2 Kings 4:16
14 So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?” “Well, she has no son,” Gehazi replied, “and her husband is old.”
15 “Call her,” said Elisha. So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway.
And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.”
17 But the woman did conceive, and at that time the next year she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
18 And the child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the harvesters.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.”
- KJV
- And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.
- WEB
- He said, “At this season next year, you will embrace a son.” She said, “No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your servant.”
- ASV
- And he said, At this season, when the time cometh round, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thy handmaid.
- DARBY
- And he said, At this appointed time, when thy term is come, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, No, my lord, man of God, do not lie to thy handmaid.
- BLB
- And he said, “This time next year of life, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God, do not lie to your maidservant.”
- ÅB
- Da sa han: Til neste år ved denne tid skal du holde en sønn i dine armer. Men hun sa: Nei, min herre, du som er en Guds mann! Lyv ikke for din tjenerinne!
- OTB
- Da sa han, "På denne tiden neste år skal du omfavne en sønn." Men hun sa, "Nei, min herre, du Guds mann, ikke lyv for din tjener."
- B1930
- Da sa han: Til næste år ved denne tid skal du holde en sønn i dine armer. Men hun sa: Nei, min herre, du som er en Guds mann! Lyv ikke for din tjenerinne!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 18:10
Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.
Read in contextLuke 1:13
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
Read in context2 Kings 4:28
Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’”
Read in contextGenesis 18:12–15
So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
Read in contextGenesis 17:21
But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”
Read in contextGenesis 17:16–17
And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”
Read in contextLuke 1:30–31
So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Read in context2 Kings 2:19
Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please note, our lord, that the city’s location is good, as you can see. But the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.”
Read in context