2 Kings 4:43

Feeding a Hundred Men · 2 Kings 4:42–44
Read 2 Kings 4

Translations

Modern
But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’”
Traditional
And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.
Literal
And his servant said, “How shall I set this before the face of a hundred men?” And He said again, “Give it to the people, that they may eat. For thus says YHWH, ‘They shall eat and have left over.’”
Latin
Responditque ei minister ejus: Quantum est hoc, ut apponam centum viris? Rursum ille ait: Da populo, ut comedat: hæc enim dicit Dominus: Comedent, et supererit.

Original

Hebrew
English
But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’”

Notes

  • barley bread from the first ripe grain: This offering was like the first crops usually given to God (Leviticus 23:20) and to the priests (Deuteronomy 18:4–5) as their share. During the famine, Elisha shared the offering with everyone.

  • Elisha fed a hundred people with a sack of fresh grain and twenty loaves of barley bread, which foreshadowed the miraculous acts Jesus did (Matthew 14:15–21; 15:32–38). Nothing is impossible for God (Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37; 18:27).

Theme notes and profiles

Elijah Elisha

Events

Parallels

Matthew 15:29–39 Mark 8:1–10

Glossary

Elisha Kings, Books of First and Second Servitor Sons of the Prophets

Topics

Elisha: Miracles of Increases the Bread to Feed One-Hundred Men Miracles: Catalogue of Feeds One-Hundred Men