2 Kings 4:29

Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.

Then he said {H559} to Gehazi {H1522}, Gird up {H2296} thy loins {H4975}, and take {H3947} my staff {H4938} in thine hand {H3027}, and go thy way {H3212}: if thou meet {H4672} any man {H376}, salute {H1288} him not; and if any {H376} salute {H1288} thee, answer him not again {H6030}: and lay {H7760} my staff {H4938} upon the face {H6440} of the child {H5288}.

Then Elisha said to Geichazi, "Get dressed for action, take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, don't greet him; if anyone greets you, don't answer; and lay my staff on the child's face."

So Elisha said to Gehazi, โ€œTie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boyโ€™s face.โ€

Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Kings 4:29

The prophet Elisha, deeply moved by the distress of the Shunammite woman whose son had died, issues urgent and precise instructions to his servant, Gehazi. This verse marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Shunammite's son, highlighting Elisha's immediate response to a desperate situation.

Context

This verse follows the tragic death of the Shunammite woman's son, a child miraculously granted to her and her husband through Elisha's prophecy (2 Kings 4:16). The woman, in profound grief, sought out Elisha, laying the dead child on the prophet's bed before journeying to Mount Carmel to find him (2 Kings 4:21). Her distress is palpable, and Elisha, understanding the gravity of the situation, dispatches Gehazi ahead of himself to attempt a miraculous intervention.

Key Themes

  • Urgency and Focus: Elisha's command to "Gird up thy loins" signifies immediate and unhindered action. The instruction to avoid salutations ("salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again") underscores the critical need for speed and the elimination of all distractions. In ancient Near Eastern culture, greetings were often elaborate and time-consuming, so this directive emphasized that no social niceties should impede the mission.
  • Delegated Authority: By entrusting his personal staff to Gehazi, Elisha symbolically delegates a measure of his prophetic authority and the power of God that worked through him. This act demonstrates Elisha's faith that God could work through his chosen instrument, even through a proxy. This is similar to how Moses' staff was used as a tool for divine power (Exodus 4:2).
  • The Nature of Miracles: While Elisha sends his staff, the subsequent narrative reveals that this initial attempt by Gehazi is unsuccessful (2 Kings 4:31). This highlights that divine power and miracles are not mere magical acts or transferable objects, but are ultimately dependent on God's will and presence, often requiring the direct involvement and intercession of His chosen servants.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Gird up thy loins" (Hebrew: ื—ึฒื’ึนืจ ืžึธืชึฐื ึถื™ืšึธ, chagor matnekha) is an ancient idiom for preparing for strenuous activity, especially running or working. It literally refers to tucking up the long outer garments into a belt to prevent them from hindering movement. It conveys a sense of readiness, alertness, and immediate action, a concept also seen in the New Testament (1 Peter 1:13).

Practical Application

This verse offers lessons on the importance of urgency and focus when responding to critical needs. While Gehazi's mission ultimately failed, Elisha's initial instruction demonstrates a profound sense of responsibility and a desire to act swiftly in the face of suffering. For believers, it reminds us of the need for prompt and undistracted action when called to serve, to share the Gospel, or to address pressing spiritual or physical needs. It also subtly teaches that while God uses instruments and individuals, His power is sovereign and not bound by human methods or expectations.

Reflection

The narrative surrounding the Shunammite's son is a powerful testament to God's compassion and Elisha's role as a prophet. While Gehazi's attempt with the staff did not yield the desired result, it set the stage for Elisha's direct intervention, which ultimately brought the child back to life (2 Kings 4:34-35). This episode underscores that God works in His own ways and time, often through persistent faith and prayer.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 2:14

    And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where [is] the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

  • Exodus 14:16

    But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry [ground] through the midst of the sea.

  • 1 Kings 18:46

    And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

  • 2 Kings 9:1

    ยถ And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:

  • Luke 10:4

    Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

  • Exodus 4:17

    And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

  • Exodus 7:19

    And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and [that] there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in [vessels of] wood, and in [vessels of] stone.
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