2 Kings 4:31

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Geichazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the child's face, but there was no sound or sign of life. So he went back to Elisha and told him, "The child didn't wake up."

Berean Standard Bible:

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.”

American Standard Version:

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 returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Gehazi^{H1522} passed on^{H5674} before^{H6440} them, and laid^{H7760} the staff^{H4938} upon the face^{H6440} of the child^{H5288}; but there was neither voice^{H6963}, nor hearing^{H7182}. Wherefore he went again^{H7725} to meet^{H7125} him, and told^{H5046} him, saying^{H559}, The child^{H5288} is not awaked^{H6974}.

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Commentary for 2 Kings 4:31

2 Kings 4:31 is a part of a larger narrative concerning the prophet Elisha and his servant Gehazi. The verse is set within the historical context of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, during the ninth century BCE. This period was marked by political instability and the people's frequent lapses into idolatry, despite the prophets' warnings.

In this particular story, a prominent woman from Shunem, known for her hospitality to Elisha, is distraught over the sudden death of her son. She seeks Elisha's help, believing in his prophetic power to bring about a miracle. Elisha sends his servant Gehazi ahead with his staff, a symbol of the prophet's authority and a conduit for God's power, to lay it on the child's face in an attempt to revive him.

The verse captures a moment of desperation and anticipation, as Gehazi carries out Elisha's instructions. However, the attempt fails; there is no response from the child—"neither voice, nor hearing." The staff, which should have been a channel for divine intervention, does not effect a miracle on its own. This underscores the theme that the power to perform miracles comes from God alone, and not from the objects or individuals themselves.

Gehazi's return to Elisha to report the lack of success sets the stage for Elisha's direct involvement. The prophet then goes to the child, prays to God, and through a series of actions, the child is brought back to life. This event reinforces Elisha's role as a true prophet of God, demonstrating God's power over life and death and emphasizing themes of faith, divine intervention, and the importance of prophetic authority in the Israelite community. The narrative serves to strengthen the faith of the Israelites in the God of Elisha, who is shown to be sovereign over all aspects of life.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1522
   There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גֵּיחֲזִי
   Transliteration: Gêychăzîy
   Pronunciation: gay-khah-zee'
   Description: or גֵּחֲזִי; apparently from גַּיְא and חָזָה; valley of a visionary; Gechazi, the servant of Elisha; Gehazi.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5674
   There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָבַר
   Transliteration: ʻâbar
   Pronunciation: aw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7760
   There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׂוּם
   Transliteration: sûwm
   Pronunciation: soom
   Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4938
   There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִשְׁעֵנָה
   Transliteration: mishʻênâh
   Pronunciation: mish-ay-naw'
   Description: or מִשְׁעֶנֶת; feminine of מִשְׁעֵן; support (abstractly), i.e. (figuratively) sustenance or (concretely) a walking-stick; staff.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5288
   There are 221 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נַעַר
   Transliteration: naʻar
   Pronunciation: nah'-ar
   Description: from נָעַר; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age); babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man).
   
7. Strong's Number: H6963
   There are 436 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קוֹל
   Transliteration: qôwl
   Pronunciation: kole
   Description: or קֹל; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound; [phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, [phrase] hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, [phrase] sing, sound, [phrase] spark, thunder(-ing), voice, [phrase] yell.
   
8. Strong's Number: H7182
   There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קֶשֶׁב
   Transliteration: qesheb
   Pronunciation: keh'-sheb
   Description: from קָשַׁב; a hearkening; [idiom] diligently, hearing, much heed, that regarded.
   
9. Strong's Number: H7725
   There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוּב
   Transliteration: shûwb
   Pronunciation: shoob
   Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7125
    There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קִרְאָה
    Transliteration: qirʼâh
    Pronunciation: keer-aw'
    Description: from קָרָא; an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite); [idiom] against (he come), help, meet, seek, [idiom] to, [idiom] in the way.
    
11. Strong's Number: H5046
    There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָגַד
    Transliteration: nâgad
    Pronunciation: naw-gad'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise; bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter.
    
12. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
    
13. Strong's Number: H6974
    There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קוּץ
    Transliteration: qûwts
    Pronunciation: koots
    Description: a primitive root (identical with through the idea of abruptness in starting up from sleep (compare יָקַץ)); to awake (literally or figuratively); arise, (be) (a-) wake, watch.