2 Kings 4:7 kjv
Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
2 Kings 4:7 nkjv
Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest."
2 Kings 4:7 niv
She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."
2 Kings 4:7 esv
She came and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest."
2 Kings 4:7 nlt
When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, "Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over."
2 Kings 4 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 17:15-16 | So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour... the jar of oil did not fail... | Parallel miracle of continuous provision to a widow through a prophet. |
| Ex 16:35 | And the children of Israel ate manna forty years... | God's supernatural provision sustaining His people for extended periods. |
| Deut 28:1-2 | "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God... all these blessings shall come upon you..." | Obedience to God's word leading to blessings and provision. |
| Ps 23:1 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | Assurance of God's provision and absence of lack for His people. |
| Ps 34:10 | The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. | Emphasizes that seeking God leads to abundant provision and lack of want. |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. | New Testament promise of God's comprehensive provision for His people. |
| Matt 6:31-33 | "Therefore do not worry... for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God... and all these things shall be added to you." | Jesus' teaching on not worrying about provision, trusting God's knowledge and faithfulness. |
| John 6:11-13 | And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples... and they gathered up twelve baskets full of fragments... | Example of Jesus' miraculous abundance with leftovers exceeding initial amount. |
| Deut 15:1-2 | "At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. And this is the form of the release: Every creditor... shall release what he has lent to his neighbor..." | Mosaic Law regarding the cancellation of debts, highlighting God's concern for financial relief. |
| Neh 5:7-12 | So I consulted with myself, and then contended with the nobles... saying, "You are exacting usury... Restore now to them their fields... and their houses... Also require no more of them the money..." | Practical example of addressing oppressive debt practices in Israel. |
| Lev 25:35-37 | 'If your brother becomes poor... then you shall help him... You shall not lend him your money for usury...' | Commands against usury and responsibility to aid impoverished countrymen. |
| Ex 21:7 | 'And if a man sells his daughter to be a female servant...' | Legal context demonstrating that children could be sold into servitude due to economic distress. |
| Rom 13:8 | Owe no one anything except to love one another... | New Testament principle advising against accumulating debt. |
| Deut 10:18 | He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. | God's character as a protector and provider for the most vulnerable. |
| Ps 68:5 | A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation. | Poetic affirmation of God's role as a benevolent guardian of the vulnerable. |
| Jas 1:27 | Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble... | New Testament emphasis on practical care for widows and orphans as true religion. |
| 1 Tim 5:3 | Honor widows who are really widows. | Apostolic instruction for the Church to care for widows. |
| Heb 11:6 | But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. | Underlying principle of faith being prerequisite for experiencing God's blessings. |
| Jas 2:20 | But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? | Underscores the need for obedient action in response to faith, as seen in the widow's obedience. |
| Lk 6:38 | "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over..." | Principle of abundant returns for generous and obedient actions. |
| 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 capacity to provide far beyond human expectations. |
| John 2:7-9 | Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." ... When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine... | Example of Jesus transforming and providing beyond basic need, yielding abundance and quality. |
2 Kings 4 verses
2 Kings 4 7 Meaning
2 Kings 4:7 narrates the decisive instructions Elisha gives to the poor widow after the miraculous multiplication of oil. The prophet directs her to sell the abundantly provided oil to clear her debilitating debt, thereby saving her sons from forced servitude. Furthermore, Elisha assures her that the remaining oil will be sufficient to sustain her and her children for the foreseeable future, signifying not just deliverance from a crisis but ongoing divine provision and livelihood.
2 Kings 4 7 Context
2 Kings chapter 4 introduces a series of miracles performed by Elisha, the prophet who inherited Elijah's mantle. This particular narrative (2 Kgs 4:1-7) begins with a desperate widow, the wife of one of the sons of the prophets (likely one of Elisha's disciples), whose deceased husband has left her in severe debt. The creditor threatens to take her two sons as slaves—a legally permissible, yet culturally devastating, consequence of unpayable debt in ancient Israel (see Ex 21:7). In her distress, she appeals to Elisha.
Elisha, recognizing the grave plight, instructs her to borrow as many empty jars as possible from her neighbors and then pour the small amount of oil she possesses (one jar) into them. She and her sons obediently follow these instructions, and the oil miraculously multiplies, filling all the borrowed vessels. Verse 7 serves as the climactic conclusion to this miraculous provision. It is the command that directs her how to utilize the divine provision, demonstrating God's care not just for immediate rescue but also for long-term sustenance and the re-establishment of a stable life. The immediate historical context underscores the fragility of life for the vulnerable and the oppressive nature of debt, contrasting with God's miraculous intervention through His prophet.
2 Kings 4 7 Word analysis
- Then she came: The immediate response of the woman underscores her obedience and faith. The verb "came" (Hebrew: וַתָּבֹ֣א, va-tavo) highlights direct, swift action following the miracle.
- and told: The Hebrew word וַתַּגֵּד֮ (va-tagged) means "and she declared" or "informed." This signifies that she reported back to the "man of God," demonstrating respect for his authority and an understanding that his instructions were divine. This consultation confirms the completion of the previous instruction and seeks the next steps.
- the man of God: Hebrew: אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (ish ha-Elohim). This is a consistent title for Elisha throughout 2 Kings, emphasizing his divinely appointed role and authority. He is God's messenger and instrument, demonstrating God's presence and power among His people, specifically here to address deep-seated social injustices.
- And he said: Hebrew: וַיֹּאמֶר֮ (va-yomer). Signals the authoritative pronouncement of Elisha, delivering God's specific instruction for the wise stewardship of the miracle.
- Go: Hebrew: לְכִ֤י (le-khi), a feminine singular imperative. It’s a direct command for immediate action. The initial miracle of oil multiplication required action (gathering jars, pouring); now, the financial solvency also requires decisive action.
- sell the oil: Hebrew: מִכְרִי֙ אֶת־הַשֶּׁ֔מֶן (mikhri et-ha-shemen).
- sell (mikhri): Another feminine singular imperative. It implies converting the divine blessing into tangible means. Olive oil was a valuable commodity, widely used for food, light, medicine, and trade, making it a suitable asset to be monetized.
- the oil (ha-shemen): Refers to the supernaturally multiplied substance. Its abundance showcases God’s capacity not just to meet need, but to provide in overflowing measure.
- and pay your debt: Hebrew: וְשַׁלְּמִ֖י אֶת־נִשְׁיֵ֑ךְ (ve-shallmi et-nishyec).
- pay (ve-shallmi): Feminine singular imperative, linked to the root shalem, which means "to complete," "restore," or "make whole." It highlights the ethical and legal obligation to honor one's commitments. This shows God's concern for rectifying unjust situations, upholding social order, and bringing financial integrity.
- your debt (nishyec): Refers to the outstanding amount owed to the creditor. The resolution of this debt signifies freedom from economic bondage and the threat of familial separation.
- and you and your sons live on the rest: Hebrew: וְאַ֙תְּ וּבָנַ֞יִךְ תִּחְיִ֖י בַּנּוֹתָֽר׃ (ve'att uvanaikh tikh'yi bannoter).
- you and your sons: Emphasizes the entire household's benefit, demonstrating the holistic nature of God's provision. The rescue of her sons from servitude was the primary concern; this ensures their sustained well-being.
- live (tikh'yi): From the root chayah, "to live," implying continuous life and sustenance, not just mere survival. This indicates God’s ongoing grace, extending beyond the immediate crisis.
- on the rest (bannoter): "From that which remains" or "the surplus." This is crucial. It signifies God's generous abundance. It wasn't just enough to pay the debt; there was a significant remainder. This speaks of provision for long-term livelihood, illustrating that God's blessing is often "running over."
2 Kings 4 7 Bonus section
The story of the widow's oil, culminating in this verse, shows a significant theological truth: God’s supernatural intervention often requires human participation. The widow was active in every step: crying out, gathering jars, pouring the oil, reporting back, selling the oil, and managing the remaining funds. Her continuous faith and obedience were essential for the miracle's complete unfolding. Furthermore, this miracle through Elisha parallels a similar account of provision through Elijah with the widow of Zarephath (1 Kgs 17), highlighting a consistent pattern of God's care for vulnerable widows through His prophets. It implicitly positions Elisha as a true prophet of the Lord, carrying on Elijah's legacy of demonstrating God's life-sustaining power in contrast to the impotence of pagan gods like Baal, who could not even provide rain, let alone oil or freedom from debt. The "rest" in "live on the rest" speaks to a divine economy that transcends mere subsistence; it ensures peace and provision beyond the immediate crisis, providing security and future hope.
2 Kings 4 7 Commentary
2 Kings 4:7 serves as the climactic and redemptive command, following the awe-inspiring miracle of the multiplying oil. Elisha's instructions reveal several profound truths about divine provision and responsibility. First, the command to "sell the oil" indicates that God's miracles are not always about immediate, mystical solutions that bypass human agency; instead, they often empower individuals to act prudently within their social and economic realities. The miracle provided the resource; the widow's obedience in marketing it facilitated the solution.
Secondly, the directive to "pay your debt" underscores the importance of honoring one's obligations. God's provision brings freedom but does not condone shirking responsibility. This command directly addresses the immediate crisis and the very real threat of enslavement, affirming God’s justice and His heart for liberating the oppressed. It shows that God cares about practical, financial burdens and acts to resolve them.
Finally, the instruction for her and her sons to "live on the rest" transforms the widow's status from destitution and fear to stability and future security. The miraculous provision was not merely a band-aid but a foundation for a new beginning. This demonstrates God’s abundant generosity, providing not just what is necessary for immediate survival, but a surplus for sustainable life, offering both financial liberation and ongoing livelihood. This outcome highlights that God’s deliverance is comprehensive, bringing wholeness and demonstrating His steadfast love for the vulnerable. The story is a powerful testimony to obedient faith unlocking divine intervention that goes beyond expectation.