2 Kings 4:37 kjv
Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.
2 Kings 4:37 nkjv
So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.
2 Kings 4:37 niv
She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out.
2 Kings 4:37 esv
She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.
2 Kings 4:37 nlt
She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs.
2 Kings 4 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 17:21-23 | Then he stretched himself upon the child three times... And the Lord listened... and the soul of the child came into him again... Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber to the house... | Elijah raises the widow's son; a precedent of prophetic power over death. |
| 2 Kgs 8:1 | Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life... | Later reference to the same miracle. |
| Isa 26:19 | Your dead shall live; their corpses shall rise. | Prophecy of resurrection in the Old Testament. |
| Dan 12:2 | And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake... | Further OT prophecy of a general resurrection. |
| Matt 9:25 | But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. | Jesus raises Jairus's daughter. |
| Mk 5:41-42 | Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,”... Immediately the girl got up... | Jesus's direct power over death. |
| Lk 7:14-15 | He came up and touched the bier... He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up... | Jesus raises the widow's son at Nain. |
| Jn 11:43-44 | He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out... | Jesus raising Lazarus after four days. |
| Acts 9:40-41 | But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes... | Peter raises Dorcas, showing apostolic power. |
| Heb 11:35 | Women received back their dead by resurrection... | A direct New Testament commendation of faith for resurrections. |
| Matt 28:9 | And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. | People worshiping Jesus after His resurrection. |
| Rev 1:17 | When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead... | John's reverence before the glorified Christ. |
| Gen 18:2 | When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth... | Abraham showing reverence to heavenly visitors. |
| Gen 23:7 | And Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the Hittites. | Abraham showing respect, but distinct from worship. |
| Exod 4:31 | ...and they bowed their heads and worshiped. | Israelites worshiping God after seeing Moses's signs. |
| 1 Sam 25:23 | When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. | Abigail's humble plea before David. |
| Isa 45:23 | ...to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance. | Prophecy of universal submission to God. |
| Phil 2:10 | ...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth... | Universal submission and worship of Jesus. |
| Josh 5:14 | And he fell on his face to the earth and worshiped... | Joshua's worship before the Commander of the Lord's army. |
| Ps 28:2 | Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. | Humility and petition in prayer. |
| Jonah 2:9 | But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you... | Gratitude after deliverance. |
| Lk 17:15-16 | Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. | The healed Samaritan showing profound gratitude to Jesus. |
2 Kings 4 verses
2 Kings 4 37 Meaning
The Shunammite woman, overwhelmed with gratitude and reverence, falls prostrate before Elisha, bowing deeply to the ground as an act of profound respect and acknowledgment of the divine power manifested through him. She then tenderly takes her son, whom Elisha had miraculously restored to life, and departs, signifying the complete and joyful restoration of her household and life. This verse marks the powerful climax of God's compassionate intervention.
2 Kings 4 37 Context
This verse concludes the narrative of God's gracious provision for the Shunammite woman through His prophet Elisha in 2 Kings chapter 4. The chapter begins with Elisha helping a poor widow multiply oil. Immediately following this, Elisha encounters a wealthy but childless Shunammite woman who shows him great hospitality. Elisha prophesies that she will have a son, a promise fulfilled the next year. This son later falls ill and dies. The grieving mother, demonstrating profound faith, immediately seeks Elisha. After Elisha's efforts, including direct intervention, the child is miraculously resurrected. Verse 37 depicts the mother's response to this awe-inspiring miracle, acknowledging the power of God working through His prophet and the reversal of death. It underscores God's compassion and power in reversing human sorrow.
2 Kings 4 37 Word analysis
- Then she came: (ותָּבֹא, va-tavo) This indicates immediate action and direct engagement. It marks the woman's entry into the room where Elisha had revived her son, signifying her eagerness to confirm the miracle and respond.
- and fell at his feet: (ותִּפֹּל עַל רַגְלָיו, va-tippol 'al raglav) This posture denotes extreme humility, reverence, submission, and often supplication or worship. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, falling at someone's feet was a way to acknowledge their authority, power, or express deep gratitude. Here, it is an acknowledgment of Elisha as a true man of God, whose power transcends human capabilities. It's a recognition of the divine hand.
- and bowed to the ground: (ותִּשְׁתַּחוּ, va-tishtachav) From the root shachah (שָׁחָה), which commonly means to bow down or prostrate oneself in worship. While literally 'bowing', when paired with falling at feet, it amplifies the profound reverence, indicating not just respect for Elisha but ultimately an act of worship toward God whose power flowed through him. This gesture signifies adoration, complete submission, and profound gratitude.
- and she took up her son: (ותִּשָּׂא אֶת בְּנָהּ, va-tissa' 'et-benah) A natural, instinctive action of a mother receiving her beloved child back from the grasp of death. It expresses the tangible reality of the miracle and the personal joy of reunification. The child is no longer a burden or a corpse, but truly restored.
- and went out: (ותֵּצֵא, va-tetze) Signifies the completion of the divine encounter and the return to normalcy. She takes her miraculous gift back into her home and life, the immediate crisis resolved, leaving the sacred space where the miracle occurred. Her mission, to recover her son, is accomplished.
Words-group analysis:
- "fell at his feet and bowed to the ground": This dual expression emphatically communicates the Shunammite woman's awe, profound gratitude, and reverence. It's an act of profound submission to divine power and a worship-like response. Her previous "it is well" faith (2 Kgs 4:26) culminates in this expression of thanksgiving and worship after witnessing the actual manifestation of God's power over death. This highlights that while prophets are humans, their actions, when Spirit-empowered, draw out reverence for God.
- "took up her son and went out": This pairing illustrates the practical, joyful outcome of the miracle. She fully receives the tangible gift and integrates the miracle back into her daily life. It implies her deep satisfaction and closure, as her most profound sorrow has been turned into overflowing joy. She literally "picks up her life" with her restored child, signifying that God’s miracles restore brokenness and bring full deliverance.
2 Kings 4 37 Bonus section
The story of the Shunammite woman, particularly her profound faith (demonstrated by her seeking Elisha despite the son's death and declaring "It is well"), prepares the audience for the intensity of her gratitude in this verse. Her actions of prostration are not mere human courtesy, but an overflow of worship and utter thanksgiving to the Almighty God, who has reversed an irreversible tragedy. This miracle is a remarkable display of God's continued faithfulness to Israel through Elisha, establishing his prophetic authority parallel to Elijah's, who also raised a son (1 Kgs 17). It foreshadows the ultimate triumph over death through Christ and emphasizes God's sovereign power to bring life where there is only despair.
2 Kings 4 37 Commentary
2 Kings 4:37 presents the culminating act of the Shunammite woman's journey of faith and experience with God's miraculous power. Her falling at Elisha's feet and bowing to the ground signifies profound reverence and gratitude, directed through the prophet to God Himself, who raised her son from death. It reflects recognition of God's ultimate authority over life and death. Her act is one of worship, humility, and thanksgiving, acknowledging that this life-restoring event transcends ordinary human capability. The simple act of taking her son and going out embodies the profound joy and completeness of the miracle – a life utterly broken by loss has been entirely restored by divine intervention. This passage serves as a testament to God's compassionate response to faith and His ability to reverse even the most absolute of human sorrows, such as death, offering a powerful prefiguring of future resurrection.