Keraia
2 Kings 4

2 Kings 4:39

Elisha Purifies the Poisonous Stew · 2 Kings 4:38–41
Read 2 Kings 4

Translations

Modern
One of them went out to the field to gather herbs, and he found a wild vine from which he gathered as many wild gourds as his garment could hold. Then he came back and cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were.
Traditional
And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.
Literal
And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and he found a vine of the field, and he gathered from it gourds of the field—the fullness of his garment—and he came and sliced them into the pot of stew, though they knew not.
Latin
Et egressus est unus in agrum ut colligeret herbas agrestes: invenitque quasi vitem silvestrem, et collegit ex ea colocynthidas agri, et implevit pallium suum, et reversus concidit in ollam pulmenti: nesciebat enim quid esset.

Original

Hebrew
English
One of them went out to the field to gather herbs, and he found a wild vine from which he gathered as many wild gourds as his garment could hold. Then he came back and cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were.

Notes

2 Kings 4:39–41

The men quickly realized the young man's wild gourds were poisonous. They didn't want to be poisoned or waste the stew during a famine, so they asked Elisha for help. The flour symbolized God's miraculous provision of food.

Theme notes and profiles

Elijah Elisha

Events

Glossary

Elisha Food and Food Preparation Gourd Kings, Books of First and Second Pottage Sons of the Prophets Wild Gourd

Topics

Elisha: Miracles of Neutralizes the Poison of the Stew Famine: Things Eaten During: Wild Herbs Gilgal: Place of the First Encampment of the Israelites West of the Jordan River: A School of the Prophets At Gourd: The Wild Gourd in This Case is Supposed to be a Plant Like the Cucumber (In Appearance) Herbs: Gourds Herbs: Poisonous, not Fit for Man's Use Hyke or Upper Garment: The Skirts of, Used to Hold Things In Judgments: Preservation During - Exemplified: Elisha Miracles: Catalogue of Renders the Poisoned Stew Harmless The Vine: Often Found Wild