The Shunammite Woman’s Son

11 One day he came there and stopped at the upstairs room to lie down. 12 He ordered his attendant Gehazi,(A) “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her and she stood before him.

13 Then he said to Gehazi, “Say to her, ‘Look, you’ve gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you?(B) Can we speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’”

She answered, “I am living among my own people.”

14 So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?”

Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.”

15 “Call her,” Elisha said. So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 Elisha said, “At this time next year you will have a son in your arms.”(C)

Then she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your servant.”(D)

17 The woman conceived and gave birth to a son at the same time the following year, as Elisha had promised her.

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11 One day, Elisha[a] came by to visit and stopped in to rest in the upper chamber. 12 He told his attendant[b] Gehazi, “Call this Shunammite.” So when he had summoned her, she stood in front of him.

13 Elisha[c] told him, “Ask her, ‘Look how you’ve gone to all this trouble to care for us! What can I do for you? Do you wish to be mentioned to the king or to the head of the army?’”

She replied, “I’m at home[d] living among my own people.”

14 He responded, “What, then, is to be done on her behalf?”

Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son and her husband is growing old.”

15 “Call her,” Elisha[e] ordered. After he called her, she came and stood in the doorway, 16 and he told her, “About this time next year you will be embracing a son.”

“No, sir! Please, as a godly man,[f] don’t mislead your servant!” 17 But the woman did conceive and did bear a son at that very same time the next year, just as Elisha had told her.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 4:11 Lit. he
  2. 2 Kings 4:12 Lit. his young man; and so throughout the chapter
  3. 2 Kings 4:13 Lit. He
  4. 2 Kings 4:13 So LXX; the Heb. lacks at home
  5. 2 Kings 4:15 Lit. he
  6. 2 Kings 4:16 Or a man of God