2 Kings 4 30

2 Kings 4:30 kjv

And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.

2 Kings 4:30 nkjv

And the mother of the child said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So he arose and followed her.

2 Kings 4:30 niv

But the child's mother said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So he got up and followed her.

2 Kings 4:30 esv

Then the mother of the child said, "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So he arose and followed her.

2 Kings 4:30 nlt

But the boy's mother said, "As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I won't go home unless you go with me." So Elisha returned with her.

2 Kings 4 verses

2 Kings 4 30 Meaning

2 Kings 4:30 describes the resolute and faith-filled plea of the Shunemite woman to Elisha, the prophet of God. Her words, sworn with the most solemn oaths, convey her absolute refusal to let Elisha proceed without her, thereby insisting on his direct, personal involvement in resurrecting her dead son. Elisha, moved by her unwavering persistence and profound conviction, responds by immediately acceding to her demand and accompanying her back to her home. This verse highlights the mother's desperate yet faithful resolve that God's power, through His chosen servant, is the only hope for her child.

2 Kings 4 30 Context

The events of 2 Kings 4:30 occur within the narrative of the Shunemite woman and Elisha, found in 2 Kings chapter 4. This chapter showcases Elisha's prophetic ministry, demonstrating God's power through miracles of provision, healing, and resurrection. Earlier in the chapter (2 Ki 4:8-17), the Shunemite woman, a wealthy and devout host to Elisha, was blessed with a son, despite her and her husband's old age, as a prophetic promise from Elisha. Later (2 Ki 4:18-20), this miraculously given son dies. Distraught, the woman immediately seeks out Elisha at Mount Carmel, refusing any consolation or delay. Elisha initially sends his servant, Gehazi, with his staff to revive the child (2 Ki 4:29), but Gehazi's attempt proves ineffective. This sets the stage for the intense exchange in 2 Kings 4:30, where the mother’s desperate plea and firm resolve come to the forefront, insisting on Elisha’s personal presence rather than trusting a secondary measure.

2 Kings 4 30 Word analysis

• "Then the mother of the child said,": Identifies the speaker as the distraught Shunemite woman, emphasizing her deep emotional and spiritual connection to her deceased son and her complete desperation.
• "As the LORD lives" (Hebrew: חַי יְהוָה - chai Yahweh): This is a profound and solemn oath, commonly used in ancient Israel to underscore the truth, certainty, or seriousness of a declaration. It invokes the very living existence and power of God as a guarantor. The woman's use here highlights her utter conviction and desperate earnestness, placing her plea under the authority and faithfulness of Yahweh.
• "and as you yourself live," (Hebrew: וְחֵי נַפְשְׁךָ - v'chei nafsh'kha): This personal oath complements the divine oath, pledging by Elisha's own life. It signifies an unwavering personal commitment, conveying that she would not relent or be dissuaded. It means, in essence, "I stake my life, and yours, on this" or "as surely as you and the LORD live, I will not let go." It places a significant spiritual and personal obligation on Elisha.
• "I will not leave you." (Hebrew: לֹא אֶעֶזְבֶךָּ - lo' e'ezvekkha): This strong negative declaration is a vow of absolute persistence. It conveys her unyielding determination and refusal to be left behind or to have Elisha proceed without her direct accompaniment. She understands that the presence of the man of God, filled with God's Spirit, is essential for a miracle of this magnitude, far more than just his staff carried by his servant. Her unwavering grip on Elisha demonstrates a profound faith in his role as God's instrument for life.
• "So he arose": This indicates Elisha's immediate response to the woman's potent and faith-filled plea. The use of "so" denotes direct causation: her intense determination moved him. It signifies a pivotal shift, as he no longer insists on Gehazi acting alone.
• "and followed her.": Elisha’s action confirms his capitulation to her will, driven by her desperate faith. He now actively and personally takes up the charge of addressing the child’s death, signifying that he recognizes the divine appointment in her insistence. This direct physical action symbolizes his acceptance of the complete responsibility she placed upon him for her child's life.

2 Kings 4 30 Bonus section

The Shunemite woman's unwavering insistence not to "leave" Elisha subtly echoes God's covenant promises to never "leave" or "forsake" His people (Josh 1:5; Heb 13:5). While her statement is a human vow to a human prophet, it reflects a deep, spiritual intuition that staying near God's chosen vessel for power is essential for the miracle she sought. Her desperate pursuit of Elisha serves as a powerful theological statement about the importance of being in the presence of God's active power, as opposed to relying on mere symbols or secondary attempts. The narrative distinguishes between the efficacy of Elisha's physical, prayerful presence and Gehazi's impersonal, staff-carrying approach, underscoring that God's miracles are tied to the divine Spirit, not to a magical formula or object alone.

2 Kings 4 30 Commentary

2 Kings 4:30 encapsulates the profound intersection of human desperation, unwavering faith, and divine power mediated through a prophet. The Shunemite woman’s declaration is not merely a statement of intent but a deeply binding, spiritual oath. Her words, "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live," are the strongest form of assurance and persistence possible in ancient Israel, appealing both to the living God and to Elisha's very existence. She recognized that the power of life rested not in a material object, such as Elisha’s staff in Gehazi’s hand, but in God’s direct working through His Spirit-anointed prophet.

Her firm "I will not leave you" signifies an absolute refusal to accept a partial solution or to be separated from the one person she believed could mediate divine life. This relentless pursuit mirrors the kind of tenacious faith Jesus praised in the Canaanite woman (Matt 15:28) and the importunity described in His parables of the persistent friend (Luke 11:8) and the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8). Elisha's subsequent action—he "arose and followed her"—shows that her desperate, faith-filled insistence successfully moved him. He perceived the earnestness of her spiritual plea and recognized God's hand in her unshakeable conviction, compelling him to proceed to the house to personally confront death with the power of the living God. The outcome, as narrated in the following verses, powerfully vindicates her faith.