.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- And when the child was grown: This phrase establishes a temporal distance from the initial miracle of birth. It signifies a period of blessed development and highlights the fulfillment of the divine promise, setting up the impending crisis against a background of grace received.
- it fell on a day, that he went out: This marks the shift from normalcy to crisis. "It fell on a day" is a biblical phrase often signaling a significant, unforeseen, and often challenging event. The act of "going out" removes the boy from the secure domestic sphere, making him vulnerable to external dangers.
- to his father to the reapers: This identifies the specific and seemingly innocuous setting where the tragedy unfolds. It paints a vivid picture of the family's simple, agrarian life and foreshadows the physically demanding and potentially hazardous environment (intense sun exposure during harvest) that will lead to the child's affliction.
2 Kings 4 18 Bonus section
The seemingly mundane details of the child "growing" and "going out" highlight the profound sorrow and disorientation that sudden death inflicts, especially after a period of hope and joy. The image of the child going to the "reapers" subtly connects to the cycle of life and death; just as grain is cut down in its prime, so too can life be abruptly ended. This sets up a narrative where death itself, in the case of this child, will be "reaped" by God's power through Elisha.
2 Kings 4 18 Commentary
Verse 18 is a concise and pivotally important sentence. It quietly yet powerfully ushers in the crisis of the Shunammite narrative. Having rejoiced in the miraculous birth of her son, the woman is now confronted with an abrupt challenge to that very blessing. The depiction of the child's "growing" signifies a natural and welcome development, reinforcing the joy and fulfillment the boy brought. His departure "to his father to the reapers" speaks of typical daily life and the bond between father and son. However, this seemingly ordinary moment becomes the threshold to an extraordinary test of faith. The precise cause of the child's illness (implied heatstroke in the subsequent verses) is rooted in the harsh realities of ancient agricultural work, which often exposed workers to the elements. This common occurrence makes the divine intervention that follows all the more striking. The verse reminds us of life's unpredictability and how even amidst God-given blessings, sorrow can suddenly appear, setting the stage for renewed dependence on God's miraculous power through His prophet.