2 Kings 4 20

2 Kings 4:20 kjv

And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

2 Kings 4:20 nkjv

When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

2 Kings 4:20 niv

After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died.

2 Kings 4:20 esv

And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.

2 Kings 4:20 nlt

So the servant took him home, and his mother held him on her lap. But around noontime he died.

2 Kings 4 verses

2 Kings 4 20 Meaning

This verse tragically describes the death of the Shunammite woman's son, who, having complained of a headache in the field, was brought to his mother. He sat on her lap until midday and then breathed his last, signifying a profound and sudden loss that brought deep sorrow to the parents who had previously been barren.

2 Kings 4 20 Context

This verse is the climax of the first part of the narrative involving the Shunammite woman and the prophet Elisha in 2 Kings chapter 4. In earlier verses (4:8-10), the woman and her husband extend generous hospitality to Elisha, building a prophet's room for him. In response, Elisha, knowing she is barren, promises her a son (4:16). The promise is fulfilled, and the woman bears a child in her old age, a divine miracle (4:17).

Verse 19 sets the immediate stage: the son goes out to his father among the reapers in the field and suddenly cries out, "My head, my head!" This indicates a severe, sudden illness, likely sunstroke given the context of harvesting in the sun. He is then brought home to his mother. Verse 20 describes the tragic culmination of this illness. The death of the child is devastating, particularly because he was a miraculous gift. This crisis then propels the Shunammite woman into decisive action, demonstrating her profound faith as she seeks Elisha, believing he can restore her son, thus setting the stage for the next miracle in verses 21-37.

2 Kings 4 20 Word analysis

• And when he had taken him: This indicates the swift action taken after the child cried out in the field. Someone, likely a servant or his father, removed him from the intense sun. The action is immediate and indicative of the sudden severity of his condition.
• and brought him: Emphasizes the child's helplessness and dependence. He could not return by himself. This physical transfer leads him directly to the most comforting presence: his mother.
• to his mother: This highlights the immediate, natural place of refuge and comfort for a sick child. The mother is the primary caregiver, and it underscores the intimacy of their bond and the gravity of her subsequent grief.
• he sat on her knees: This phrase paints a tender, intimate, and poignant picture. The child, in his final hours, seeks the comfort and warmth of his mother's lap, a universal symbol of maternal care and security. It shows the mother holding her suffering child close, providing what comfort she could.
• till noon: The Hebrew term is ṣahar (צָהַר), which denotes midday, the brightest and hottest part of the day. This timing is highly significant:
  • It reinforces the likelihood of sunstroke as the cause of death, as the peak heat of the day would exacerbate such an condition.
  • It marks the swift progression of the illness. The boy cried out in the morning while in the field (verse 19), and by noon, he had died. The rapid onset and progression underscore the severity of the ailment and the suddenness of the tragedy.
  • Midday also signifies the turning point, from hope to despair for the mother, before a new hope emerges with Elisha's arrival.
• and then died: The Hebrew wa-yāmoṯ (וַיָּמֹת) is stark, concise, and definitive. This simple, factual statement emphasizes the finality of death from a human perspective, providing a moment of profound despair. The lack of embellishment highlights the shock and tragedy of the event, serving as the dramatic pivot point in the narrative.

Words-group analysis

• "he sat on her knees till noon": This phrase encapsulates a moment of deep, loving maternal care ending in tragic finality. It vividly portrays the mother's presence and efforts to comfort her child until his last breath, amplifying the subsequent grief. The passage from sitting on her knees (comfort) to death by noon (cruel reality) establishes a powerful emotional contrast that heightens the narrative tension. This image communicates universal parental love and loss, preparing the reader for the mother's extraordinary faith-filled response.

2 Kings 4 20 Bonus section

• Challenging the Divine Promise: The death of the child represents a direct challenge to the initial promise of Elisha (2 Ki 4:16). God had opened her womb and given life; now that life was taken away. This tension underscores the narrative's central theme of God's power and faithfulness even in contradiction to present circumstances. It necessitates a new, even greater, act of God's power – the restoration of life.
• Maternal Agency and Faith: The profound intimacy described in "sat on her knees" before death sets up the equally profound resolve of the mother immediately after. Despite her immense grief, her immediate and decisive action of seeking Elisha (2 Ki 4:21-22) reveals a faith that looks beyond the finality of death, clinging to the possibility of divine intervention. Her quiet laying of the child on Elisha's bed, without alarm or hysterics, implies a profound trust that God, through His prophet, could reverse this tragedy.
• Literary Foreshadowing: This narrative beautifully parallels Elijah raising the Zarephath widow's son in 1 Kings 17, establishing a prophetic lineage and similar powerful deeds. It also prefigures the even greater authority of Jesus over death in the New Testament, solidifying the theme of the God of life who overcomes death.

2 Kings 4 20 Commentary

2 Kings 4:20 marks the crushing turn in the joyous story of the Shunammite woman. The miraculously born son, a divine gift to an elderly, barren couple, dies suddenly while cradled in his mother's arms. The specific mention of "till noon" points to a swift decline, consistent with heatstroke from working in the fields at the day's hottest point. This verse embodies deep human sorrow and helplessness in the face of death, especially the death of a child. From a theological perspective, it serves as a profound test of faith for the Shunammite woman and her husband, as the life that was given miraculously is now taken. This moment of crisis is crucial to the overarching narrative, establishing the extreme human need that prompts divine intervention through the prophet Elisha. It powerfully sets the stage for God's demonstration of power over life and death, reinforcing the prophetic word and God's sovereignty even in seemingly irreversible situations. The verse highlights the stark reality of human vulnerability and positions the upcoming miracle of resurrection as an even greater testament to God's glory and faithfulness.