2 Kings 4 · Verse 7

2 Kings 4:7

Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
2 Kings 4:7, King James Version

2 Kings 4:7 in other translations

BSBShe went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt. Then you and your sons can live on the remainder.”
WEBThen she came and told the man of God. He said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”
ASVThen she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy sons of the rest.
YLTAnd she cometh and declareth to the man of God, and he saith, ‘Go, sell the oil, and repay thy loan; and thou and thy sons do live of the rest.'
DARBYAnd she came and told the man of God; and he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy sons on the rest.
BBESo she came to the man of God and gave him word of what she had done. And he said, Go and get money for the oil and make payment of your debt, and let the rest be for the needs of yourself and your sons.
WebsterThen she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children on the remainder.

What does 2 Kings 4:7 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt - He does not inveigh against the cruelty of this creditor, because the law and custom of the country gave him the authority on which he acted; and rather than permit a poor honest widow to have her children sold, or that even a Philistine should suffer loss who had given credit to a genuine Israelite, he would work a miracle to pay a debt which, in the course of providence, it was out of her power to discharge.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Kings 4:1-7

Elisha's miracles were acts of real charity: Christ's were so; not only great wonders, but great favours to those for whom they were wrought. God magnifies his goodness with his power. Elisha readily received a poor widow's complaint. Those that leave their families under a load of debt, know not what trouble they cause. It is the duty of all who profess to follow the Lord, while they trust to God for daily bread…

Read the full comment on 2 Kings 4:1-7 →

2 Kings 4:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַתָּבֹ֗אva.ta.Vo'and she cameH935
וַתַּגֵּד֙va.ta.Gedand she toldH5046
לְאִ֣ישׁle.'Ishto [the] man ofH376
הָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.Him<the> GodH430
וַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
לְכִי֙le.KhigoH1980
מִכְרִ֣יmikh.RisellH4376
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַשֶּׁ֔מֶןha.She.menthe oilH8081
וְשַׁלְּמִ֖יve.sha.le.Miand payH7999
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
נִשְׁיֵ֑ךְnish.ye.khedebt yourH5386
וְאַ֣תְּve.'Atand youH859
וּבָנַ֔יִךְve.ba.nei.kheand children yourH1121
תִֽחְיִ֖יtich.Yiyou will liveH2421
בַּנּוֹתָֽר\׃\ \פba.no.Tarby the remainderH3498

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Kings 4:7

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12

    For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. …

  • 1 Kings 12:22

    But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

  • Psalms 37:21

    The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

  • Philippians 4:8

    Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

  • Romans 12:17

    Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
pay.
Ps 37:21; Ro 12:17; Php 4:8; 1Th 2:9,10; 4:12; 2Th 3:7-12
debt. or, creditor.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Kings 4:6

    And 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.

  • 2 Kings 4:7

    Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

  • 2 Kings 4:8

    And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

Read all of 2 Kings 4

2 Kings 4:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Vino ella luego, y contólo al varón de Dios, el cual dijo: Ve, y vende el aceite, y paga á tus acreedores; y tú y tus hijos vivid de lo que quedare.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et elle s’en vint et le raconta à l’homme de Dieu, et il dit: Va, vends l’huile, et paie ta dette; et vous vivrez, toi et tes fils, de ce qui restera.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie kam und berichtete es dem Manne Gottes; und er sprach: Gehe hin, verkaufe das Öl und bezahle deine Schuld; du aber und deine Söhne, lebet von dem Übrigen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Venit autem illa, et indicavit homini Dei. Et ille: Vade, inquit, vende oleum, et redde creditori tuo: tu autem, et filii tui vivite de reliquo.