2 Kings 4:2

KJV

And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Elisha {H477} said {H559} unto her, What shall I do {H6213} for thee? tell {H5046} me, what hast {H3426} thou in the house {H1004}? And she said {H559}, Thine handmaid {H8198} hath not any thing in the house {H1004}, save a pot {H610} of oil {H8081}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Elisha asked her, "What should I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" She answered, "Your servant has nothing in the house but a flask of oil."

Berean Standard Bible

“How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”

American Standard Version

And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me; what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thy handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 2 Kings 4:2, the prophet Elisha initiates a pivotal dialogue with a desperate widow, setting the stage for a profound demonstration of divine provision. Faced with the imminent threat of her sons being taken into debt slavery, the woman appeals to Elisha for help. His insightful inquiry, "What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house?", prompts her stark and honest confession that her only possession of value is "a pot of oil." This humble beginning underscores a foundational principle of God's work: His ability to take the seemingly insignificant and multiply it for miraculous purposes, revealing His compassionate concern for the vulnerable and His boundless power to provide.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse opens the narrative of the "widow's oil," one of several miracles performed by Elisha recorded in 2 Kings 4. The chapter immediately follows the account of Elisha's ascension to Elijah's prophetic mantle and his initial miracles, establishing his authority and God's continued presence through him. The story of the widow is presented as a direct response to a plea for help, highlighting Elisha's role as an accessible and compassionate prophet. It precedes other notable miracles, such as the Shunammite woman's son being raised from the dead and the purification of poisoned stew, collectively demonstrating God's active intervention in the daily lives and crises of His people. The narrative emphasizes the dire circumstances of the widow—her husband, a "son of the prophets," has died, leaving her and her two sons in crippling debt, a situation that threatened to plunge her family into perpetual servitude.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The threat of debt slavery was a harsh reality in ancient Israel and the Near East. If a person could not repay a debt, creditors had the legal right to seize family members, including children, as collateral or slaves until the debt was worked off or paid. This practice, though regulated by Mosaic Law (e.g., [Leviticus 25:39-41](/leviticus/25-39 "Leviticus 25:39-41 - Laws Regarding Indentured Servitude")), often led to severe exploitation. Widows, lacking the protection and provision of a husband, were among the most vulnerable members of society, frequently facing destitution and oppression. Oil (Hebrew: _shemen_) was a fundamental commodity, used for cooking, lighting, anointing, medicinal purposes, and even as a form of currency or trade. The fact that the widow possessed "a pot of oil" (a small amount) indicates her extreme poverty, yet also points to the one tangible asset she had, however meager.
* **Key Themes:** The narrative of 2 Kings 4:2-7 powerfully illustrates several enduring themes. Firstly, it highlights **divine provision in scarcity**, demonstrating that God is not limited by human resources but often chooses to work through the seemingly insignificant to display His boundless power. This echoes the principle seen in the feeding of the five thousand, where Jesus multiplies a few loaves and fish ([Matthew 14:17-21](/matthew/14-17 "Matthew 14:17-21 - Feeding the Five Thousand")). Secondly, it underscores **God's compassionate concern for the vulnerable**, particularly widows, orphans, and the poor, a recurring motif throughout the Old Testament ([Deuteronomy 10:18](/deuteronomy/10-18 "Deuteronomy 10:18 - God's Justice for the Vulnerable")). Thirdly, the story emphasizes the importance of **faith and obedience**; Elisha's instructions require the widow's active participation and trust in God's unconventional methods. Finally, it portrays the **prophet as an instrument of God's grace**, acting as an intermediary through whom God's miraculous power is channeled to meet human need.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Pot (Hebrew, _'asuk'_):** This word refers to a small vessel, often specifically for anointing oil or perfume, or a flask. Its usage here emphasizes the extremely limited quantity of oil the widow possessed. It wasn't a large storage jar, but a small, personal container, underscoring her dire lack of resources and the humble starting point for God's miraculous intervention.
* **Oil (Hebrew, _shemen'_):** A ubiquitous and vital commodity in ancient Israel, _shemen_ had multifaceted uses: for cooking (food preparation), lighting (lamps), anointing (for consecration, healing, or cosmetic purposes), and even as a symbol of blessing and prosperity. Spiritually, oil often symbolized the Holy Spirit or divine anointing. In this context, its presence, however small, represents the last vestige of her household's economic value, which God would supernaturally multiply.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house?":** Elisha's opening question is not merely rhetorical but an invitation to honesty and an assessment of the situation from God's perspective. It implies a willingness to intervene ("What shall I do for thee?") but also a divine methodology that often begins with existing, no matter how meager, resources. This question prompts the widow to articulate her desperate need and, more importantly, to identify the single asset she possesses, which will become the catalyst for the miracle. It teaches that God often works with what we have, not what we lack.
* **"And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.":** The widow's response is one of stark, humble honesty. Her self-designation as "Thine handmaid" (a common respectful address) reflects her submission and desperation. Her admission of "not any thing" highlights her extreme poverty and vulnerability, making the subsequent exception—"save a pot of oil"—all the more significant. This single, small vessel of oil represents her last material hope, the only tangible thing left for God to work with. Her transparency is crucial; it sets the stage for God to demonstrate His power to provide abundantly from scarcity.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several effective literary devices. **Dialogue** is central, immediately establishing the interaction between the prophet and the distressed woman, drawing the reader into their exchange. Elisha's probing questions and the widow's candid answers create a sense of immediacy and authenticity. There is a strong use of **contrast**, particularly between the widow's utter destitution ("not any thing") and the single, meager "pot of oil" she possesses, which serves as a powerful setup for the ensuing miracle of overwhelming abundance. This contrast highlights the magnitude of God's power. The narrative also uses **foreshadowing**; Elisha's specific inquiry about what is "in the house" subtly hints that the solution will arise from within her existing, albeit limited, circumstances. Finally, **symbolism** is present in the "oil" itself, which, beyond its practical uses, can represent divine blessing, anointing, and provision, setting the stage for a miracle that is both practical and spiritually significant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The exchange in 2 Kings 4:2 lays bare the theological truth that God's power is not constrained by human limitations or lack. It reveals a God who is intimately concerned with the plight of the poor and vulnerable, actively intervening to deliver them from oppressive circumstances. This narrative serves as a powerful testament to the principle that God often chooses to work through seemingly insignificant means to demonstrate His glory and provide for His people, inviting them to participate in His miraculous work through faith and obedience. It challenges believers to be honest about their resources, however small, and to trust that God can multiply them beyond imagination.

* [1 Kings 17:12-16](/1_kings/17-12 "1 Kings 17:12-16 - The Widow of Zarephath and the Unending Oil and Flour")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Will Supply All Your Needs")
* [Matthew 14:17-21](/matthew/14-17 "Matthew 14:17-21 - Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a profound reminder that God often begins His greatest works with the smallest of offerings. The widow's honest confession of having "not any thing... save a pot of oil" is a model for our own approach to God. We are called to be transparent about our needs, our limitations, and even the seemingly insignificant resources we possess, rather than hiding them in shame or despair. God does not require us to have vast wealth, extraordinary talents, or perfect circumstances for Him to work. Instead, He invites us to surrender what little we have—our time, our meager finances, our limited abilities, our brokenness—into His capable hands. The story encourages us to cultivate a faith that trusts God to take our "pot of oil" and multiply it, not just to meet our own needs, but often to bless others and bring Him glory. It's a call to look beyond our perceived scarcity and embrace the boundless sufficiency of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "pot of oil" — a seemingly small or insignificant resource, talent, or possession — am I holding onto, perhaps despising, that God might want to use?**
* **How does the widow's honesty challenge my own tendency to hide my needs or pretend I have more than I do?**
* **In what area of my life am I feeling desperate or lacking, and how can I bring that scarcity to God in faith, trusting Him to provide?**
* **What does this verse teach me about God's character and His concern for the vulnerable in society today?**

### FAQ

**Why did Elisha ask the widow what she had in her house instead of just performing a miracle?**

Answer: Elisha's question, "What hast thou in the house?", reveals a common pattern in God's miraculous interventions: He often chooses to work with and through what is already present, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. This approach serves several purposes. Firstly, it involves human participation and obedience, requiring the individual to assess their resources and act in faith. Secondly, it highlights God's power by demonstrating His ability to multiply and transform existing resources, rather than always creating something from nothing. This magnifies His glory, showing that He is not limited by human scarcity. It also teaches a valuable lesson in stewardship and trusting God with the little we have, as seen in other biblical accounts like Jesus feeding the multitudes with a boy's few loaves and fish ([John 6:9-11](/john/6-9 "John 6:9-11 - The Boy with Five Barley Loaves and Two Fish")).

**What is the significance of "oil" in this story and in ancient Israel?**

Answer: Oil (Hebrew: _shemen_) was a profoundly significant commodity in ancient Israel, both practically and symbolically. Practically, it was essential for daily life: cooking, lighting lamps, anointing the body for hygiene or medicinal purposes, and as a valuable trade item. Symbolically, oil often represented blessing, prosperity, consecration, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with oil as a sign of divine appointment. In this story, the "pot of oil" is the widow's last valuable possession, representing her meager remaining livelihood. Its miraculous multiplication not only met her physical need but also carried profound spiritual implications of God's abundant blessing and provision, transforming her scarcity into overflowing sufficiency.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of the widow's oil, initiated by Elisha's inquiry in 2 Kings 4:2, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Elisha, as God's prophet, acts as an intermediary for divine provision, taking the widow's meager "pot of oil" and multiplying it to save her and her sons from bondage. This foreshadows Christ, the ultimate Prophet and High Priest, who not only provides for physical needs but also offers spiritual liberation from the bondage of sin and death. Just as Elisha began with the widow's little, Jesus consistently worked with humble beginnings and seemingly insignificant resources—a few loaves and fish to feed thousands ([Matthew 14:17-21](/matthew/14-17 "Matthew 14:17-21 - Feeding the Five Thousand")), a Samaritan woman's thirst to offer living water ([John 4:7-14](/john/4-7 "John 4:7-14 - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman")), or a small group of disciples to transform the world ([Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission")). The oil, a symbol of anointing and the Holy Spirit, points to Christ, who was anointed with the Spirit without measure ([John 3:34](/john/3-34 "John 3:34 - God Gives the Spirit Without Limit")). His sacrifice on the cross, though seemingly a moment of ultimate scarcity and weakness, became the inexhaustible source of grace, forgiveness, and eternal life, providing abundantly for all who believe, far beyond any "pot of oil" we could ever offer ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Poverty for Our Riches")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Kings 17:12

And she said, [As] the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I [am] gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

James 2:5

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

2 Kings 6:26

And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

2 Kings 6:27

And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?

2 Kings 2:9

¶ And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

Matthew 15:34

And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

John 6:5

When Jesus then lifted up [his] eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?