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2 Kings 4:3

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Kings 4:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
2 Kings 4:3 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Kings 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear Jehovah: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two children to be bondmen.
2And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me; what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thy handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil.
3Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4And thou shalt go in, and shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and pour out into all those vessels; and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
5So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons; they brought [the vessels] to her, and she poured out.
6And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then he said, go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, etc.] For he perceived that she had none: even empty vessels; which they might more readily lend her: borrow not a few; but as many as she could get; the prophet, under a divine impulse, was directed to say this to her, foreseeing, by a spirit of prophecy, that a large quantity of oil would be given her.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“empty vessels: Kg2 3:16; Joh 2:7 borrow not a few: Heb. scant not, Kg2 13:18, Kg2 13:19; Psa 81:10; Joh 16:24 4 Kings (2 Kings) 4:4”
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Related study paths

Read 2 Kings 4 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification