2 Kings 4:1

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”
KJV
Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
WEB
Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead. You know that your servant feared the LORD. Now the creditor has come to take for himself my two children to be slaves.”
ASV
Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear Jehovah: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two children to be bondmen.
DARBY
And a woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha saying, Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant feared Jehovah; and the creditor is come to take my two children to be bondmen.
BLB
And a woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant was fearing YHWH, and the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”
ÅB
En kvinne som var hustru til en av profetenes disipler, ropte til Elisa og sa: Din tjener, min mann, er død, og du vet at din tjener fryktet Herren; og nå kommer en som han sto i gjeld til, og vil ta begge mine sønner til slaver.
OTB
Nå var det en kvinne blant profetenes disipler som ropte til Elisja og sa: "Din tjener, min mann, er død, og du vet at din tjener fryktet Herren. Nå har kreditoren kommet for å ta mine to barn til sine slaver."
B1930
En kvinne som var hustru til en av profetenes disipler, ropte til Elisa og sa: Din tjener, min mann, er død, og du vet at din tjener fryktet Herren; og nu kommer en som han stod i gjeld til, og vil ta begge mine sønner til træler.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Matthew 18:25

    But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 2:3

    And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 5:2–5

    For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 147:11

    The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 25:39–41

    And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:

    Read in context
  • Matthew 18:35

    So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 112:1–2

    Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

    Read in context
  • Ecclesiastes 8:12

    Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

    Read in context