Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son
After Elisha prophesies that a kind, childless woman will have a son, the boy dies years later. Elisha prays and God miraculously restores the child to life.
2 Kings 4:8-37
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The Story
As Elisha passed through Shunem, a prominent woman constrained him to eat bread. Thereafter, whenever he passed by, he turned in for a meal. This woman recognized Elisha as a holy man of God and said to her husband, 'Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick.' Her hospitality was generous and thoughtful, requiring nothing in return. One day, Elisha asked his servant Gehazi what might be done for her. She needed nothing—she dwelt among her own people, content. But Gehazi observed, 'Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.' Elisha called her and stood in the doorway, prophesying, 'About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son.' She could hardly believe it: 'Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.' Yet the word proved true—she conceived and bore a son. Years passed. The child grew, going out to his father among the reapers one day. Suddenly, he cried, 'My head, my head!' A servant carried him to his mother, where he sat on her knees until noon, then died. The Shunammite woman demonstrated remarkable faith. She laid the child on Elisha's bed, shut the door, and immediately journeyed to Mount Carmel to find the prophet. When Elisha saw her coming, he sent Gehazi, but she would not leave without Elisha himself: 'As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.' Arriving at the house, Elisha found the child dead upon his bed. He shut the door, prayed unto the LORD, then lay upon the child—mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. The child's flesh grew warm. After pacing the room, Elisha stretched himself upon the boy again. The child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. 'Take up thy son,' Elisha told the mother. She fell at his feet in overwhelming gratitude, then took up her son. The God of Elijah and Elisha was the God of resurrection life.
A Little Boy Comes Back to Life
Kids Version
There was a kind woman who lived in a town called Shunem. Whenever God's prophet Elisha traveled through her town, she would invite him to her house for dinner. She told her husband, 'Elisha is a man of God. Let's make a special little room for him with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he can stay with us whenever he comes through town!' Elisha was so grateful for her kindness. He asked his helper Gehazi, 'What can we do for this woman to thank her?' Gehazi said, 'Well, she doesn't have any children, and her husband is old.' Elisha called the woman and told her, 'Next year at this time, you're going to have a baby son!' The woman could hardly believe it—she had wanted a child for so long! But it was true! She had a baby boy, just like Elisha said. The boy grew up healthy and happy. One day, when he was older, he went out to the field where his father was working. Suddenly, the boy cried out, 'My head! My head hurts!' A servant carried him home to his mother, but the boy got sicker and sicker. At noon, he died in his mother's arms. The woman didn't panic. She gently laid her son on the bed in Elisha's room and closed the door. Then she quickly traveled to find Elisha. When Elisha saw her coming, he knew something was terribly wrong. The woman said, 'I need you to come with me right now!' Elisha hurried to her house. He went into the room, closed the door, and prayed to God. Then he lay down on top of the little boy—face to face, hands to hands. The boy's body started getting warm! Elisha walked around the room, then lay on the boy again. Suddenly, the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes! He was alive! The mother was so happy she could hardly stand. She bowed down to thank Elisha, then scooped up her son and hugged him tight. God had brought her boy back to life!
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Scripture — 2 Kings 4:8-37 (KJV)
8And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. it fell on a day: Heb. there was a day constrained him: Heb. laid hold on him
9And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.
10Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
11And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.
12And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.
13And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.
14And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.
15And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.
16And 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. season: Heb. set time
17And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
18And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.
19And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.
20And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.
21And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.
22And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.
23And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. well: Heb. peace
24Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. slack: Heb. restrain not for me to ride
25So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:
26Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.
27And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. him: Heb. by his feet vexed: Heb. bitter
28Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?
29Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
30And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.
31And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. hearing: Heb. attention
32And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.
33He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.
34And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.
35Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro ; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. to and fro: Heb. once hither and once thither
36And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.
37Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.
Memory Verse
“And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. it fell on a day: Heb. there was a day constrained him: Heb. laid hold on him”
— 2 Kings 4:8 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son” in the Bible?
After Elisha prophesies that a kind, childless woman will have a son, the boy dies years later. Elisha prays and God miraculously restores the child to life. This story is found in 2 Kings 4:8-37.
Where is “Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son” found in the Bible?
“Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son” is found in 2 Kings 4:8-37, in the book of 2 Kings.
What can children learn from “Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son”?
This story teaches children about Hospitality rewarded, God's power over death, Persistence in faith, Prophetic ministry. When a kind woman's son dies, the prophet Elisha prays, and God does an amazing miracle—He brings the boy back to life!