What does 2 Kings 4:23 mean?
"And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well." - 2 Kings 4:23
The Bible verse 2 Kings 4:23 in the King James Version (KJV) states, "And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well."
This verse is part of the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman, found in 2 Kings 4:8-37. The Shunammite woman had shown kindness to Elisha by providing him with food and lodging whenever he passed through her town. Elisha wanted to repay her kindness, and so he asked her what he could do for her. She mentioned that she had no son, and Elisha promised her that she would have a son within the year. True to his word, the Shunammite woman bore a son.
Tragically, however, the child became ill and died. The Shunammite woman laid her child on Elisha's bed and set out to find the prophet. When Elisha's servant Gehazi came to meet her, the woman pleaded for Elisha's help. Gehazi asked her why she was going to Elisha on a regular day, as it was not a special occasion such as the new moon or Sabbath. The woman's response is the verse in question: "It shall be well."
This verse is a powerful declaration of faith and trust in God's goodness, even in the face of tragedy and loss. The Shunammite woman's confidence in the midst of her grief is truly admirable, and it serves as a reminder for all believers to trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem bleak.
The context of this verse is important in understanding its significance. The Shunammite woman's journey to find Elisha is a poignant display of her faith in God, despite facing the death of her son. Her unwavering trust in Elisha, a man of God, demonstrates her belief that God's power can overcome even death itself.
The verse also has broader thematic implications within the narrative of Elisha and the Shunammite woman. It highlights the theme of God's sovereignty and his ability to bring about miraculous restoration in the midst of despair. The woman's faith and Elisha's subsequent intervention result in the resurrection of her son, illustrating the power of God to bring life from death.
Furthermore, the verse also serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness and hospitality. The Shunammite woman's kindness and generosity toward Elisha ultimately lead to the miraculous birth and restoration of her son. Her example challenges believers to show kindness to those in need, as it may lead to unexpected blessings and divine intervention.
Symbolically, the verse represents the unwavering trust and hope that believers should have in God, even when faced with adversity. It serves as a source of encouragement for those experiencing trials and tribulations, reminding them to hold onto their faith and trust that God's plan is ultimately for their good.
In conclusion, 2 Kings 4:23 in the King James Version encapsulates the Shunammite woman's profound faith and trust in God's goodness, even in the face of tragedy. Its context within the larger narrative of Elisha and the Shunammite woman reinforces the themes of God's sovereignty, miraculous restoration, and the importance of faithfulness and hospitality. The verse serves as a powerful reminder for believers to maintain unwavering faith in God, regardless of their circumstances.
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2 Kings 4:23 Artwork
2 Kings 4:23 - "And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well."
"And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well." - 2 Kings 4:23
2 Kings 23:23 - "But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem."
2 Kings 8:23 - "And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
1 Kings 4:23 - "Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl."
2 Kings 23:22 - "Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;"
2 Kings 4:4-5
2 Kings 23:28 - "Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Kings 3:23 - "And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil."
2 Kings 23:1 - "And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem."
2 Kings 21:23 - "¶ And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house."
2 Kings 9:23 - "And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah."
"But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem." - 2 Kings 23:23
2 Kings 23:4 - "And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Beth-el."
2 Kings 23:37 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done."
2 Kings 23:32 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done."
2 Kings 23:11 - "And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire."
2 Kings 23:21 - "¶ And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant."
2 Kings 23:7 - "And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove."
2 Kings 10:4 - "But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?"
2 Chronicles 9:23 - "¶ And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart."
2 Kings 15:23 - "¶ In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years."
2 Kings 23:9 - "Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren."
2 Kings 23:14 - "And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men." The image should not depict explicit or offensive content but be symbolic.
2 Kings 23:20 - "And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem."
"And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?" - 2 Kings 8:23
Generate Image of Valley of Hinnom With 2 kings 23 verse 10 quoeted within it
"Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl." - 1 Kings 4:23
2 Kings 4:11 - "And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there."
1 Kings 2:23 - "Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life."