2 Kings 8:5

KJV

And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this [is] the woman, and this [is] her son, whom Elisha restored to life.

KJV (with Strong's)

And it came to pass, as he was telling {H5608} the king {H4428} how he had restored {H2421} a dead body {H4191} to life {H2421}, that, behold, the woman {H802}, whose son {H1121} he had restored to life {H2421}, cried {H6817} to the king {H4428} for her house {H1004} and for her land {H7704}. And Gehazi {H1522} said {H559}, My lord {H113}, O king {H4428}, this is the woman {H802}, and this is her son {H1121}, whom Elisha {H477} restored to life {H2421}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Just as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead person to life, at that very moment the woman whose son he had restored to life came to the king with her claim for her house and land. Geichazi said, "My lord, king, this is the woman; and this is her son, the one Elisha restored to life."

Berean Standard Bible

And Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought the dead back to life. Just then the woman whose son Elisha had revived came to appeal to the king for her house and her land. So Gehazi said, “My lord the king, this is the woman, and this is the son Elisha restored to life.”

American Standard Version

And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored to life him that was dead, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 8:5 records a moment of profound divine synchronicity where the very miracle Elisha's servant, Gehazi, is recounting to the King of Israel—the restoration to life of the Shunammite woman's son—is dramatically confirmed by the sudden appearance of the woman and her son themselves. This perfectly timed encounter serves as undeniable evidence of God's miraculous power working through Elisha, compelling the king to act justly on the woman's behalf and restoring her lost property.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment within the broader narrative of the Shunammite woman, which began in [2 Kings 4:8-37](/2_kings/4-8 "2 Kings 4:8-37 - The Shunammite Woman's Story"). Having shown exceptional hospitality to Elisha, she was miraculously granted a son, who later died and was subsequently raised by the prophet. The immediate context of [2 Kings 8](/2_kings/8 "2 Kings 8 - Elisha's Prophecies and Miracles") reveals that Elisha had warned the woman of an impending seven-year famine, advising her to sojourn in the land of the Philistines ([2 Kings 8:1-2](/2_kings/8-1 "2 Kings 8:1-2 - Elisha Warns the Shunammite Woman of Famine")). After the famine, she returns to find her house and land confiscated, leading her to appeal to the king. The narrative cleverly interweaves Gehazi's presence with the king, setting the stage for this divinely orchestrated "coincidence." The verse thus functions as a powerful narrative device, confirming Elisha's prophetic authority and setting up the king's favorable response in the subsequent verses.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jehoram (also known as Joram), son of Ahab, a period marked by political instability and continued idolatry, despite the presence of prophets like Elisha. Kings in ancient Israel often served as the supreme judicial authority, and it was customary for citizens to appeal directly to them for justice, especially in matters of property rights or grievances. Land ownership was deeply significant in Israelite society, tied to tribal inheritance and a family's identity and livelihood. During times of famine or war, land could be abandoned or seized, and reclaiming it often required royal decree. The king's court would have been a place for such appeals, and the presence of a prophet's servant like Gehazi, recounting miraculous deeds, would have been a means of demonstrating divine endorsement or influence.

* **Key Themes:** The central theme highlighted in [2 Kings 8:5](/2_kings/8-5 "2 Kings 8:5 - Divine Timing and Confirmation") is **Divine Providence and Perfect Timing**. God orchestrates events with precision, demonstrating His sovereign control over human affairs and His meticulous care for His faithful servants. This verse also powerfully underscores the **Confirmation of God's Power and Prophetic Authority**. The simultaneous appearance of the woman and her son serves as undeniable, tangible proof of the miracle Gehazi is describing, validating Elisha's ministry and God's active presence. Furthermore, it exemplifies **God's Faithfulness and Justice** towards those who honor Him, as He ensures the restoration of the Shunammite woman's property, even after years of absence. This narrative also subtly touches upon the theme of **Testimony and Witness**, as Gehazi, despite his previous failings (as seen in [2 Kings 5:27](/2_kings/5-27 "2 Kings 5:27 - Gehazi's Leprosy")), is now a witness to God's mighty acts, and his testimony is immediately corroborated by living proof.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **"restored a dead body to life" (Hebrew, _ḥāyâ_):** This phrase, particularly the verb "to live" or "to revive" (חָיָה, _ḥāyâ_), denotes a genuine and complete resuscitation. It is not merely a recovery from a severe illness but a definitive triumph over death itself. The use of "dead body" (מֵת, _mēt_) emphasizes the absolute state of lifelessness, making the restoration a profound miracle that unequivocally demonstrates God's life-giving power through Elisha. It signifies a return to full, breathing, conscious existence, a reversal of the natural order possible only through divine intervention.
* **"behold" (Hebrew, _hinnēh_):** This interjection (הִנֵּה, _hinnēh_) functions as an exclamation or an attention-getter, drawing the reader's focus to something sudden, surprising, or significant. In this context, it emphasizes the dramatic and divinely orchestrated timing of the Shunammite woman's arrival. It highlights the instantaneous and undeniable confirmation of Gehazi's testimony, underscoring the miraculous nature of the event unfolding before the king's eyes. It's a literary device that heightens the sense of divine intervention and perfect synchronicity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life,"**: This opening clause establishes the setting and the topic of conversation. Gehazi, Elisha's servant, is in the presence of the King of Israel (likely Jehoram), recounting the miraculous deeds performed by Elisha, specifically the resurrection of the Shunammite woman's son. This sets up a narrative expectation for the king's reaction and prepares for the dramatic entrance.
* **"that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land."**: This is the climax of the verse, where divine timing becomes evident. Just as Gehazi finishes his account, the very subject of his testimony—the Shunammite woman and her son—appears. Her "crying to the king" indicates an urgent appeal for justice regarding her confiscated property, which aligns perfectly with the narrative's progression, having returned after the famine. The "behold" underscores the astonishing, providential nature of this immediate corroboration.
* **"And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this [is] the woman, and this [is] her son, whom Elisha restored to life."**: Gehazi's immediate identification of the woman and her son serves to confirm the miraculous timing and provides the king with undeniable, living proof of Elisha's power. His statement acts as a direct link between his oral testimony and the physical presence of the miracle's beneficiaries, leaving no room for doubt about the veracity of the account. This direct, emphatic declaration solidifies the divine orchestration of the moment.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative of [2 Kings 8:5](/2_kings/8-5 "2 Kings 8:5 - Divine Coincidence") masterfully employs several literary devices to heighten its impact. Most prominent is **Divine Irony** or **Dramatic Irony**, where the audience is aware of the perfect timing of the woman's arrival, which is revealed to the king at the precise moment Gehazi speaks of her son's resurrection. This creates a powerful sense of **Divine Providence**, demonstrating God's sovereign control over seemingly random events, orchestrating them for His purposes. The use of the interjection **"behold"** (_hinnēh_) serves as an **Exclamatory Marker**, drawing immediate attention to the sudden and astonishing appearance of the woman and her son, emphasizing the miraculous synchronicity. There is also a form of **Parallelism** between Gehazi's verbal testimony and the immediate, tangible evidence, which functions as a powerful **Confirmation** of Elisha's prophetic authority and God's power. The narrative structure itself builds suspense, leading to this climactic moment of undeniable proof.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The profound synchronicity in [2 Kings 8:5](/2_kings/8-5 "2 Kings 8:5 - God's Perfect Timing") vividly illustrates God's active involvement in the affairs of humanity and His meticulous care for His covenant people. It underscores that what appears to be mere coincidence is, in fact, divine orchestration, demonstrating God's perfect timing and sovereign control over all circumstances. This moment serves not only to confirm Elisha's prophetic ministry but also to highlight God's faithfulness to those who trust and serve Him, ensuring justice and restoration even in the face of loss. The miracle of resurrection, recounted and then immediately verified, also points to God's ultimate power over life and death, a power that He exercises for the good of His chosen ones and for the vindication of His prophets.

* [Psalm 37:23-24](/psalms/37-23 "Psalm 37:23-24 - The Steps of a Good Man")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - God Works All Things for Good")
* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Accomplishes Its Purpose")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The remarkable convergence of events in [2 Kings 8:5](/2_kings/8-5 "2 Kings 8:5 - Trusting God's Timing") offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that God is not a distant deity but an intimately involved Father who orchestrates the details of our lives with perfect precision. When we face challenges, delays, or seemingly insurmountable obstacles, this passage calls us to trust in God's perfect timing, knowing that His answers may come in the most unexpected and dramatic ways, often at the very moment they are most needed to confirm His presence and power. Just as God ensured the restoration of the Shunammite woman's property, He is faithful to provide for our needs and to bring about justice for His children. This narrative encourages us to maintain our faith, even through periods of waiting or displacement, confident that God remembers our faithfulness and will act on our behalf, often in ways that leave no doubt about His divine hand. It also challenges us to be ready to testify to God's mighty acts, for He may provide immediate, undeniable confirmation of His truth to those who hear our witness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the "perfect timing" in this verse challenge your understanding of coincidence versus divine providence in your own life?**
* **In what areas of your life are you currently waiting on God's timing, and how can the Shunammite woman's story encourage you to trust Him more deeply?**
* **What "impossible" situations have you witnessed or experienced where God's intervention was undeniable, similar to the son's restoration to life?**
* **How can you better prepare yourself to be a witness to God's work, ready to share your testimony when God provides the opportune moment for confirmation?**

### FAQ

**Who was Gehazi, and why was he speaking to the king about Elisha's miracles?**

Answer: Gehazi was Elisha's personal servant, a role similar to an apprentice or attendant. He had been intimately involved in many of Elisha's miracles, including the initial interactions with the Shunammite woman and the raising of her son in [2 Kings 4](/2_kings/4 "2 Kings 4 - Elisha's Miracles"). However, Gehazi later fell into disgrace due to his greed and deceit in the story of Naaman, resulting in him being struck with leprosy ([2 Kings 5:20-27](/2_kings/5-20 "2 Kings 5:20-27 - Gehazi's Greed and Leprosy")). His presence with the king in [2 Kings 8](/2_kings/8 "2 Kings 8 - Elisha's Prophecies and Miracles") is intriguing. Some scholars suggest that despite his leprosy, he might have been permitted in the king's court as a witness to Elisha's power, perhaps because of the king's interest in the prophet's activities, or because the king sought to understand more about the famine and Elisha's warnings. His role here is to recount Elisha's deeds, setting the stage for the dramatic confirmation.

**What happened to the Shunammite woman's house and land, and why did she need to appeal to the king?**

Answer: The Shunammite woman, following Elisha's warning of a seven-year famine, had left Israel to sojourn in the land of the Philistines ([2 Kings 8:1-2](/2_kings/8-1 "2 Kings 8:1-2 - Elisha Warns the Shunammite Woman of Famine")). During her extended absence, it appears her property (house and land) had either been confiscated by the crown, taken over by others, or fallen into disuse and was now considered ownerless or under royal jurisdiction. Upon her return after the famine, to reclaim her rightful inheritance, she had to appeal directly to the king, who held the ultimate authority in such matters of property law and justice. Her appeal was a legal plea for the restoration of her family's ancestral land.

**What is the significance of the "perfect timing" in this verse?**

Answer: The "perfect timing" in [2 Kings 8:5](/2_kings/8-5 "2 Kings 8:5 - Divine Orchestration") is highly significant as it serves as a powerful demonstration of divine providence and God's sovereign control. It's not a mere coincidence but a divinely orchestrated event designed to provide undeniable confirmation of Elisha's prophetic authority and God's miraculous power. Just as Gehazi finishes recounting the miracle of the son's resurrection, the very woman and son who were the subjects of that miracle appear, providing living proof. This immediate, tangible corroboration would have left a profound impression on the king, validating Gehazi's testimony and prompting the king to act decisively in the woman's favor. It underscores God's active involvement in human affairs and His faithfulness to those who trust Him.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The miraculous restoration of the Shunammite woman's son to life by Elisha, so dramatically confirmed in [2 Kings 8:5](/2_kings/8-5 "2 Kings 8:5 - Foreshadowing Christ's Power"), powerfully foreshadows the ultimate life-giver, Jesus Christ. While Elisha acted as an instrument of God's power, Jesus possesses inherent life-giving authority. The "behold" moment in this verse, where the living proof of resurrection appears, points forward to the ultimate "behold" moment when Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), would demonstrate His absolute power over death. Jesus not only raised individuals like Lazarus ([John 11:43-44](/john/11-43 "John 11:43-44 - Jesus Raises Lazarus")) and the widow's son at Nain ([Luke 7:14-15](/luke/7-14 "Luke 7:14-15 - Jesus Raises the Widow's Son")), but He Himself conquered death, rising from the grave as the [firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ, the Firstfruits"). Elisha's miracle was a temporary restoration to earthly life, but Christ offers eternal life ([John 11:25-26](/john/11-25 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")) and a spiritual resurrection from sin ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Raised to New Life in Christ")). Thus, the divine timing and power over death displayed in [2 Kings 8:5](/2_kings/8-5 "2 Kings 8:5 - Christ's Ultimate Victory Over Death") serve as a profound Old Testament echo of the greater resurrection power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who truly is the Resurrection and the Life.

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

2 Kings 4:35

Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

Matthew 10:29

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Matthew 10:30

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

¶ I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Acts 8:27

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

Acts 8:40

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

2 Kings 6:12

And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that [is] in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.