2 Kings 4 28

2 Kings 4:28 kjv

Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?

2 Kings 4:28 nkjv

So she said, "Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me'?"

2 Kings 4:28 niv

"Did I ask you for a son, my lord?" she said. "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't raise my hopes'?"

2 Kings 4:28 esv

Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me?'"

2 Kings 4:28 nlt

Then she said, "Did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn't I say, 'Don't deceive me and get my hopes up'?"

2 Kings 4 verses

2 Kings 4 28 Meaning

2 Kings 4:28 encapsulates the Shunammite woman's profound grief and desperate anguish following the sudden death of her son. Her words are a sharp, heartbroken reproach to Elisha, reminding him that she never solicited the miraculous birth of a son, and her sole cautionary request was "Do not deceive me." This expresses a crushing disappointment that the divine gift, now tragically lost, felt like a cruel raising of false hopes, compounding her sorrow rather than fulfilling joy.

2 Kings 4 28 Context

The verse is a climactic expression of distress within the extended narrative of Elisha and the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:8-37. This wealthy woman had shown exceptional hospitality to Elisha, even building him a dedicated room. In gratitude, Elisha prophesied that she, though elderly and barren, would conceive and bear a son. Her immediate response in 2 Kgs 4:16 was, "No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant!" This caution highlights her human incredulity and perhaps a fear of having her hopes cruelly dashed. Against her skepticism, the son was born. Years later, this cherished son suddenly dies. Overwhelmed by sorrow, she immediately, and determinedly, seeks out Elisha, refusing all others to intervene. Verse 28 is her raw, emotional outburst upon confronting the prophet on Mount Carmel, summarizing her original fear and her current agony. The historical context reflects a society where barrenness was a significant hardship and the birth of a son a profound blessing, amplifying both the joy of his birth and the despair of his death.

2 Kings 4 28 Word analysis

• Then she said: Implies a direct, immediate, and forceful expression, underscoring the intensity of her emotion and her profound distress.
• Did I ask: (Hebrew: Sh'alti שָׁאַלְתִּי) From the root sha'al, meaning to ask, inquire, request. The rhetorical question, grammatically constructed with the particle "Ha-" (הֲ), functions as a strong negative assertion, meaning "I certainly did not ask!" It emphasizes that the son was a unsolicited gift, not a personal petition, amplifying the cruelty of its loss.
• my lord: (Hebrew: Adoni אֲדֹנִי) A deferential term of respect used when addressing a superior or master (here, Elisha). Its use in the midst of her agitated protest underscores her acknowledgement of his status as a man of God, even as she expresses her deep pain and implicit complaint against him.
• for a son?: (Hebrew: Ben בֵּן) Refers directly to the miraculous child, who is now the source of her devastating sorrow. This precise naming highlights the personal and central nature of this loss.
• Did I not say: (Hebrew: Lo' amar'ti לֹא אָמַרְתִּי) Another rhetorical question with the emphatic "Lo'" (לֹא), meaning "I most certainly did say!" This forcefully recalls her prior words in 2 Kings 4:16, demonstrating her clarity of mind even in distress and her acute memory of her original caution.
• "Do not deceive me"?: (Hebrew: Al teḥattenu אַל־תְּחַתֵּנִי) This is a critical phrase. ḥātâ (חָתָה) means to dismay, disappoint, frustrate, or even to give false hope, lie to. Her original statement was, "Do not lie to your servant!" (2 Kgs 4:16). Here, the anguish transforms the prophet's fulfilled promise into a perceived "deception" or "frustration" in her present suffering. It's not a direct accusation of Elisha's integrity, but rather an expression of deep hurt: the initial caution against dashed hopes has now tragically materialized, making the initial joy seem like a setup for profound sorrow.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me'?": This complete utterance serves as a powerful lament. It’s a bitter echoing of her initial reluctance and a poignant "I told you so," not born of pride but of shattered hopes. She perceives the prophetically given child as a source of compounded pain rather than blessing, highlighting the paradox of divine gifts in the face of human suffering. This direct, rhetorical challenge to the prophet represents a profoundly human struggle with divine providence when God's actions lead to seemingly unbearable pain.

2 Kings 4 28 Bonus section

• The Shunammite woman's fierce and unyielding pursuit of Elisha despite the distance and her conventional responsibilities underscores a powerful, albeit distressed, faith in God's ability to intervene through His prophet. Her decision to confront Elisha directly rather than resorting to traditional mourning customs highlights her profound belief that Elisha, and by extension God, held the key to her predicament.
• This verse showcases a bold yet acceptable form of lament in the Bible, where believers, even those strong in faith, can voice their pain, confusion, and even what might seem like accusation directly to God or His representatives. It provides a divine precedent for honest, guttural prayer in suffering.
• The dramatic tension in this scene sets up the impending miracle, where Elisha will replicate Elijah's act of raising a dead child, thereby validating his prophetic office and revealing God's power over life and death. The Shunammite's painful questioning is part of the unfolding divine drama.

2 Kings 4 28 Commentary

2 Kings 4:28 lays bare the rawest form of human sorrow and disillusionment. The Shunammite woman's outburst is not an attack on God's sovereignty or Elisha's character, but a primal scream from a soul grappling with immense loss, especially one tied to a divine promise. Her prior words, "Do not deceive me," which initially stemmed from a humble disbelief at the blessing of a son, now resurface as a heartbroken cry that the very blessing has turned into the most agonizing "deception." She perceives herself as worse off than before; not having a son was hardship, but having one and then losing him brought deeper anguish. This lament challenges us to consider that while God's gifts are always good (Jas 1:17), the journey of faith is not always linear and can include periods of intense questioning and pain. It beautifully sets the stage for God's redemptive power to be displayed through Elisha's intervention.

Examples:

• A parent whose child has recovered from a severe illness only to face another, perhaps terminal, condition.
• Someone who receives a long-prayed-for promotion that subsequently brings unforeseen burdens and distress.
• An individual who felt a divine calling to a ministry that now faces seemingly insurmountable obstacles and setbacks.