2 Kings 4:44 kjv
So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.
2 Kings 4:44 nkjv
So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.
2 Kings 4:44 niv
Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.
2 Kings 4:44 esv
So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the LORD.
2 Kings 4:44 nlt
And when they gave it to the people, there was plenty for all and some left over, just as the LORD had promised.
2 Kings 4 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 16:15-18 | ...what is this? For they did not know what it was. And Moses said... "Eat what the Lord has provided for you..." Some gathered much... and some little, but no one had too much or too little... | Manna, no lack, God's provision. |
| 1 Kgs 17:15-16 | So she went... And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord... | Elijah's miracle of unending provision. |
| Matt 14:19-21 | Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down... and looking up to heaven... And they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. | Jesus feeding 5000, abundance and surplus. |
| Mark 6:41-44 | And He blessed and broke... So they all ate and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full... about five thousand men. | Jesus feeding 5000, abundance. |
| Luke 9:16-17 | Then He took the five loaves... and looked up to heaven and blessed them... And they ate and were all filled. And twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up. | Jesus feeding 5000, sufficiency and surplus. |
| John 6:11-13 | ...and Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to those who were seated... they gathered up the fragments and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left. | Jesus feeding 5000, not a crumb wasted. |
| Matt 15:36-38 | Then He took the seven loaves... and broke them... So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that remained. | Jesus feeding 4000, great surplus. |
| Mark 8:6-9 | So He commanded the crowd to sit down... they ate and were filled; and they took up seven large baskets... about four thousand. | Jesus feeding 4000, abundance. |
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" | God's word is infallible and sure. |
| Isa 55:11 | "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." | God's word fulfills its purpose. |
| Psa 33:9 | For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. | Creation by God's word. |
| Matt 24:35 | "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." | Permanence of God's word. |
| Rom 4:21 | and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. | God's ability to fulfill promises. |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. | God's comprehensive provision. |
| 2 Cor 9:8 | And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. | God provides abundant grace and sufficiency. |
| John 10:10 | "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." | Jesus offers abundant life. |
| Eph 3:20 | Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. | God's overflowing power and provision. |
| Psa 23:5 | You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. | Abundance beyond need. |
| Gen 22:14 | And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide... | God as ultimate provider (Jehovah-Jireh). |
| Lev 26:5 | Then your threshing shall reach to the time of vintage, and the vintage shall reach to the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. | God promises agricultural abundance. |
| Deut 8:3 | ...that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. | Reliance on God's word for sustenance. |
| Jer 1:12 | Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it." | God oversees the fulfillment of His word. |
2 Kings 4 verses
2 Kings 4 44 Meaning
2 Kings 4:44 records the successful outcome of a miraculous act performed by Elisha, where limited food miraculously provided for one hundred men with a surplus. The verse explicitly states that this occurred "according to the word of the Lord," highlighting God's direct agency and faithfulness in fulfilling His prophetic declaration. It signifies God's boundless provision, ensuring sufficiency and even abundance from scarcity, all in precise accordance with His spoken promise.
2 Kings 4 44 Context
This verse is part of a series of miracles performed by the prophet Elisha, detailing God's continued presence and power through him during a period of spiritual decline in Israel. Specifically, 2 Kings 4 recounts various acts of Elisha, beginning with provision for a poor widow, then raising a Shunammite woman's son, and purifying a poisoned stew. The miracle described in 2 Kings 4:42-44 involves a man from Baal Shalisha bringing Elisha twenty barley loaves and some fresh grain. This was meant for the one hundred "sons of the prophets" (prophetic disciples) residing with Elisha, a community often dependent on alms and direct divine intervention for sustenance. Despite the meager offering, Elisha, compelled by a direct word from the Lord, instructed his servant to distribute the food to everyone. The servant's doubt, expressed in verse 43 ("How can I set this before one hundred men?"), underscores the impossible nature of the task from a human perspective, further highlighting the divine intervention in verse 44. This miracle reaffirms Yahweh's unparalleled ability to provide and sustain, contrasting sharply with the impotence of local pagan deities like Baal, who were worshiped for agricultural prosperity but often proved incapable during famines.
2 Kings 4 44 Word analysis
So he set it before them:
- "he set" (וַיִּתֵּן֙, vayitten): From the Hebrew verb נָתַן (nathan), meaning "to give, put, set, place." This highlights Elisha's direct obedience and action as the human instrument. He is actively distributing the food according to the prophet's command, demonstrating faith in the Lord's word.
and they ate:
- "they ate" (וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ, vayyoḵəlû): From אָכַל (ʼakal), "to eat." This simple phrase confirms the actual consumption of the food, fulfilling the immediate need for sustenance among the 100 men.
and had some left:
- "had some left" (וַיֹּותִ֔רוּ, vayyôtîrū): From יָתַר (yathar), meaning "to remain, be left over, be in abundance, excel." This is the core miraculous element. It's not just that they ate enough, but that there was a surplus. This "leftover" signifies divine generosity, more than sufficiency, often characteristic of God's miraculous provision. It moves beyond bare sustenance to abundance, underscoring God's lavish nature.
according to the word of the Lord:
- "according to the word" (כִּדְבַ֥ר, kidvar): Composed of כְּ־ (kə-) "according to" and דָּבָר (dābār) "word, utterance, command." This phrase unequivocally states the basis of the miracle. The supernatural event did not occur by human ingenuity or Elisha's personal power, but because of God's direct verbal decree (referenced in verse 43: "Thus says the Lord, 'They shall eat and have some left.'"). This affirms God's absolute sovereignty and the infallible power of His spoken word.
- "of the Lord" (יְהוָֽה, YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing that this powerful, faithful act originates directly from the God of Israel, Yahweh, who is the ultimate Provider and Fulfiller of promises.
Words-group Analysis:
- "So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left": This entire clause describes the material manifestation of the miracle. It details the progression from initial provision by the prophet to complete satisfaction and supernatural surplus among the beneficiaries. The simple yet profound outcome demonstrates God's immediate and effective intervention in the natural realm.
- "according to the word of the Lord": This phrase serves as the divine explanation and theological cornerstone of the entire event. It establishes that the miracle was not random, accidental, or merely a sign of Elisha's power, but a direct fulfillment of Yahweh's spoken promise. This connects the visible miracle to an invisible divine command, highlighting the reliability and authority of God's Word over all creation.
2 Kings 4 44 Bonus section
- This miracle of feeding 100 from 20 loaves provides an early prototype for the future miracles of Jesus feeding the five thousand and the four thousand. It demonstrates a consistent pattern of divine provision and multiplication that spans the Old and New Testaments.
- The fact that it occurs within the context of the "sons of the prophets" underscores God's commitment to sustaining those who are dedicated to His service and word, even in times of general spiritual famine or physical want. It validated Elisha's prophetic authority and strengthened the faith of his disciples.
- The small initial amount and the precise count of beneficiaries (100 men) amplify the miraculous nature, as it eliminates any natural explanation for the outcome.
- The 'leftovers' also suggest God's order and purposeful planning. It's not just 'enough', but there's a remainder, a sign of super-abundance or readiness for future needs. This detail echoes the instructions for gathering manna in the wilderness and the twelve baskets of leftovers after Jesus fed the multitude, showcasing divine management of resources.
2 Kings 4 44 Commentary
2 Kings 4:44 stands as a testament to God's precise and abundant provision, orchestrated by His infallible word. In a time of scarcity and need among the sons of the prophets, meager resources—twenty barley loaves and some grain—were multiplied by divine decree to feed one hundred men. The phrase "according to the word of the Lord" is paramount, revealing that the miracle's power stemmed not from Elisha's ability, but from the unyielding faithfulness of God to His promise made through His prophet (verse 43). This act showcases God's character as Jehovah-Jireh, "The Lord Will Provide," supplying not merely enough, but a surplus, emphasizing His overflowing generosity and capability to transcend natural limitations. The "leftovers" highlight God's provision beyond bare necessity, demonstrating His abundant nature and careful economy, ensuring nothing is wasted. This miracle foreshadows greater acts of multiplication by Jesus, serving as a prophetic precursor to the Messiah's ministry of feeding thousands from very little, further underscoring the consistent nature of God's miraculous provision throughout salvation history.