2 Kings 8:6 kjv
And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.
2 Kings 8:6 nkjv
And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed a certain officer for her, saying, "Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now."
2 Kings 8:6 niv
The king asked the woman about it, and she told him. Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, "Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now."
2 Kings 8:6 esv
And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, "Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now."
2 Kings 8:6 nlt
"Is this true?" the king asked her. And she told him the story. So he directed one of his officials to see that everything she had lost was restored to her, including the value of any crops that had been harvested during her absence.
2 Kings 8 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Joel 2:25 | "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten..." | God promises full restoration. |
| Isa 61:7 | "Instead of your shame, you will have a double portion..." | Divine reversal and abundance. |
| Prov 21:1 | "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD..." | God's sovereignty over rulers. |
| Dan 2:21 | "...He removes kings and sets up kings..." | God controls human authorities. |
| Ezra 6:8 | "...full expenses be paid to these men..." | Example of king issuing restoration decree. |
| Ezra 7:27 | "...who has put such a thing as this into the king's heart..." | God prompts kings' actions for His people. |
| Ps 23:1-2 | "The LORD is my shepherd... He makes me lie down in green pastures." | God's provision and care for His people. |
| Ps 37:25 | "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken..." | God's faithfulness to the righteous. |
| Ps 72:4 | "May he defend the cause of the poor of the people..." | Righteous king's role in dispensing justice. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases... great is Your faithfulness." | God's unending faithfulness and mercy. |
| Phil 4:19 | "My God will supply all your needs..." | God's abundant provision. |
| Matt 6:33 | "Seek first the kingdom of God... all these things will be added to you." | Prioritizing God leads to His provision. |
| Lk 18:7-8 | "And will not God give justice to His elect..." | God responds to persistent appeals. |
| Gen 45:11 | "And there I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine..." | Divine provision during famine. |
| Ruth 4:6 | "...restore the inheritance to the woman..." | Restitution of family inheritance. |
| Lev 25:23 | "The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine..." | Principle of land belonging to God, to be returned. |
| Neh 5:11 | "Restore to them this very day their fields..." | Example of commanded restoration. |
| 1 Sam 7:14 | "...and the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel..." | Restoration of territory. |
| Prov 16:12 | "It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness." | Kings should uphold justice. |
| Ex 22:1 | "...he shall restore five oxen for an ox..." | Principle of restitution in law. |
| Ex 22:5-6 | "...he shall make restitution..." | Laws regarding agricultural restitution. |
| Lk 6:38 | "...pressed down, shaken together, running over..." | Principle of abundant return/giving. |
| Jn 10:10 | "...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." | Spiritual restoration and abundance in Christ. |
2 Kings 8 verses
2 Kings 8 6 Meaning
This verse details the direct intervention of King Jehoram of Israel, who, prompted by the Shunammite woman's story and prior context, commands the full restoration of her land and all its produce. It illustrates God's faithfulness in orchestrating events to provide for and vindicate His servant, ensuring not only her rightful ownership is re-established but also complete compensation for her time away during the famine. It highlights divine providence working through human authorities to restore what was lost due to unforeseen circumstances.
2 Kings 8 6 Context
This verse occurs immediately after Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, is narrating Elisha’s great miracles to King Jehoram, including the miraculous raising of the Shunammite woman’s son from the dead (2 Kgs 8:1-5). Elisha had previously warned the Shunammite woman about an impending seven-year famine, prompting her and her household to move to Philistia. Upon her return to Israel after the famine, she found her land seized and came to the king to appeal for its restitution. Her opportune arrival precisely when Gehazi was recounting her personal history with Elisha created a compelling, divinely orchestrated moment that swayed the king. This narrative highlights God's providence and care for His faithful servants, ensuring their welfare even through the actions of a king who largely "did evil in the sight of the LORD" (2 Kgs 3:2). Historically, kings in the ancient Near East served as the supreme arbiters of justice, making the king's decree in this context a significant legal and practical intervention.
2 Kings 8 6 Word analysis
- And when the king asked the woman: This signifies a direct engagement by King Jehoram. The word "king" (מֶלֶךְ, melech) here refers to Jehoram, son of Ahab. Although largely unrighteous, his heart was swayed by divine orchestration, particularly through Gehazi's compelling narrative. The act of the king asking the woman implies genuine interest and willingness to hear her plea, amplified by the incredible events just recounted.
- she told him: This concise phrase indicates the woman’s swift and probably heartfelt account of her situation and Elisha’s involvement. Her testimony was powerful due to the miraculous events connected to her.
- So the king appointed unto her a certain officer: The term "officer" (שָׂרִיס, saris), commonly rendered "eunuch" or "court official," denotes a trusted royal servant responsible for administrative duties. This highlights that the king's decision was not a mere promise but a formal decree, immediately actioned by delegating authority for its execution. This demonstrates a decisive and practical response to her appeal.
- saying, Restore: The Hebrew word for "restore" is שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn back, return, give back, restitute." This is a crucial command, indicating the re-establishment of a rightful state of affairs. It carries the weight of a royal decree that overrides any present claims to the property.
- all that was hers: This refers to the full extent of her personal property and house. This comprehensive term emphasizes that her original rights to ownership were entirely acknowledged and reinstated, underscoring the completeness of the restoration.
- and all the fruits of the field: This goes beyond mere property restoration to include the accrued economic value. "Fruits of the field" encompasses the harvest and produce from her land during her seven-year absence. This signifies a profound level of justice, providing full compensation for lost income and sustained livelihood, not just the capital asset.
- since the day that she left the land, even until now: This precise timeframe indicates the full period of her loss, a period spanning approximately seven years of famine-induced displacement. This specifies the extent of the financial restitution, ensuring all the missed produce is accounted for and returned, highlighting a meticulous and thorough decree of restoration.
2 Kings 8 6 Bonus section
- The incident highlights the extensive influence of Elisha's miracles and the reputation of God’s power, impacting even the heart of an ungodly king. It is a subtle polemic against the false gods of Israel, demonstrating the practical power of the LORD over state affairs.
- The concept of full "restoration" (שׁוּב, shuv) prefigures deeper biblical themes of redemption, where God restores not just physical possessions but also broken relationships, health, and spiritual life (e.g., in Christ).
- The woman’s bold appeal to the king despite her vulnerability illustrates courageous faith. Her act of appearing before the king underscores the value she placed on her family's inheritance and the tenacity of her faith in appealing to the highest earthly authority, trusting in divine assistance.
- The detail of restoring "all the fruits of the field" indicates God's comprehensive care; it's not just about her receiving the land back, but also compensation for all potential livelihood she lost during her absence, ensuring her well-being. This reflects the generous and abundant nature of God's provision.
2 Kings 8 6 Commentary
This verse stands as a powerful testament to God’s meticulous providence and unwavering faithfulness to His servants. Despite King Jehoram's generally unrighteous character, God sovereignly moves him to enact full justice for the Shunammite woman. The divine timing, with Gehazi relating the woman’s extraordinary history with Elisha just as she appears before the king, underscores God’s orchestration of events. This act of "restoration" is not merely about returning property; it signifies God’s complete reversal of misfortune and provision, even compensating for years of lost income due to unforeseen hardship. It exemplifies that God works through both direct miracles and human authorities, often turning seemingly ordinary circumstances into avenues of extraordinary blessing and vindication for those who trust in Him. This story reinforces the truth that no matter what life takes from us, God has the power and the will to restore it, sometimes with compounding blessings.