Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. Don’t greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.” New Living Translation Then Elisha said to Gehazi, “Get ready to travel; take my staff and go! Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Go quickly and lay the staff on the child’s face.” English Standard Version He said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child.” Berean Standard Bible So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.” Berean Literal Bible And he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him. And if anyone greets you, do not answer him. And lay my staff on the face of the boy.” King James Bible Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. New King James Version Then he said to Gehazi, “Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.” New American Standard Bible Then he said to Gehazi, “Get ready and take my staff in your hand, and go; if you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply to him. And lay my staff on the boy’s face.” NASB 1995 Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand, and go your way; if you meet any man, do not salute him, and if anyone salutes you, do not answer him; and lay my staff on the lad’s face.” NASB 1977 Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand, and go your way; if you meet any man, do not salute him, and if anyone salutes you, do not answer him; and lay my staff on the lad’s face.” Legacy Standard Bible Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand, and go; if you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; and lay my staff on the boy’s face.” Amplified Bible Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins (prepare now!) and take my staff in your hand, and go [to the woman’s house]; if you meet any man [along the way], do not greet him and if a man greets you, do not [stop to] answer him; and lay my staff on the face of the boy [as soon as you reach the house].” Berean Annotated Bible So Elisha said to Gehazi (valley of vision), “Tie up your garment \Gird up your loins/, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face. Christian Standard Bible So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your mantle under your belt, take my staff with you, and go. If you meet anyone, don’t stop to greet him, and if a man greets you, don’t answer him. Then place my staff on the boy’s face.” Holman Christian Standard Bible So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your mantle under your belt, take my staff with you, and go. If you meet anyone, don’t stop to greet him, and if a man greets you, don’t answer him. Then place my staff on the boy’s face.” American Standard Version Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. Contemporary English Version "Gehazi, get ready and go to her house," Elisha said. "Take along my walking stick, and when you get there, lay it on the boy's face. Don't stop to talk to anyone, even if they try to talk to you." English Revised Version Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. GOD'S WORD® Translation The man of God told Gehazi, "Put on a belt, take my shepherd's staff in your hand, and go. Whenever you meet anyone, don't stop to greet him. If he greets you, don't stop to answer him. Lay my staff on the boy's face." Good News Translation Elisha turned to Gehazi and said, "Hurry! Take my walking stick and go. Don't stop to greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, don't take time to answer. Go straight to the house and hold my stick over the boy." International Standard Version At this he told Gehazi, "Get ready to run! Take my staff in your hand, and get on the road. Don't greet anyone you meet. If anyone greets you, don't respond. Just go lay my staff on the youngster's face." NET Bible Elisha told Gehazi, "Tuck your robes into your belt, take my staff, and go! Don't stop to exchange greetings with anyone! Place my staff on the child's face." New Heart English Bible Then he said to Gehazi, "Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him again. Then lay my staff on the face of the child." Webster's Bible Translation Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way: and if thou shalt meet any man, salute him not; and if any shall salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.” World English Bible Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don’t answer him again. Then lay my staff on the child’s face.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd he says to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go; when you meet a man, you do not greet him; and when a man greets you, you do not answer him; and you have laid my staff on the face of the youth.” Berean Literal Bible And he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him. And if anyone greets you, do not answer him. And lay my staff on the face of the boy.” Young's Literal Translation And he saith to Gehazi, 'Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go; when thou dost meet a man, thou dost not salute him; and when a man doth salute thee, thou dost not answer him; and thou hast laid my staff on the face of the youth.' Smith's Literal Translation And he will say to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins and take my prop in thy hand, and go: If thou shalt find a man, thou shalt not praise him; and if a man shall praise thee, thou shalt not answer him: and put my prop upon the face of the boy. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThen he said to Giezi: Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go. If any man meet thee, salute him not: and if any man salute thee, answer him not: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. Catholic Public Domain Version And so he said to Gehazi: “Gird your waist, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If any man will meet you, you shall not greet him. And if anyone greets you, you shall not respond to him. And place my staff upon the face of the boy.” New American Bible He said to Gehazi, “Get ready for a journey. Take my staff with you and be off; if you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff upon the boy.” New Revised Standard Version He said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer; and lay my staff on the face of the child.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen he said to Gehazi, Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet any man, do not salute him; and if any man salutes you, do not answer him; and lay my staff upon the face of the child. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he said to Gekhazi: “Wrap up your loins and take my staff in your hand and go. If you find a man, you will not bless him, and if a man will bless you, you shall not answer him. And put my staff on the face of the boy.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Then he said to Gehazi: 'Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way; if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not; and lay my staff upon the face of the child.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And Elisaie said to Giezi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go: if thou meet any man, thou shalt not salute him, and if a man salute thee thou shalt not answer him: and thou shalt lay my staff on the child's face. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son…28Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’ ” 29So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.” 30And the mother of the boy said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.… Cross References So Elisha said to Gehazi, 2 Kings 5:20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, by not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 2 Kings 5:25 When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Gehazi, where have you been?” “Your servant did not go anywhere,” he replied. 2 Kings 8:4 Now the king had been speaking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Please relate to me all the great things Elisha has done.” “Tie up your garment, Job 38:3 Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me. 1 Kings 18:46 And the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. Exodus 12:11 This is how you are to eat it: You must be fully dressed for travel, with your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You are to eat in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover. take my staff in your hand, Exodus 4:17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform signs with it.” Exodus 17:5 And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Exodus 4:20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand. and go! 1 Kings 17:9 “Get up and go to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” Exodus 3:10 Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Jeremiah 1:7 But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, Luke 10:4 Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road. 2 John 1:10 If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him. 2 John 1:11 Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds. and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Matthew 27:14 But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement. Treasury of Scripture Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go your way: if you meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute you, answer him not again: and lay my staff on the face of the child. Gird up thy loins 2 Kings 9:1 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead: 1 Kings 18:46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; take my 2 Kings 2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. Exodus 4:17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs. salute him not Luke 10:4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. lay my staff 2 Kings 2:8,14 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground… Exodus 7:19,20 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone… Exodus 14:16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. Jump to Previous Child Face Gehazi Gird Greet Greets Hand Lay Meet Salute Staff Waist WayJump to Next Child Face Gehazi Gird Greet Greets Hand Lay Meet Salute Staff Waist Way2 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 So Elisha said to Gehazi Elisha, the successor of Elijah, is a prominent prophet in Israel during the 9th century BC. Gehazi is his servant, often accompanying him in his ministry. This relationship mirrors that of Elijah and Elisha, highlighting the importance of mentorship and service in prophetic ministry. Tie up your garment Take my staff in your hand And go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him And if anyone greets you, do not answer him Then lay my staff on the boy’s face Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God and successor to Elijah, known for performing miracles and guiding the people of Israel. 2. Gehazi Elisha's servant, who is tasked with carrying out Elisha's instructions in this passage. 3. The Shunammite Woman Although not directly mentioned in this verse, she is the mother of the boy who has died, and she seeks Elisha's help. 4. The Boy The son of the Shunammite woman, who has died and is the focus of Elisha's miraculous intervention. 5. Shunem The town where the Shunammite woman and her family live, and where the events surrounding the boy's death and revival take place. Teaching Points Urgency in God's WorkElisha's instruction to Gehazi to avoid distractions highlights the importance of focusing on God's mission with urgency and dedication. Faith and Obedience Gehazi's role emphasizes the need for faith and obedience in carrying out God's instructions, even when the outcome is uncertain. God's Power through Instruments The use of Elisha's staff symbolizes how God can use ordinary objects and people to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. Intercession and Advocacy The Shunammite woman's persistence in seeking Elisha's help teaches the importance of intercession and advocating for others in prayer. Miracles and God's Sovereignty The account reminds us of God's sovereignty and power over life and death, encouraging trust in His miraculous abilities. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 4:29?2. How does Gehazi's obedience in 2 Kings 4:29 inspire our own faithfulness today? 3. What does Elisha's instruction to Gehazi reveal about urgency in God's work? 4. How can we apply the urgency shown in 2 Kings 4:29 to evangelism? 5. Compare Gehazi's task in 2 Kings 4:29 with other urgent biblical missions. 6. What lessons about spiritual authority can we learn from Elisha's command to Gehazi? 7. What is the significance of Elisha's staff in 2 Kings 4:29? 8. Why did Elisha instruct Gehazi to avoid greeting anyone in 2 Kings 4:29? 9. How does 2 Kings 4:29 reflect the authority of a prophet? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 4? 11. Who was Gehazi in the Bible? 12. How did Elisha help the Shunammite woman's son live? 13. How does the resurrection of the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4:18-37) align with or contradict other biblical resurrection accounts? 14. Where is the historical or archaeological evidence that any of these miracles in 2 Kings 4 took place? What Does 2 Kings 4:29 Mean Tie up your garment“So Elisha said to Gehazi, ‘Tie up your garment…’” (2 Kings 4:29a) • In those days, gathering one’s robe into the belt signaled readiness to move quickly (Exodus 12:11; 1 Peter 1:13). • Elisha’s first command shows that spiritual service demands practical preparation—no loose ends, no half-heartedness. • Similar urgency appears when God tells Israel to eat the Passover “with your cloak tucked into your belt” (Exodus 12:11), underscoring the literal expectation of immediate obedience. Take my staff in your hand “…take my staff in your hand…” (2 Kings 4:29b) • A prophet’s staff often represented delegated authority (Exodus 4:17; 2 Kings 2:13-14). • By handing over his own staff, Elisha gives Gehazi a tangible sign of prophetic power. • The transfer reminds us that God can work through chosen instruments—people or objects—yet the power ultimately remains His (Acts 3:6, 12). Go! “…and go!” (2 Kings 4:29c) • The monosyllable conveys urgency: the boy is dead, time is critical (2 Kings 4:20). • Obedience must be swift; delayed compliance is disobedience (Psalm 119:60). • Like Abraham rising “early in the morning” to obey (Genesis 22:3), Gehazi is expected to act without hesitation. Do not greet or answer “If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him.” (2 Kings 4:29d) • Eastern greetings could be prolonged; Elisha forbids distractions to protect the mission’s urgency (Luke 10:4, where Jesus gives similar instructions). • The command highlights single-minded devotion (2 Titus 2:4). • It also guards against doubt or interference from curious onlookers, as seen when Jesus removes mourners before raising Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:38-40). Lay my staff on the boy’s face “Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.” (2 Kings 4:29e) • The act is symbolic: life transmitted through contact, anticipating the fuller miracle Elisha will perform himself (2 Kings 4:34-35). • Comparable prophetic actions include Moses stretching his staff over the sea (Exodus 14:16) and Elijah extending himself over a dead child (1 Kings 17:21). • The staff alone does not raise the boy (v 31), reminding us that faith rests in the living God, not in objects (Numbers 21:8-9; John 3:14-15). summary Elisha’s terse instructions stress readiness, delegated authority, urgency, undivided focus, and faith-filled action. Each command forms part of a literal narrative that underscores God’s power to conquer death through obedient servants who move quickly, stay focused, and trust Him to work beyond visible means. (29) If thou meet any man, salute him not.--An injunction of utmost haste. (Comp. the similar words of our Saviour, Luke 10:4.) A short greeting might end in a long halt. "Orientals lose much time in tedious salutations" (Keil).Lay my staff upon the face of the child.--It seems to be implied that if the mother had had faith this would have sufficed for raising the child. (Comp. 2Kings 2:8; Acts 19:12.) Keil supposes that the prophet foresaw the failure of this expedient, and intended by it to teach the Shunammitess and his followers generally that the power of working miracles was not magically inherent in himself or in his staff, as they might imagine, but only in Jehovah, who granted the temporary use of that power to faith and prayer. In other words, Elisha was seeking to lift the minds of his disciples to higher and more spiritual conceptions of the prophetic office. But this seems doubtful. Verse 29. - Than he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again. The object of all these injunctions is haste. Lose not a moment. Go as quickly as thou canst to the house where the child lies. Spend no time in greetings on the way. Slack not. Tarry not. And lay my staff upon the face of the child. What effect the prophet expected from this act, we are not told. Gehazi appears to have expected that it would at once cause a resuscitation (ver. 31); but there is no evidence that the prophet participated in the expectation. He may have done so, for prophets are not infallible beyond the sphere of the revelations made to them; but he may only have intended to comfort and cheer the mother, and to raise in her an expectation of the resuscitation which he trusted it would be allowed him to effect.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So Elisha saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to Gehazi, לְגֵיחֲזִ֜י (lə·ḡê·ḥă·zî) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1522: Gehazi -- perhaps 'valley of vision', servant of Elisha “Tie up חֲגֹ֣ר (ḥă·ḡōr) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 2296: To gird, gird on, gird oneself your garment, מָתְנֶ֗יךָ (mā·ṯə·ne·ḵā) Noun - mdc | second person masculine singular Strong's 4975: The waist, small of the back, the loins take וְקַ֨ח (wə·qaḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 3947: To take my staff מִשְׁעַנְתִּ֣י (miš·‘an·tî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 4938: Support, sustenance, a walking-stick in your hand, בְיָדְךָ֮ (ḇə·yā·ḏə·ḵā) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 3027: A hand and go! וָלֵךְ֒ (wā·lêḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk If כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction you meet תִמְצָ֥א (ṯim·ṣā) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present anyone, אִישׁ֙ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person do not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no greet him, תְבָרְכֶ֔נּוּ (ṯə·ḇā·rə·ḵen·nū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse and if וְכִֽי־ (wə·ḵî-) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction anyone אִ֖ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person greets you, יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ (yə·ḇā·reḵ·ḵā) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse do not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no answer him. תַעֲנֶנּ֑וּ (ṯa·‘ă·nen·nū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 6030: To answer, respond Then lay וְשַׂמְתָּ֥ (wə·śam·tā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set my staff מִשְׁעַנְתִּ֖י (miš·‘an·tî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 4938: Support, sustenance, a walking-stick on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the boy’s הַנָּֽעַר׃ (han·nā·‘ar) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer face.” פְּנֵ֥י (pə·nê) Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face Links 2 Kings 4:29 NIV2 Kings 4:29 NLT 2 Kings 4:29 ESV 2 Kings 4:29 NASB 2 Kings 4:29 KJV 2 Kings 4:29 BibleApps.com 2 Kings 4:29 Biblia Paralela 2 Kings 4:29 Chinese Bible 2 Kings 4:29 French Bible 2 Kings 4:29 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Kings 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi Gird up (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
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