2 Kings 8:4 kjv
And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.
2 Kings 8:4 nkjv
Then the king talked with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, "Tell me, please, all the great things Elisha has done."
2 Kings 8:4 niv
The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, "Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done."
2 Kings 8:4 esv
Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, "Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done."
2 Kings 8:4 nlt
As she came in, the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God. The king had just said, "Tell me some stories about the great things Elisha has done."
2 Kings 8 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 9:6 | "...There is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor..." | King Saul seeks advice from a man of God, indicating respect for divine counsel. |
| 1 Kgs 13:1 | "...Behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel..." | Another instance of "man of God" referring to a prophet, emphasizing divine mission. |
| 1 Kgs 22:7 | "But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of him?"" | Kings often sought prophetic counsel, though not always with pure motives. |
| 2 Kgs 3:11 | "...Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah." | Joram himself previously sought Elisha, showing prior acquaintance with the prophet. |
| 2 Kgs 4:8-37 | Elisha and the Shunammite woman's story, including raising her son. | The "great things" likely include the Shunammite son's resurrection, directly preceding this context. |
| 2 Kgs 5:1-19 | Elisha heals Naaman the leper. | Another example of Elisha's great deeds, showcasing God's healing power. |
| 2 Kgs 6:1-7 | Elisha makes the iron axe head float. | Illustrates God's power over nature through Elisha, a remarkable act. |
| 2 Kgs 6:8-23 | Elisha's servant sees chariots of fire; blinding the Syrian army. | Demonstrates God's protection and supernatural intervention. |
| 2 Kgs 8:1 | "Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life..." | Immediate context: sets the stage for the Shunammite's return and land claim. |
| Ps 9:1 | "I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds." | Praises God by recounting His "wonderful deeds," similar to Gehazi's task. |
| Ps 78:3-4 | "...what we have heard and known...we will not hide from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD..." | Importance of passing down accounts of God's mighty acts. |
| Ps 105:2 | "Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!" | Exhortation to declare God's "wondrous works." |
| Isa 43:18-19 | "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing..." | God's power is continuous and manifests in new ways through His servants. |
| Jer 32:20 | "...who did signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, to this day, and in Israel and among mankind..." | God's historical record of signs and wonders for His people. |
| Zech 4:6 | "...Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." | Elisha's "great things" are attributed to the Spirit's power, not human strength. |
| Acts 2:22 | "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works..." | God attests to His chosen servants (Jesus) through mighty works, echoing Elisha. |
| Acts 4:20 | "for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." | Compulsion to share experiences of God's power and work. |
| Acts 14:3 | "So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders..." | God confirms the word of His messengers with signs and wonders. |
| Heb 2:4 | "while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit..." | God authenticates His message and messengers through miraculous deeds. |
| 1 John 1:3 | "that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us..." | Sharing accounts of God's acts fosters spiritual fellowship and understanding. |
| Deut 6:7 | "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house..." | Imperative to recall and communicate God's works through generations. |
| Matt 10:41 | "The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward..." | Receiving Gehazi (as Elisha's servant) to hear of Elisha's works aligns with this. |
| Num 12:6 | "When there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream." | How God communicates with prophets, lending authority to their works. |
| Jonah 3:10 | "When God saw what they did... God relented..." | Prophets' messages and demonstrations of God's power often led to profound responses. |
2 Kings 8 verses
2 Kings 8 4 Meaning
Second Kings chapter 8 verse 4 presents a pivotal moment where King Joram of Israel, residing in his palace, engages Gehazi, the servant of the prophet Elisha, in a conversation. The king requests that Gehazi recount or elaborate on all the extraordinary acts and miracles that Elisha, the man of God, has performed. This request serves to bring the king into direct connection with the evidence of God's power displayed through His prophet.
2 Kings 8 4 Context
This verse is situated in 2 Kings 8, directly following the account of the Shunammite woman's seven-year exile due to a famine and her subsequent return to Israel (2 Kings 8:1-3). Elisha had previously warned her of the famine, prompting her to leave. Upon her return, she finds her land occupied. This verse sets the stage for how she will recover her property: the king, through Gehazi's testimony, will learn of the "great things" Elisha has done, which includes raising the Shunammite's son from the dead (2 Kings 4:8-37). It is through this testimony that the king will be moved to restore her possessions.
A significant point of context often debated is the presence of Gehazi. In 2 Kings 5, Gehazi was cursed with leprosy due to his greed, a condition that typically rendered one ritually unclean and often excluded from public life. Scholars widely interpret the narrative flow here as non-chronological. It is most probable that this conversation between the king and Gehazi occurred before Gehazi was struck with leprosy in 2 Kings 5, or that the narrative is structured thematically (focusing on Elisha's works and their effects) rather than strictly sequentially. Placing it here dramatically serves the narrative of the Shunammite woman's land restoration. The king's curiosity about Elisha's miracles underscores the powerful reputation the prophet had cultivated through God's works, even among unfaithful monarchs. Joram, the son of the notorious Ahab and Jezebel, was a king of Israel (the Northern Kingdom), often engaged in idolatry, yet seemingly compelled by the tangible power of Yahweh manifested through His prophet.
2 Kings 8 4 Word Analysis
- Now: וְהַמֶּלֶךְ (ve-ha-melekh) - The initial conjunction "and" links this narrative to the preceding one, demonstrating a continuous story, despite potential chronological shifts.
- the king: הַמֶּלֶךְ (ha-melekh) - Refers to Joram (also spelled Jehoram) of Israel (the Northern Kingdom), son of Ahab. His presence and inquiry underscore the divine impact Elisha's ministry had even on an idolatrous monarchy.
- was talking: מְדַבֵּר (m'dabber) - A present participle, indicating an ongoing conversation or a current state of dialogue. It's not a mere utterance but a more sustained act of communication.
- with: אֶל (el) - Preposition indicating direction "to" or interaction "with."
- Gehazi: גֵּחֲזִי (Gehazi) - Elisha's servant. His name's meaning is debated, possibly "valley of vision" or "my valley." His presence here is critically important as a credible, first-hand witness to Elisha's miracles, lending authority to the recounted deeds.
- the servant: נַעַר (na'ar) - Denotes a young man, attendant, or servant. It signifies Gehazi's subordinate but instrumental role under Elisha.
- of the man of God: אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים (ish ha'elohim) - A frequently used title for prophets like Elijah and Elisha, emphasizing their unique status as agents commissioned by God Himself. It conveys divine authority and special relationship, hence validating their miraculous deeds.
- saying: לֵאמֹר (le'mor) - A common Hebrew construct used to introduce direct speech or a command.
- Please tell me: סַפֶּר־נָא (sapper-na') - A direct command (imperative) to "relate" or "recount," coupled with the particle נָא (na'), which functions as a plea or request ("please"). This conveys the king's earnest desire or polite demand to hear these accounts.
- all: כָּל (kol) - Indicates a complete account, not just a select few miracles, suggesting the king's comprehensive interest in Elisha's powerful deeds.
- the great things: הַגְּדֹלוֹת (hagg'dolot) - From גָּדוֹל (gadol), meaning "great" or "magnificent." The plural form emphasizes the multiplicity and awe-inspiring nature of Elisha's miracles, demonstrating the power of Yahweh.
Words-group analysis:
- "the king was talking with Gehazi": This establishes a personal, though official, interaction between the highest authority in the land and the prophet's immediate associate. It sets a formal yet intriguing scene.
- "the servant of the man of God": This phrase immediately defines Gehazi's role and grants him significant standing and credibility as a witness due to his direct proximity and service to the highly respected "man of God," Elisha. His unique position makes him the perfect relater of Elisha's deeds.
- "Please tell me all the great things Elisha has done": This full plea reveals the king's curiosity and a recognition of the extraordinary nature of Elisha's actions. The emphasis on "all" and "great things" shows an understanding that Elisha's works were not ordinary feats but mighty demonstrations of divine power, prompting the king's eager request for a complete narrative.
2 Kings 8 4 Bonus section
- Theophany by proxy: The "great things" Elisha performed were not his own power but manifestations of Yahweh's presence and power working through him. Thus, Gehazi's recounting of Elisha's deeds is essentially an account of Yahweh's actions, serving as a 'theophany by proxy' for the king.
- The King's motives: While the king is intrigued, his motive isn't necessarily piety. His interest might be political (understanding the true power behind the prophet to either appease or manipulate), curious, or perhaps a transient fear of Yahweh. Nevertheless, God uses his curiosity to accomplish His plan for the Shunammite woman.
- Chronological Displacement: The arrangement of events in 2 Kings often prioritizes thematic connection over strict chronology. Placing this scene (which likely predates Gehazi's leprosy) right before the Shunammite woman's land recovery enhances the narrative impact and emphasizes divine providence in her situation.
- Divine Timing: God's providence is subtly displayed. The Shunammite woman returns exactly when Gehazi is speaking to the king about the miracle involving her. This is not mere coincidence but divine arrangement.
2 Kings 8 4 Commentary
2 Kings 8:4 serves as a narrative bridge, linking the prior events of Elisha's ministry, specifically the resurrection of the Shunammite's son (2 Kgs 4), with her immediate need for land restoration in 2 Kings 8. King Joram, an Israelite king entangled in idolatry, exhibits a flicker of curiosity, if not awe, toward Elisha's demonstrable power. His specific request for "all the great things Elisha has done" highlights that Elisha's miracles were widely known and considered truly remarkable, attesting to God's presence and activity even in a backslidden nation.
The choice of Gehazi as the narrator is highly significant. Despite his personal failing and subsequent leprosy recorded later (2 Kgs 5), at the time of this conversation (narratively placed here for a thematic purpose, likely preceding his leprosy chronologically), he was still recognized as the trusted attendant of the "man of God." This credibility is crucial, as the king needs an authoritative eyewitness account. God often works through various vessels, and even through imperfect ones, to accomplish His purposes. Gehazi's testimony is directly responsible for the Shunammite woman receiving back her land and property, showcasing God's continued faithfulness and justice, indirectly through His prophet's servant and even an unfaithful king's attention. This moment underscores the profound impact that visible divine power had on an ancient world, where miraculous acts often spurred political decisions and affirmed prophetic authority.