2 Kings 4:31

Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son · 2 Kings 4:18–37
Read 2 Kings 4

Translations

Modern
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.”
Traditional
And 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.
Literal
And Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the face of the boy. And there was no voice and no hearing. And he turned back to meet him and declared to him, saying, “The child has not awakened.”
Latin
Giezi autem præcesserat ante eos, et posuerat baculum super faciem pueri, et non erat vox, neque sensus: reversusque est in occursum ejus, et nuntiavit ei, dicens: Non surrexit puer.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.”

Notes

but there was no sound or response: Elisha's staff had no magical power; only God creates life (Acts 17:25–28).

Elisha's interactions with the woman from Shunem are shown in two similar parts (2 Kings 4:8–20, 21–37). Shunem was a border town in the land given to the tribe of Issachar (Joshua 19:18).

Theme notes and profiles

Elijah Elisha The Promise of New Life

Events

Parallels

Acts 20:7–12

People

Gehazi: Elisha's servant; punished with leprosy for greed and deceit

Glossary

Elisha Gehazi Habakkuk (Person) Kings, Books of First and Second Resurrection Sons of the Prophets

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Resignation in The Shunammite Woman Children: Death of, As a Judgment Upon Parents by Elisha Elisha: Miracles of Raises the Son of the Shunammite Woman from the Dead Gehazi: Servant of Elisha Miracles: Catalogue of Raises the Shunammite Woman's Child Shunammite: A Woman Who Gave Hospitality to Elisha, and Whose Son he Raised to Life Women: The Shunammite Woman, Who Gave Hospitality to Elisha