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2 Kings 4:33

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Kings 4:33 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto Jehovah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto Jehovah.
2 Kings 4:33 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Kings 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
30And the mother of the child said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.
31And 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.
32And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.
33He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto Jehovah.
34And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon him; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.
35Then he returned, and walked in the house once to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
36And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.
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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
“He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, etc.] Himself and the dead child; that nobody might come in and interrupt him in his prayers for the restoration of it to life, nor see the motions and gestures he used, and the postures he put himself in: and prayed unto the Lord; that he would restore the child to life.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Prayed - Prayer was the only remedy in such a case as this (compare the marginal reference and James 5:16), though it did not exclude the use of other means 2 Kings 4:34. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Shut the door - Upon himself and the dead child, that he might pray to God without distraction, and might more freely use those means which he thought fit. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 4:34”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:33 shut the door: Elisha followed the same procedure he had advised the widow to take earlier (4:4). If God were to perform the miracle, it would not be for public display. Only the mother knew of the boy’s death and only she needed to know of Elisha’s efforts to petition God for the boy’s life.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shut the door: Kg2 4:4; Mat 6:6 prayed: Kg2 5:11, Kg2 6:17, Kg2 6:18, Kg2 6:20; Kg1 17:20, Kg1 17:21, Kg1 18:26, Kg1 18:27; Joh 11:41, Joh 11:42; Act 9:40; Jam 5:13-18 4 Kings (2 Kings) 4:34”
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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