2 Kings 4:23

KJV

And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? [it is] neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, [It shall be] well.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he said {H559}, Wherefore wilt thou go {H1980} to him to day {H3117}? it is neither new moon {H2320}, nor sabbath {H7676}. And she said {H559}, It shall be well {H7965}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He asked, "Why are you going to him today? It isn't Rosh-Hodesh and it isn't Shabbat." She said, "It's all right."

Berean Standard Bible

“Why would you go to him today?” he replied. “It is not a New Moon or a Sabbath.” “Everything is all right,” she said.

American Standard Version

And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to-day? it is neither new moon nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 4:23 captures a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Shunammite woman, whose son has just died. Her husband questions her urgent journey to the prophet Elisha, noting that it is neither a new moon nor a Sabbath—customary times for seeking prophetic counsel. Her terse yet profound reply, "It shall be well," encapsulates her unwavering faith and desperate hope that Elisha, as God's instrument, can restore her son to life, transcending conventional expectations and defying the apparent finality of death.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the remarkable account of the Shunammite woman, a prominent narrative in [2 Kings 4](/2_kings/4 "2 Kings 4 - Elisha's Miracles"). Earlier in the chapter, Elisha, as a guest in her home, had miraculously prophesied the birth of a son to this barren woman, a promise that came to pass ([2 Kings 4:16](/2_kings/4-16 "2 Kings 4:16 - Elisha Prophesies a Son")). The child, a gift from God, later falls ill and tragically dies in his mother's arms ([2 Kings 4:20](/2_kings/4-20 "2 Kings 4:20 - The Shunammite's Son Dies")). In her profound grief and desperate hope, the woman immediately sets out to find Elisha, who is at Mount Carmel. Her husband's question in verse 23 highlights the extraordinary nature of her journey outside the expected times of spiritual consultation, underscoring the depth of her distress and her conviction that only Elisha could help.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The mention of "new moon" and "Sabbath" in the husband's question is crucial for understanding the cultural norms of ancient Israel. The [New Moon festivals](/numbers/28-11 "Numbers 28:11 - New Moon Offerings") were significant religious observances, often involving special sacrifices and gatherings, and were considered appropriate times for seeking prophetic instruction or divine guidance. Similarly, the [Sabbath](/exodus/20-8 "Exodus 20:8 - The Sabbath Commandment"), the seventh day of the week, was a day of rest, worship, and spiritual reflection, during which people might visit prophets or spiritual leaders. The husband's query reveals that seeking a prophet's counsel was typically confined to these designated holy days. The Shunammite woman's immediate departure, disregarding these conventions, signals the extreme urgency of her situation and her profound belief in Elisha's unique connection to God, which transcended any temporal or ceremonial restrictions.
* **Key Themes:** The verse contributes significantly to several key themes woven throughout [2 Kings 4](/2_kings/4 "2 Kings 4 - Elisha's Miracles") and the broader narrative of Elisha's ministry. Foremost is the theme of **unwavering faith and resolve** in the face of overwhelming adversity. The Shunammite woman's journey, despite her son's death and her husband's questioning, exemplifies a tenacious trust in God's power, exercised through His prophet. Her concise, powerful response, "It shall be well," also introduces the theme of **hope in despair**, a declaration of faith even when circumstances seem utterly bleak. This statement is not a denial of reality but a profound affirmation of God's ability to intervene, even against death itself. Finally, the narrative highlights the theme of **seeking God beyond convention**, demonstrating that genuine spiritual need and desperate faith often transcend human schedules or religious expectations. Her urgent pursuit of Elisha, irrespective of the day, underscores the immediacy of divine intervention when sought with such earnestness, foreshadowing the miraculous [resurrection of her son](/2_kings/4-35 "2 Kings 4:35 - Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Well (Hebrew, _shalom'_):** The Hebrew word translated as "well" is שָׁלוֹם (_shalom_). While commonly rendered as "peace," _shalom_ encompasses a much richer and broader meaning, signifying completeness, wholeness, welfare, prosperity, health, and restoration. In this context, the Shunammite woman's declaration is far more than a polite dismissal or a statement that "everything is fine." It is a profound expression of faith, a confident assertion that, despite the current tragedy of her son's death, through God's intervention via Elisha, all would indeed be restored to a state of wholeness and well-being, even life itself. It is a declaration of anticipated divine restoration and ultimate flourishing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day?":** This clause reveals the husband's practical, conventional mindset. He perceives his wife's immediate departure as unusual, perhaps even inappropriate, given the circumstances. His question is rooted in a logical assessment of the situation and the established customs for seeking religious counsel, highlighting his lack of understanding regarding the depth of his wife's faith and her desperate, immediate need.
* **"[it is] neither new moon, nor sabbath.":** This parenthetical explanation from the husband underscores the cultural expectation that visits to prophets or spiritual leaders were reserved for specific, designated holy days. His query is not necessarily accusatory but rather a bewildered attempt to understand her deviation from societal and religious norms, indicating that he is unaware of the child's death and the urgency driving her.
* **"And she said, [It shall be] well.":** This concise, powerful response from the Shunammite woman is a profound statement of faith. It is not a denial of her grief or the reality of her son's death, but a declaration of trust in God's ability to intervene and restore. Her _shalom_ here is a prophetic utterance of hope, expressing her conviction that God, through Elisha, would bring about a state of wholeness and life, even from the clutches of death. It demonstrates her unwavering focus on the solution, rather than dwelling on the problem, and her deep spiritual resolve.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative of 2 Kings 4:23 skillfully employs several literary devices. **Irony** is evident in the contrast between the husband's conventional, logical questioning based on religious calendar and the wife's urgent, unconventional action driven by a desperate faith that transcends human scheduling. The husband's ignorance of their son's death adds a layer of dramatic irony, as his mundane concern about the day of the week stands in stark contrast to the profound tragedy his wife is silently carrying. **Foreshadowing** is powerfully present in the Shunammite woman's declaration, "It shall be well." This seemingly simple statement, imbued with the rich meaning of _shalom_, hints at the miraculous restoration and resurrection that is to follow, building suspense and anticipation for the reader. Furthermore, there is a strong element of **Contrast** between the husband's earthly, time-bound perspective and the wife's heavenly, faith-bound perspective, highlighting the difference between human understanding and divine possibility.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The Shunammite woman's response in 2 Kings 4:23 serves as a profound theological statement about the nature of faith, hope, and God's sovereignty over life and death. Her declaration of "It shall be well" in the face of death is not naive optimism but a deep-seated conviction in the power of God, mediated through His prophet Elisha, to reverse even the most final of circumstances. This passage teaches us that true faith often transcends human logic and conventional expectations, compelling us to seek God urgently and persistently, even when circumstances seem hopeless. It underscores God's compassion and His willingness to respond to desperate faith, demonstrating that His power is not bound by human limitations or calendrical observances. The narrative ultimately points to God as the ultimate source of life and restoration, capable of bringing _shalom_ even out of the deepest grief and despair.

* [Hebrews 11:6](/hebrews/11-6 "Hebrews 11:6 - Faith is Essential")
* [John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")
* [Romans 4:18-21](/romans/4-18 "Romans 4:18-21 - Abraham's Faith")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The Shunammite woman's unwavering faith and her powerful declaration, "It shall be well," offer a profound model for believers navigating personal crises and seemingly insurmountable challenges. Her immediate action to seek the man of God, despite the social conventions and her husband's questioning, teaches us the critical importance of turning to God and His appointed means of grace (whether through prayer, Scripture, or spiritual counsel) as our first and most urgent response to tragedy. Her words are a testament to the power of speaking faith over fear, of declaring God's potential for restoration even when our emotions or circumstances scream otherwise. This narrative challenges us to cultivate a radical trust in God's ability to bring wholeness and life from situations that appear utterly hopeless, reminding us that God's power is not limited by the finality of death or the logic of human understanding. It encourages us to maintain a posture of hope, knowing that our "shalom" is ultimately found in His sovereign hand.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does the Shunammite woman's immediate action, disregarding conventional timing, teach us about the nature of desperate faith?**
* **How does her declaration, "It shall be well," challenge our own tendencies to speak according to our circumstances rather than our faith?**
* **In what areas of your life are you being called to trust God for "shalom" (wholeness/restoration) even when circumstances seem hopeless?**

### FAQ

**Why did the husband question her going to Elisha on that particular day?**

Answer: The husband's question, "Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? [it is] neither new moon, nor sabbath," reflects the customary religious practices of ancient Israel. The New Moon festivals and the Sabbath were designated times for communal worship, spiritual instruction, and seeking prophetic counsel. People would typically visit prophets or religious leaders on these specific holy days. His query indicates that her immediate departure was unusual and outside the expected norms, highlighting his ignorance of the profound tragedy (their son's death) that was driving her urgent and unconventional journey to Elisha. He was operating on conventional wisdom, while she was acting out of desperate faith.

**What is the significance of the Shunammite woman's brief response, "It shall be well"?**

Answer: Her concise response, "It shall be well" (Hebrew: _shalom_), is remarkably significant. It is not a denial of her son's death or a statement that everything is fine. Instead, it is a powerful declaration of faith and hope in the face of overwhelming grief. _Shalom_ encompasses concepts of completeness, wholeness, welfare, and restoration. By saying "It shall be well," she is expressing her deep conviction that God, through Elisha, has the power to restore her son to life and bring about a state of wholeness, even from death. It reflects her unwavering trust in God's miraculous intervention and her refusal to succumb to despair, setting the stage for the incredible [resurrection that follows](/2_kings/4-35 "2 Kings 4:35 - Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The Shunammite woman's unwavering faith and her prophetic declaration of "It shall be well" find their ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in Jesus Christ. Elisha, as God's prophet, was an instrument of divine power, bringing life from death, foreshadowing the One who is the very embodiment of life and _shalom_. The woman's desperate pursuit of Elisha, transcending conventional boundaries, mirrors the spiritual urgency with which humanity must seek Christ, who alone holds the keys to life and death ([Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Revelation 1:18 - Jesus Holds the Keys of Death and Hades")). Her "It shall be well" is a profound echo of the ultimate _shalom_ that Christ brings, not just peace of mind, but total reconciliation, wholeness, and victory over sin and death. Jesus Himself declared, "I am the resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")), demonstrating His power to raise the dead, just as He did with Lazarus, Jairus's daughter ([Mark 5:41-42](/mark/5-41 "Mark 5:41-42 - Jesus Raises Jairus' Daughter")), and the widow of Nain's son ([Luke 7:14-15](/luke/7-14 "Luke 7:14-15 - Jesus Raises the Widow's Son")). He is the Great Prophet, greater than Elisha, through whom God's ultimate plan of restoration and eternal _shalom_ is realized for all who believe ([Acts 3:22](/acts/3-22 "Acts 3:22 - Peter's Sermon on Jesus, the Prophet")). In Christ, the promise of "it shall be well" is not merely a hope for earthly restoration but a guarantee of eternal life and perfect wholeness.

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

Numbers 10:10

Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I [am] the LORD your God.

1 Chronicles 23:31

And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:

Numbers 28:11

And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;

Isaiah 1:13

Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; [it is] iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

Isaiah 1:15

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.