2 Kings 4:31

And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but [there was] neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

And Gehazi {H1522} passed on {H5674} before {H6440} them, and laid {H7760} the staff {H4938} upon the face {H6440} of the child {H5288}; but there was neither voice {H6963}, nor hearing {H7182}. Wherefore he went again {H7725} to meet {H7125} him, and told {H5046} him, saying {H559}, The child {H5288} is not awaked {H6974}.

Geichazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the child's face, but there was no sound or sign of life. So he went back to Elisha and told him, "The child didn't wake up."

Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”

And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

Commentary

Context

This verse is a pivotal moment in the story of the Shunammite woman's son, a powerful narrative found in 2 Kings chapter 4. Earlier, the prophet Elisha had miraculously promised a son to the barren Shunammite woman, a promise that was fulfilled (2 Kings 4:17). However, the child later died suddenly (2 Kings 4:20), leading the distraught mother to seek Elisha's help. Elisha, sensing the urgency and the woman's deep distress, sent his servant Gehazi ahead with his staff, instructing him to lay it upon the child's face. Verse 31 records the outcome of this initial attempt.

Key Themes

  • The Limits of Delegated Authority

    Gehazi, Elisha's trusted servant, acted precisely according to the prophet's instructions, laying the staff on the child. Yet, "neither voice, nor hearing" resulted. This highlights that divine power is not a transferable commodity or an inherent quality of an object, even one used by a prophet. The staff itself held no magical power, and Gehazi, despite his proximity to Elisha, did not possess the spiritual authority or direct divine connection necessary to raise the dead. This failure underscores that true miracles depend on God's direct agency and will, not merely on human effort or symbolic objects.

  • Divine Sovereignty in Miracles

    The inability of Gehazi's attempt to revive the child emphasizes God's ultimate sovereignty over life and death. It prepares the reader for Elisha's personal intervention, demonstrating that while God may use human instruments, the power resides solely with Him. The miraculous resurrection of the child would ultimately be a testament to God's power working through His chosen prophet, Elisha, rather than through a secondary agent or object. The child's continued lifelessness ("The child is not awaked") starkly contrasts with the life-giving power that would soon follow when Elisha personally stretched himself upon the boy.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "neither voice, nor hearing" powerfully conveys the absolute stillness and lifelessness of the child. It emphasizes the complete absence of any vital sign, affirming that Gehazi's attempt was utterly unsuccessful. The report, "The child is not awaked," is a gentle euphemism for "the child is dead," used perhaps to soften the devastating news, yet it clearly communicates the lack of a miraculous awakening.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a reminder that genuine spiritual power comes directly from God, not from rituals, objects, or even delegated human authority apart from God's active will. While God can and does use instruments and people, our faith must ultimately be in the Giver of life, not in the means. It teaches us that some challenges require direct, fervent prayer and seeking God's immediate presence, rather than relying on secondary efforts or symbolic gestures alone. When faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, we are called to persist in seeking God's ultimate intervention, knowing that His power is truly limitless.

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Cross-References

  • John 11:11 (4 votes)

    These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

  • 1 Samuel 28:6 (2 votes)

    And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

  • Mark 9:19 (2 votes)

    He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

  • Mark 9:29 (2 votes)

    And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

  • 1 Kings 18:29 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the [time] of the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that [there was] neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

  • Ezekiel 14:3 (2 votes)

    Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

  • Job 14:12 (2 votes)

    So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.