2 Kings 4 3

2 Kings 4:3 kjv

Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

2 Kings 4:3 nkjv

Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors?empty vessels; do not gather just a few.

2 Kings 4:3 niv

Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few.

2 Kings 4:3 esv

Then he said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few.

2 Kings 4:3 nlt

And Elisha said, "Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors.

2 Kings 4 verses

2 Kings 4 3 Meaning

This verse contains Elisha's precise instructions to a destitute widow: she must go outside her home and proactively gather many empty vessels from all her neighbors. The emphasized directive, "do not gather just a few," underscored that the magnitude of God's forthcoming provision would be directly correlated with the extent of her obedient preparation and willingness to believe for abundance.

2 Kings 4 3 Context

This verse occurs in the initial phase of one of Elisha’s most remarkable miracles. It follows the plea of a widow, likely the wife of a "son of the prophets," who faced the tragic prospect of her two sons being taken into slavery due to unpayable debt after her husband's death. Elisha, upon hearing her distress and confirming that she had only a small jar of oil, issues this specific command as the preparatory step for a miraculous multiplication. The context underscores the desperate situation, the direct divine intervention through the prophet, and the required act of obedience from the person seeking deliverance. Historically, this account fits into the period of prophetic ministry in Israel during the divided kingdom, showcasing Yahweh's care for the marginalized and His power over natural scarcity, often contrasted with the futile nature of idol worship (such as Baal or Asherah) for provision.

2 Kings 4 3 Word analysis

• Then he said: Refers to Elisha, the prophet, who is conveying a divine directive, not merely a personal suggestion. This imbues the command with divine authority and importance.
• Go outside: Implies immediate action and movement from a place of limited resources (the home) into the wider community. It is a command to cease passive waiting and to actively participate in the solution.
• borrow (שָׁאַל - sha'al): "To ask, to request, to borrow." This signifies a humbling act of dependence, not only on God but also on her neighbors. It shows a step of faith that despite her dire situation, she would approach others for something that seemed so ordinary, yet vital for the miracle. The implication is that she would ask to borrow something without any tangible means of return, further demonstrating her dependence and faith in an unseen provision.
• vessels (כְּלִי - kelî): Refers to any container or implement. It signifies common, everyday items—pots, jars, bowls. This emphasizes that God uses ordinary means and situations for His extraordinary works. The vessels themselves hold no inherent power; their significance comes from their role in God's command.
• from all your neighbors: This command broadens the scope of her obedience. It means seeking help from many, not just a select few or those easily accessible. This likely meant overcoming potential shame or hesitation to reveal her destitution publicly by asking for empty containers. It also implies communal interaction, even if indirect, in the miracle.
• empty vessels: This is crucial. Reik (רֵיק) meaning "empty, void." The vessels must be empty, ready to receive. This symbolically represents humility, acknowledgment of one's own lack and need, and readiness to be filled by God's provision. One cannot be filled if already full, or if expecting to contribute from their own existing resources.
• do not gather just a few (אַל־תַּמְעִטִי - al tam'iti): A strong negative command meaning "do not diminish" or "do not gather a little/scanty number." This is the core instruction regarding the quantity of the vessels. Elisha here makes it clear that the limitation on God's forthcoming oil supply would not be God's power, but the widow's capacity for receptivity and her extent of obedient preparation. It challenges a mindset of scarcity and pushes towards abundance, testing her faith in God's limitless ability to provide.

2 Kings 4 3 Bonus section

The requirement for "empty" vessels serves as a theological statement. It counters any belief that human efforts or pre-existing assets are what God needs to work with. Rather, He works with nothing or what is deemed insufficient by human standards, to demonstrate His glory. This contrasts sharply with fertility cults or economic systems of the day that emphasized human ingenuity or the perceived fertility of gods for material provision. The instruction to "borrow from all your neighbors" indirectly involves the community in the miracle. While they merely lend empty jars, their participation (even unwitting) facilitated God's abundant provision, showcasing a broader interaction between the divine, the individual, and the community. This miracle beautifully foreshadows later New Testament accounts where limited resources (e.g., loaves and fish) are abundantly multiplied by God's power when surrendered to Him. The only 'limit' set in 2 Kings 4:3 is on the recipient's preparedness, not on God's capacity or willingness to provide beyond measure.

2 Kings 4 3 Commentary

This concise verse lays out the key action required for the miracle of the oil to unfold. Elisha's command to the widow is a profound test and demonstration of faith, not merely an instruction. The act of "going outside" and "borrowing" demanded vulnerability and overcoming the social stigma of poverty, asking for ordinary containers without knowing how she would "return" them filled. The critical emphasis on "empty vessels" signifies a necessary posture of humility, a recognition of her utter need and a readiness to be supernaturally filled. Most striking is the concluding injunction, "do not gather just a few." This implies that God's blessing was not restricted by His power, but by the physical capacity prepared to receive it. The miracle's abundance would be directly proportional to the widow's obedience in gathering many vessels. Her human effort, spurred by prophetic direction, determined the scope of divine overflowing. It exemplifies the principle that while God is the provider, our faith expressed through obedient action often determines the measure of what we receive.