King James Version

What Does 2 Kings 4:4 Mean?

2 Kings 4:4 in the King James Version says “And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vesse...” — study this verse from 2 Kings chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.”

2 Kings 4:4 · KJV

Context

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. borrow not: or, scant not

4

And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

5

So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

6

And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

Read 2 Kings 4 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 4: God's compassionate power through His prophet. The prophetic ministry served as God's primary means of covenant enforcement, calling both kings and people to faithfulness. During this period, Israel and Judah struggled with persistent idolatry, particularly Baal worship introduced under Ahab and Jezebel.

The narrative demonstrates God's justice in judging covenant unfaithfulness while maintaining His ultimate purposes for redemption.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Historical Setting: 2 Kings 4 takes place during the Elisha prophetic ministry, approximately 850-800 BCE. The chapter's theme (Elisha's Miracles of Provision and Life) reflects the historical reality of God's compassionate provision through prophetic miracles while both kingdoms struggled with persistent idolatry. Archaeological evidence from this period includes royal inscriptions, administrative documents, and material culture that corroborate the biblical account while providing additional context for understanding the political and social dynamics at work.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse contribute to understanding the theological message of 2 Kings 4 regarding god's compassionate power through his prophet?
  2. What does this passage reveal about God's character, particularly His justice, mercy, and faithfulness to covenant promises?
  3. In what practical ways should this text shape contemporary Christian thinking about faithfulness, worship, and obedience to God?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וּבָ֗את1 of 13

“And when thou art come in”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

וְסָגַ֤רְתְּ2 of 13

“thou shalt shut”

H5462

to shut up; figuratively, to surrender

הַדֶּ֙לֶת֙3 of 13

“the door”

H1817

something swinging, i.e., the valve of a door

בַּֽעֲדֵ֣ךְ4 of 13
H1157

in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc

וּבְעַד5 of 13
H1157

in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc

בָּנַ֔יִךְ6 of 13

“upon thee and upon thy sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

וְיָצַ֕קְתְּ7 of 13

“and shalt pour out”

H3332

properly, to pour out (transitive or intransitive); by implication, to melt or cast as metal; by extension, to place firmly, to stiffen or grow hard

עַ֥ל8 of 13
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

כָּל9 of 13
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַכֵּלִ֖ים10 of 13

“into all those vessels”

H3627

something prepared, i.e., any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)

הָאֵ֑לֶּה11 of 13
H428

these or those

וְהַמָּלֵ֖א12 of 13

“that which is full”

H4392

full (literally or figuratively) or filling (literally); also (concretely) fulness; adverbially, fully

תַּסִּֽיעִי׃13 of 13

“and thou shalt set aside”

H5265

properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e., start on a journey

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Kings. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Kings 4:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Kings 4:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 6:6Mark 8:5-9Ephesians 3:20Mark 6:37-44John 6:11Mark 5:40

Test Your Knowledge

2 Kings 4 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter2 Kings Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read 2 Kings 4 with CommentaryAll 2 Kings ChaptersComplete 2 Kings QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes