Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out. New Living Translation She carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and left him there. English Standard Version And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out. Berean Standard Bible And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God. Then she shut the door and went out. Berean Literal Bible And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and she shut the door behind him and went out. King James Bible And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. New King James Version And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out. New American Standard Bible And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door behind him and left. NASB 1995 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door behind him and went out. NASB 1977 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door behind him, and went out. Legacy Standard Bible Then she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out. Amplified Bible She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door [of the small upper room] behind him and left. Berean Annotated Bible And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God {Elohim}. Then she shut the door and went out. Christian Standard Bible She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut him in, and left. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut him in, and left. American Standard Version And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. Contemporary English Version She carried him upstairs to Elisha's room and laid him across the bed. Then she walked out and shut the door behind her. English Revised Version And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. GOD'S WORD® Translation She took him upstairs and laid him on the bed of the man of God, left [the room], and shut the door behind her. Good News Translation She carried him up to Elisha's room, put him on the bed and left, closing the door behind her. International Standard Version The woman went upstairs, laid him on the bed belonging to the man of God, and shut the door, leaving him behind as she left. NET Bible She went up and laid him down on the prophet's bed. She shut the door behind her and left. New Heart English Bible She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door on him, and went out. Webster's Bible Translation And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God. Then she shut the door and went out. World English Bible She went up and laid him on the man of God’s bed, and shut the door on him, and went out. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd she goes up, and lays him on the bed of the man of God, and shuts [the door] on him, and goes out, Berean Literal Bible And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and she shut the door behind him and went out. Young's Literal Translation And she goeth up, and layeth him on the bed of the man of God, and shutteth the door upon him, and goeth out, Smith's Literal Translation And she will go up and lay him down upon the bed of the man of God, and she will shut up after her and go forth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd she went up and laid him upon the bed of the man of God, and shut the door: and going out, Catholic Public Domain Version Then she went up and laid him out on the bed of the man of God, and she closed the door. And departing, New American Bible She went upstairs and laid him on the bed of the man of God. Closing the door on him, she went out New Revised Standard Version She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, closed the door on him, and left. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd she went up and laid him on the bed of the prophet of God, and shut the door upon him and went out. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And she went up, she laid him on the bed of the Prophet of God and she shut his door, and she came out. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. Brenton Septuagint Translation And she carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of god; and she shut the door upon him, and went out. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son…20After the servant had picked him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. 21And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God. Then she shut the door and went out. 22And the woman called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may go quickly to the man of God and return.”… Cross References And she went up Acts 1:13 When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. Mark 14:15 And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” Acts 20:8 Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. and laid him on the bed of the man of God. 1 Kings 17:19-21 But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. / Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?” / Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!” Acts 9:37 At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room. Mark 2:4 Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat. Then she shut the door Matthew 25:10 But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Luke 13:25 After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Genesis 7:16 And they entered, the male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in. and went out. 2 Samuel 13:18 So Amnon’s attendant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a robe of many colors, because this is what the king’s virgin daughters wore. Matthew 26:75 Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Genesis 19:14 So Lot went out and spoke to the sons-in-law who were pledged in marriage to his daughters. “Get up,” he said. “Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. Mark 5:38-42 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly. / He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.” / And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child. … Luke 7:12-15 As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. / When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.” / Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!” … John 11:32-44 When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” / When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. / “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. … Matthew 9:23-25 When Jesus entered the house of the synagogue leader, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd. / “Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him. / After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. Treasury of Scripture And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door on him, and went out. the bed 2 Kings 4:10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. 1 Kings 17:19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. Jump to Previous Bed Door Laid Shut Shutteth ShuttingJump to Next Bed Door Laid Shut Shutteth Shutting2 Kings 4 1. Elisha multiplies the widow's oil8. He obtains a son for the good Shunammite 18. He restores her son when dead 38. At Gilgal he heals the deadly pottage 42. He satisfies a hundred men with twenty loaves And she went up The woman in this passage is the Shunammite woman, who is notable for her hospitality towards Elisha, the prophet. Her action of going up suggests that the prophet's room was on an upper level, a common architectural feature in ancient Israelite homes, where guest quarters were often located. This reflects her determination and urgency in addressing the crisis of her son's death. and laid him on the bed of the man of God. Then she shut the door and went out. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Shunammite WomanA notable woman from Shunem who showed great hospitality to Elisha, the prophet. Her faith and actions are central to this account. 2. Elisha The prophet of God who regularly visited Shunem. He had a room prepared for him by the Shunammite woman and her husband, symbolizing their respect and reverence for God's servant. 3. The Child The son of the Shunammite woman, a miraculous gift from God through Elisha's prophecy. His sudden death sets the stage for the events in this verse. 4. The Bed of the Man of God A significant place in the account, representing faith and hope. The Shunammite woman places her dead son here, indicating her belief in God's power through Elisha. 5. Shunem A town in the territory of Issachar, where the Shunammite woman and her family lived. It serves as the backdrop for this miraculous account. Teaching Points Faith in ActionThe Shunammite woman's decision to lay her son on Elisha's bed demonstrates her faith in God's power. In times of crisis, we should act in faith, trusting in God's ability to intervene. Seeking God's Presence By placing her son on the prophet's bed, the woman sought the presence of God. In our lives, we should seek God's presence in our trials, knowing He is our source of hope and restoration. The Power of a Closed Door Shutting the door signifies a private moment of faith and expectation. Sometimes, we need to shut out distractions and focus on God, trusting Him to work in our lives. Hope in Desperation The Shunammite woman's actions reflect hope even in desperate circumstances. We are encouraged to maintain hope and trust in God's promises, regardless of how bleak our situation may seem. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 4:21?2. Why did the mother lay her son on "the bed of the man of God"? 3. How does 2 Kings 4:21 demonstrate faith in God's power through Elisha? 4. What other biblical instances show faith in God's prophets during crises? 5. How can we seek God's intervention in our own desperate situations today? 6. What role does preparation play in expecting God's miraculous intervention in our lives? 7. Why did the Shunammite woman lay her son on Elisha's bed in 2 Kings 4:21? 8. What does 2 Kings 4:21 reveal about faith in God's prophets? 9. How does 2 Kings 4:21 challenge our understanding of miracles? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 4? 11. How do we reconcile Psalm 8's depiction of a caring God with other biblical passages that portray divine indifference or harsh judgment toward humans? 12. How is Jesus represented in each book of the Bible? 13. How could only twenty loaves feed a hundred men (2 Kings 4:42-44) if the story is not embellished? 14. How did Elisha help the Shunammite woman's son live? What Does 2 Kings 4:21 Mean And she went upThe Shunammite woman’s immediate response after her child’s death is to climb the stairs to Elisha’s prophet’s chamber—an action packed with faith. • She moves toward the place she has set apart for God’s servant rather than toward burial preparations, showing she expects divine intervention. • Her ascent echoes Abraham’s climb to Moriah with Isaac, trusting God would act (Genesis 22:5). • It parallels the widow who carried her dead boy to Elijah’s upper room before the prophet prayed him back to life (1 Kings 17:19). • Each example reminds us that steps taken toward the Lord—even in crisis—position us to witness His power (Psalm 121:1–2). and laid him on the bed of the man of God She chooses the prophet’s bed, not her own, declaring whose authority she seeks. • The bed had become a tangible symbol of Elisha’s ministry in that home; placing the boy there amounts to laying the problem directly before God (compare 2 Kings 13:21, where contact with Elisha’s bones brings life). • Her action anticipates the method Elisha himself will use—stretching out on the child (2 Kings 4:34)—showing her faith is already aligned with God’s forthcoming miracle. • Jairus expressed similar confidence when he urged Jesus, “Come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will live” (Mark 5:23). Then she shut the door Closing the door seals the room off from doubt and distraction. • Elisha will later imitate her, shutting the door before praying over the boy (2 Kings 4:33); spiritual breakthroughs often occur in hidden places (Matthew 6:6). • Like Noah’s ark, once “the LORD shut him in” (Genesis 7:16), the closed door marks a boundary where God’s purposes override human circumstances. • It also protects the body from premature mourning customs, keeping hope alive. and went out Having secured her son in the prophet’s room, she heads straight for Elisha. • Faith does not sit idle; it pursues God’s answer. She quickly arranges a donkey and servant (2 Kings 4:22–24). • James 2:17 reminds us that living faith expresses itself in decisive action. • Her calm urgency—no wailing, just purposeful movement—mirrors the centurion who sought Jesus with confident expectation (Luke 7:3–9). summary Every movement in 2 Kings 4:21 points to unwavering trust. She climbs toward the presence of God, places her dead child where divine power has previously rested, seals the room to shut out unbelief, and then hastens to the only One who can help. The passage models how deliberate, faith-filled steps invite the Lord to turn impossible loss into living testimony. (21) Laid him on the bed of the man of God.--She wished to keep the death secret, and the corpse inviolate, during her intended absence.Verse 21. - And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God. One cannot be certain what thoughts were working in the poor bereaved mother's heart; but probably she entertained some vague notion that the prophet might be able to resuscitate her child, and thought that, until his presence could be obtained, the next best thing was to place the child where the prophet's presence had lately been. Elijah had placed on his own bed the child whom he restored to life (1 Kings 17:19); and the fact may have been known to the Shunammite. She certainly did not expect mere contact with the bed to resuscitate her child. And shut the door upon him. Either that the body should not be disturbed, or rather that the death should not be known. It is clear that, from whatever motive, the woman wished to conceal the death of the child until she had seen what Elisha could do for her. She neither told her husband nor the servant who accompanied her. And went out; i.e. quitted the prophet's apartment, closing the door as she quitted it.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew And she went upוַתַּ֙עַל֙ (wat·ta·‘al) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively and laid וַתַּשְׁכִּבֵ֔הוּ (wat·taš·ki·ḇê·hū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 7901: To lie down him on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the bed מִטַּ֖ת (miṭ·ṭaṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 4296: A bed, for, sleeping, eating, a sofa, litter, bier of the man אִ֣ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person of God. הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative Then she shut [the door] וַתִּסְגֹּ֥ר (wat·tis·gōr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 5462: To shut up, to surrender and went out. וַתֵּצֵֽא׃ (wat·tê·ṣê) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim Links 2 Kings 4:21 NIV2 Kings 4:21 NLT 2 Kings 4:21 ESV 2 Kings 4:21 NASB 2 Kings 4:21 KJV 2 Kings 4:21 BibleApps.com 2 Kings 4:21 Biblia Paralela 2 Kings 4:21 Chinese Bible 2 Kings 4:21 French Bible 2 Kings 4:21 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Kings 4:21 She went up and laid him (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
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