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2 Kings 4:33

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He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.

He went in {H935} therefore, and shut {H5462} the door {H1817} upon them twain {H8147}, and prayed {H6419} unto the LORD {H3068}.

He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to ADONAI.

So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD.

He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto Jehovah.

Commentary

2 Kings 4:33 describes a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Shunammite woman's son, illustrating the prophet Elisha's complete reliance on divine power for a miracle.

Context

This verse takes place after the tragic death of the Shunammite woman's son, a child miraculously given to her in her old age through Elisha's prophecy (2 Kings 4:16). When the boy suddenly dies, his mother, consumed by grief and desperation, lays him on Elisha's bed and immediately seeks out the prophet. Upon arriving at the Shunammite's house and finding the boy lifeless, Elisha enters the room where the child lies. The act of "shutting the door upon them twain" (Elisha and the dead child) signifies a deliberate move towards privacy, focus, and intimate communion with God, setting the stage for a profound act of faith and divine intervention.

Key Themes

  • The Power of Prayer: Elisha's immediate and primary response to the seemingly impossible situation is prayer. He doesn't rely on rituals or his own strength, but turns directly to the LORD, demonstrating that true power for miracles comes from God alone. This echoes the powerful example of Elijah's prayer for the widow's son, showing a consistent pattern of prophetic reliance on God.
  • Privacy and Focus in Prayer: The action of "shutting the door" highlights the importance of eliminating distractions and creating a sacred space for intense, focused prayer. It signifies a profound intimacy and direct appeal to God, free from external influence or spectacle.
  • Faith in the Face of Despair: Elisha's actions are a testament to his unwavering faith that God could bring life from death, even in the most dire circumstances. His prayer is not a mere request but an act of confident expectation in God's ability and willingness to intervene.
  • Divine Compassion: God's willingness to respond to Elisha's prayer and the Shunammite woman's distress underscores His compassion and sovereignty over life and death.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "shut the door upon them twain" is simple yet profoundly significant. "Twain" is an archaic word meaning "two," referring to Elisha and the dead child. The act of shutting the door (Hebrew: סָגַר, sagar) emphasizes Elisha's deliberate intention to seek God in solitude, creating an environment where his full attention and spiritual energy could be directed towards intercession. This private communion is often seen as a precursor to powerful manifestations of God's will.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for believers today. In moments of crisis or when facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Elisha's example calls us to:

  • Prioritize Prayer: Make prayer our first response, not our last resort, when confronted with challenging situations.
  • Seek Solitude with God: Understand the value of private prayer, where we can pour out our hearts to God without distraction, fostering a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.
  • Exercise Unwavering Faith: Trust in God's power to do the impossible, even when circumstances seem hopeless. Elisha believed God could restore life, and that same power is available to us through faith and prayer (James 5:16).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 6:6 (8 votes)

    But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

  • 2 Kings 4:4 (6 votes)

    And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

  • Acts 9:40 (4 votes)

    But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning [him] to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

  • James 5:13 (4 votes)

    Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

  • James 5:18 (4 votes)

    And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

  • 1 Kings 17:20 (3 votes)

    And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?

  • 1 Kings 17:21 (3 votes)

    And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.