2 Kings 8:1

Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed a seven-year famine, and it has already come to the land.”

2 So the woman had proceeded to do as the man of God had instructed. And she and her household lived as foreigners for seven years in the land of the Philistines.

3 At the end of seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to the king to appeal for her house and her land.

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
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed a seven-year famine, and it has already come to the land.”
KJV
Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.
WEB
Now Elisha had spoken to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise, and go, you and your household, and stay for a while wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine. It will also come on the land for seven years.”
ASV
Now Elisha had spoken unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thy household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for Jehovah hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.
DARBY
And Elisha had spoken to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, Rise up and go, thou and thy household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn; for Jehovah has called for a famine, and it shall also come upon the land for seven years.
BLB
And Elisha spoke to the woman, whom he had revived her son, saying, “Arise and go, you and your house, and sojourn to where you will sojourn. For YHWH has called for a famine, and also it will come upon the land seven years.”
ÅB
Elisa sa til den kvinne hvis sønn han hadde gjort levende: Gjør deg rede og dra bort med hele ditt hus og opphold deg på et eller annet fremmed sted! For Herren har kalt på hungersnøden, og den kommer også over landet og skal vare i syv år.
OTB
Nå talte Elisa til kvinnen hvis sønn han hadde gjenopplivet, og sa, "Stå opp og dra, med ditt husfolk, og bli hvor du kan; for Herren har kalt på en hungersnød, og den vil også komme over landet i syv år."
B1930
Elisa sa til den kvinne hvis sønn han hadde gjort levende: Gjør dig rede og dra bort med hele ditt hus og ophold dig på et eller annet fremmed sted! For Herren har kalt på hungersnøden, og den kommer også over landet og skal vare i syv år.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Haggai 1:11

    I have summoned a drought on the fields and on the mountains, on the grain, new wine, and oil, and on whatever the ground yields, on man and beast, and on all the labor of your hands.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 4:31–35

    Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”

    Read in context
  • Ruth 1:1

    In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 105:16

    He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies of food.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 4:18

    And the child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the harvesters.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 12:10

    Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

    Read in context
  • Luke 4:25

    But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 26:26

    When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in a single oven and dole out your bread by weight, so that you will eat but not be satisfied.

    Read in context