2 Kings 4:32

KJV

And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, [and] laid upon his bed.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when Elisha {H477} was come {H935} into the house {H1004}, behold, the child {H5288} was dead {H4191}, and laid {H7901} upon his bed {H4296}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When Elisha reached the house, there the child was, dead and laid on the bed.

Berean Standard Bible

When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed.

American Standard Version

And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 4:32 vividly portrays the climactic moment of Prophet Elisha's arrival at the Shunammite woman's home, confirming the dire reality of her son's death. This verse serves as a critical turning point in the narrative, solidifying the tragic outcome that propelled the desperate mother to seek Elisha and setting the immediate stage for a profound demonstration of divine power over the very boundaries of life and death. It powerfully underscores the depths of human sorrow and the urgent necessity of supernatural intervention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is intricately woven into the miraculous account of the Shunammite woman and her son, detailed in [2 Kings 4:8-37](/2_kings/4 "2 Kings 4 - The Shunammite Woman and Elisha"). The narrative commences with the woman's exceptional hospitality towards Elisha, which leads to the miraculous promise and subsequent birth of a son in her old age, a poignant echo of Abraham and Sarah's story ([2 Kings 4:8-17](/2_kings/4-8 "2 Kings 4:8-17 - Elisha Blesses the Shunammite Woman")). The sudden and tragic death of the child while with his father in the field ([2 Kings 4:18-20](/2_kings/4-18 "2 Kings 4:18-20 - The Child's Sudden Death")) propels the mother into a desperate, faith-driven journey to find Elisha on Mount Carmel ([2 Kings 4:21-27](/2_kings/4-21 "2 Kings 4:21-27 - The Shunammite Woman Seeks Elisha")). Prior to Elisha's personal arrival, his servant Gehazi was dispatched with Elisha's staff but failed to revive the child ([2 Kings 4:28-31](/2_kings/4-28 "2 Kings 4:28-31 - Gehazi's Failed Attempt to Revive the Child")). Thus, [2 Kings 4:32](/2_kings/4-32 "2 Kings 4:32 - Elisha Enters the Room") marks Elisha's direct entry into the prophet's chamber where the lifeless boy lies, confirming the gravity of the situation and shifting the narrative from the mother's plea and Gehazi's failure to Elisha's personal and direct engagement with the crisis, setting the stage for the miraculous restoration of life.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events unfold in Shunem, a town nestled in the fertile Jezreel Valley, where the Shunammite woman, a figure of considerable social standing and wealth, had generously provided a dedicated "prophet's chamber" for Elisha. In ancient Israelite society, hospitality was not merely a courtesy but a deeply ingrained cultural and religious obligation, often seen as a virtue that invited divine blessing. The birth of a child, particularly one born to elderly parents, was viewed as an extraordinary divine gift, reminiscent of other miraculous births in the Old Testament. The death of a child, however, was a profoundly devastating and often public tragedy, typically met with intense mourning rituals and a pervasive sense of finality. The custom of laying the deceased on a bed or couch was common, symbolizing a form of rest, but in this context, it starkly emphasizes the child's lifelessness within the intimate and sacred space of the home. The narrative also powerfully illustrates the revered role of prophets like Elisha as direct conduits of God's power, capable of performing extraordinary miracles, including the reversal of death—a rare and potent demonstration of divine authority over creation itself.

* **Key Themes:** This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes present within [2 Kings 4](/2_kings/4 "2 Kings 4 - Elisha's Miracles") and the broader scope of Elisha's prophetic ministry. Firstly, it powerfully underscores the **sovereignty of God over life and death**, presenting a seemingly irreversible situation that only divine intervention can overcome. The child's undeniable death establishes the ultimate challenge against which God's life-giving power will be gloriously displayed. Secondly, it highlights the **power of persistent and unwavering faith**, exemplified by the Shunammite woman's unyielding conviction that Elisha, and thus God, possessed the capacity to restore her son to life, despite the clear evidence of death ([2 Kings 4:28](/2_kings/4-28 "2 Kings 4:28 - The Shunammite Woman's Plea")). Her faith is the catalyst for Elisha's presence. Thirdly, it emphasizes the **compassion and direct authority of God's prophet**, as Elisha personally enters the chamber, demonstrating a deeper, more intimate, and hands-on engagement with the crisis than his servant Gehazi. This moment also subtly establishes a crucial contrast between human limitations and divine omnipotence, as Gehazi's attempt to revive the child with the staff failed ([2 Kings 4:31](/2_kings/4-31 "2 Kings 4:31 - Gehazi's Failure")), while Elisha's direct, prayerful action will ultimately succeed, showcasing God's power working through His chosen vessel.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Elisha (Hebrew, _ʼĔlîyshâʻ'_):** The prophet's name, meaning "God is salvation" or "God is my salvation," is profoundly significant in this context. His arrival signifies the direct presence of God's saving power. Unlike Gehazi, Elisha's personal entry into the house underscores that the miracle requires not just a proxy or an object, but the direct, Spirit-empowered intercession of God's chosen servant. His name itself foreshadows the life-giving work he is about to perform, embodying the very salvation that the Shunammite woman desperately seeks.
* **dead (Hebrew, _mûwth'_):** This word, derived from a primitive root meaning "to die" or "to kill," is an unequivocal declaration of the child's state. It signifies the absolute cessation of life, leaving no room for ambiguity or misinterpretation regarding the boy's condition. The use of this definitive term underscores the finality of the tragedy from a human perspective, thereby profoundly magnifying the power of God when life is subsequently restored. It sets the ultimate, seemingly insurmountable challenge for Elisha and the God he serves, making the ensuing miracle all the more extraordinary.
* **bed (Hebrew, _miṭṭâh'_):** This term refers to a bed, couch, or bier. In this verse, the child is "laid upon his bed," specifically Elisha's own bed in the prophet's chamber. This detail is poignant, as a bed is typically a place of rest, comfort, and life (sleep, intimacy, birth). Here, it becomes the stark stage for death, emphasizing the profound disruption of life within the intimate space of the home. The mother's act of placing her son on Elisha's bed ([2 Kings 4:21](/2_kings/4-21 "2 Kings 4:21 - The Mother Lays the Child on Elisha's Bed")) was an act of faith, bringing her dead child into the very presence and space of God's prophet, believing that this sacred proximity might hold the key to his recovery.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when Elisha was come into the house":** This phrase marks the physical and spiritual culmination of the Shunammite woman's desperate journey and persistent faith. Elisha's arrival signifies the direct, personal involvement of God's prophet in the private, grief-stricken space of her home. It contrasts sharply with Gehazi's earlier, unsuccessful attempt, signaling that the true agent of divine power has now arrived to confront the crisis head-on.
* **"behold, the child was dead":** This is the stark, undeniable confirmation of the tragedy, presented with an interjection ("behold") that demands immediate attention and acknowledges the grim reality. Elisha himself is confronted with the lifelessness of the boy, validating the mother's distress and establishing the profound nature of the miracle that is about to unfold. There is no ambiguity; the child is truly deceased, emphasizing the magnitude of the divine intervention required.
* **"and laid upon his bed":** This detail paints a poignant and intimate picture of the child's final resting place before the miracle. The mother had placed her son on Elisha's own bed in the prophet's chamber, an act imbued with desperate hope and faith, perhaps believing that the sacred space associated with the man of God might hold the key to his recovery. The image of the lifeless child on the bed emphasizes the intimacy of the tragedy and the profound disruption of life within the very heart of the home.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its gravity and set the stage for the miraculous. The interjection "behold" serves as an immediate **Exclamatory Marker**, drawing the reader's attention and emphasizing the stark, undeniable reality Elisha encounters. **Pathos** is profoundly evident in the stark declaration of the child's death, evoking immediate sympathy and sorrow for the Shunammite woman and the tragic loss she has endured. The phrase "behold, the child was dead" also utilizes **Dramatic Irony** for the reader, who knows the child will eventually be resurrected, but for Elisha and the woman, it is a moment of profound, undeniable finality, making the subsequent miracle even more astonishing. The powerful **Juxtaposition** of Elisha's arrival—a figure of hope and divine power—with the grim reality of the dead child lying on the bed intensifies the narrative tension and highlights the dramatic contrast between human despair and divine potential. Furthermore, the verse serves as a crucial point of **Foreshadowing**, as the clear confirmation of death is a necessary precursor to the demonstration of God's ultimate power over it, hinting at the coming resurrection and the glory that will follow.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The definitive statement of the child's death in [2 Kings 4:32](/2_kings/4-32 "2 Kings 4:32 - Elisha Enters the Room") is theologically crucial for understanding the sheer magnitude of God's power. By explicitly stating the child was "dead," the narrative eliminates any possibility of the child merely being unconscious or gravely ill, thereby elevating the subsequent resurrection to an undeniable, unambiguous miracle. This moment unequivocally underscores that God's power is not limited by human impossibilities or the seeming finality of death. It powerfully reinforces the overarching theme of divine sovereignty over life and death, demonstrating that even in the most desperate and seemingly irreversible situations, God can and does intervene. The Shunammite woman's persistent faith, which brought Elisha to this very scene, is implicitly validated by the prophet's direct confrontation with the tragedy, setting the stage for a profound and glorious act of divine restoration.

* [1 Kings 17:22](/1_kings/17-22 "1 Kings 17:22 - Elijah Raises the Widow's Son")
* [Luke 7:14-15](/luke/7-14-15 "Luke 7:14-15 - Jesus Raises the Widow's Son at Nain")
* [John 11:43-44](/john/11-43-44 "John 11:43-44 - Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse, while depicting a scene of profound sorrow and loss, offers deep and enduring spiritual lessons for believers today. It serves as a powerful reminder that even when God's promises seem to be delayed or contradicted by painful circumstances, or when life delivers its most devastating blows, our faith should not falter. The Shunammite woman's relentless pursuit of Elisha, even after her son's undeniable death, speaks volumes about a faith that holds onto hope beyond what is seen or humanly possible. In our own lives, we will inevitably encounter moments where circumstances appear utterly hopeless, where the "child is dead" in a metaphorical sense—be it a cherished dream, a fractured relationship, a debilitating physical condition, or a spiritual barrenness. This passage profoundly encourages us to bring our dead hopes and desperate situations directly into God's presence, through His appointed means and His faithful servants, trusting that His power extends even beyond the grave and into every area of our lives. It is precisely in the face of undeniable finality that God's miraculous, life-giving power shines brightest, transforming despair into a vibrant testament of His sovereign authority and boundless compassion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the Shunammite woman's unwavering faith, even in the face of her son's death, challenge your own trust in God during seemingly hopeless situations?**
* **What "dead" areas or dreams in your life do you need to bring before the Lord, trusting in His power to bring life and restoration?**
* **How does the stark reality of the child's death in this verse magnify your understanding of God's omnipotent power and profound compassion?**

### FAQ

**Why was the child laid on Elisha's bed, and what is the significance of this detail?**

Answer: The Shunammite woman herself laid her deceased son on Elisha's bed in the prophet's chamber ([2 Kings 4:21](/2_kings/4-21 "2 Kings 4:21 - The Mother Lays the Child on Elisha's Bed")) before she went to seek Elisha. This act was a profound expression of her desperate hope and unwavering faith. By placing her son in the sacred space intimately associated with the man of God, she was symbolically bringing her impossible situation directly into the presence of divine power. It signifies her deep-seated belief that if anyone could intervene and restore life, it would be the prophet of God, and perhaps the very space consecrated to him held a special potency for divine intervention. This detail not only heightens the drama of the narrative but also sets the stage for Elisha's direct confrontation with death in a place intimately connected with his prophetic ministry and the divine presence.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The grim reality of the dead child in [2 Kings 4:32](/2_kings/4-32 "2 Kings 4:32 - Elisha Enters the Room") finds its ultimate and glorious Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus, the true bringer of life and conqueror of death. Elisha's encounter with death, which he overcomes through divinely delegated power, powerfully foreshadows the Lord Jesus Christ, who not only holds ultimate authority over death but is Himself the very "resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). Just as Elisha personally entered the chamber to confront the lifeless body, Jesus consistently demonstrated His sovereign authority over death by raising the dead, whether it was the daughter of Jairus ([Mark 5:41-42](/mark/5-41-42 "Mark 5:41-42 - Jesus Raises Jairus' Daughter")), the widow's son at Nain ([Luke 7:14-15](/luke/7-14-15 "Luke 7:14-15 - Jesus Raises the Widow's Son")), or Lazarus, who had been dead for four days and whose body had begun to decay ([John 11:43-44](/john/11-43-44 "John 11:43-44 - Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead")). The undeniable finality of the Shunammite child's death underscores the absolute, divine power required for resurrection, a power fully embodied in Christ, who through His own sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection, has "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" ([2 Timothy 1:10](/2_timothy/1-10 "2 Timothy 1:10 - Christ Abolished Death")). Thus, [2 Kings 4:32](/2_kings/4-32 "2 Kings 4:32 - Elisha Enters the Room") points forward to the ultimate victory over death achieved by the Lamb of God, who alone holds the keys of death and Hades ([Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Revelation 1:18 - Christ Holds the Keys of Death and Hades")), offering eternal life to all who believe.

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 17:17

¶ And it came to pass after these things, [that] the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.

John 11:17

¶ Then when Jesus came, he found that he had [lain] in the grave four days already.

Luke 8:52

And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

Luke 8:53

And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.