2 Kings 4:42

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

Complete Jewish Bible:

A man came from Ba'al-Shalishah bringing the man of God twenty loaves of bread made from the barley firstfruits and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, "Give this to the people to eat."

Berean Standard Bible:

Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha.

American Standard Version:

And there came a man from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And there came^{H935} a man^{H376} from Baalshalisha^{H1190}, and brought^{H935} the man^{H376} of God^{H430} bread^{H3899} of the firstfruits^{H1061}, twenty^{H6242} loaves^{H3899} of barley^{H8184}, and full ears of corn^{H3759} in the husk^{H6861} thereof. And he said^{H559}, Give^{H5414} unto the people^{H5971}, that they may eat^{H398}.

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Commentary for 2 Kings 4:42

2 Kings 4:42 is a verse set within the historical context of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, during the time of the prophet Elisha. This period was marked by spiritual decline, idolatry, and political instability, yet amidst this, God was working through His prophets to demonstrate His power and care for His people.

The verse itself captures a moment of divine provision. A man from Baalshalisha, a town in Israel, brings an offering to Elisha, the "man of God," consisting of the firstfruits of his harvest: twenty loaves of barley bread and some fresh ears of corn. The concept of firstfruits is significant in the Old Testament, representing the best and first part of the harvest, which was to be dedicated to the Lord as an act of worship and thanksgiving (Exodus 23:16, Leviticus 23:10).

Elisha's response to this gift is telling. He instructs the man to distribute the food among the people so they may eat. This command echoes the miraculous feeding of a multitude by Elisha's mentor, Elijah, in 1 Kings 17:16, and prefigures Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 in the New Testament (Matthew 14:13-21). The theme here is one of God's abundant provision; even a seemingly small offering, when dedicated to God, can be multiplied to meet the needs of many, thus demonstrating God's power to provide and His concern for the community's welfare.

This act of sharing the firstfruits also highlights the themes of generosity and trust in the Lord's sustenance, as well as the importance of the community of faith supporting one another in times of need. The miracle that follows in the subsequent verses, where the food is miraculously multiplied to feed over a hundred men, reinforces the idea that God can work beyond human expectations to care for His people. This event would have served as a powerful sign to the Israelites of God's faithfulness and the prophet's authority, which was especially poignant during a time when true faith was waning.

*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: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
2. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1190
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּעַל שָׁלִשָׁה
   Transliteration: Baʻal Shâlishâh
   Pronunciation: bah'-al shaw-lee-shaw'
   Description: from בַּעַל and שָׁלִשָׁה; Baal of Shalishah, Baal-Shalishah, a place in Palestine; Baal-shalisha.
   
4. Strong's Number: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3899
   There are 277 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֶחֶם
   Transliteration: lechem
   Pronunciation: lekh'-em
   Description: from לָחַם; See also בֵּית לְעַפְרָה; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it); (shew-) bread, [idiom] eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1061
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בִּכּוּר
   Transliteration: bikkûwr
   Pronunciation: bik-koor'
   Description: from בָּכַר; the first-fruits of the crop; first fruit (-ripe (figuratively)), hasty fruit.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6242
   There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֶשְׂרִים
   Transliteration: ʻesrîym
   Pronunciation: es-reem'
   Description: from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth).
   
8. Strong's Number: H8184
   There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׂעֹרָה
   Transliteration: sᵉʻôrâh
   Pronunciation: seh-o-raw'
   Description: or שְׂעוֹרָה (feminine meaning the plant); and (masculine meaning the grain); also שְׂעֹר; or שְׂעוֹר; from שָׂעַר in the sense of roughness; barley (as villose); barley.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3759
   There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כַּרְמֶל
   Transliteration: karmel
   Pronunciation: kar-mel'
   Description: from כֶּרֶם; a planted field (garden, orchard, vineyard or park); by implication, garden produce; full (green) ears (of corn), fruitful field (place), plentiful (field).
   
10. Strong's Number: H6861
    There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צִקְלֹן
    Transliteration: tsiqlôn
    Pronunciation: tsik-lone'
    Description: from an unused root meaning to wind; a sack (as tied at the mouth); husk.
    
11. 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.
    
12. Strong's Number: H5414
    There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָתַן
    Transliteration: nâthan
    Pronunciation: naw-than'
    Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
    
13. Strong's Number: H5971
    There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עַם
    Transliteration: ʻam
    Pronunciation: am
    Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
    
14. Strong's Number: H398
    There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָכַל
    Transliteration: ʼâkal
    Pronunciation: aw-kal'
    Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.