2 kings 4:27 - When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, “Leave her alone; for her soul is troubled within her; and Yahweh has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”
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What does "2 kings 4:27" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 4:27 describes a pivotal moment in the story of the Shunammite woman, a woman who had previously shown great kindness to the prophet Elisha. Let's break down the meaning:
"When she came to the man of God to the hill..." This refers to the Shunammite woman seeking out Elisha. He was likely staying at his usual retreat, probably a place of higher elevation (the hill) offering solitude and prayer. We know she travels to find him because something is deeply wrong.
"...she caught hold of his feet." This action signifies deep distress, humility, and a desperate plea for help. In that culture, grasping someone's feet was a sign of submission, reverence, and urgent need. She is in anguish and is showing reverence to Elisha in the hope that he can help her.
"Gehazi came near to thrust her away..." Gehazi was Elisha's servant. He, likely misunderstanding the situation or perhaps trying to protect Elisha from a possible inappropriate advance, attempts to push her away. Servants were often tasked with keeping people away from their masters.
"...but the man of God said, “Leave her alone; for her soul is troubled within her;..." Elisha, with his prophetic insight, discerns that the woman is in deep emotional pain. "Her soul is troubled" means she's experiencing great inner turmoil and grief. Elisha understands that her desperation is genuine, not a frivolous request or an attempt to be disruptive. He tells Gehazi to leave her alone because he senses her distress.
"...and Yahweh has hidden it from me, and has not told me.” This is the most crucial and enigmatic part of the verse. Despite his prophetic gifts, Elisha admits that God has not revealed to him the reason for her distress. This highlights that even prophets don't have perfect or constant access to divine knowledge. It shows that Elisha's prophetic ability is subject to God's will and timing. God chooses what to reveal, and when. In this instance, God is intentionally withholding the reason for the woman's suffering from Elisha.
In essence, the verse conveys the following:
The Shunammite woman is in a state of profound distress.
She seeks Elisha's help with urgency and humility.
Elisha, though a prophet, doesn't immediately know the source of her trouble.
God has chosen to keep the reason hidden from Elisha, emphasizing the limitations of even the most gifted prophets.
The woman's desperation and the mystery surrounding her situation set the stage for the subsequent revelation and miraculous intervention.
The verse creates suspense and makes the reader curious about what could have caused such anguish. It sets the stage for the revelation of the tragedy that has befallen her (the death of her son) and Elisha's subsequent role in the miraculous resurrection. It also teaches a theological point about the sovereignty of God over knowledge, even prophetic knowledge.
2 kings 4:27 - When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, “Leave her alone; for her soul is troubled within her; and Yahweh has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”
What does "2 kings 4:27" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 4:27 describes a pivotal moment in the story of the Shunammite woman, a woman who had previously shown great kindness to the prophet Elisha. Let's break down the meaning:
"When she came to the man of God to the hill..." This refers to the Shunammite woman seeking out Elisha. He was likely staying at his usual retreat, probably a place of higher elevation (the hill) offering solitude and prayer. We know she travels to find him because something is deeply wrong.
"...she caught hold of his feet." This action signifies deep distress, humility, and a desperate plea for help. In that culture, grasping someone's feet was a sign of submission, reverence, and urgent need. She is in anguish and is showing reverence to Elisha in the hope that he can help her.
"Gehazi came near to thrust her away..." Gehazi was Elisha's servant. He, likely misunderstanding the situation or perhaps trying to protect Elisha from a possible inappropriate advance, attempts to push her away. Servants were often tasked with keeping people away from their masters.
"...but the man of God said, “Leave her alone; for her soul is troubled within her;..." Elisha, with his prophetic insight, discerns that the woman is in deep emotional pain. "Her soul is troubled" means she's experiencing great inner turmoil and grief. Elisha understands that her desperation is genuine, not a frivolous request or an attempt to be disruptive. He tells Gehazi to leave her alone because he senses her distress.
"...and Yahweh has hidden it from me, and has not told me.” This is the most crucial and enigmatic part of the verse. Despite his prophetic gifts, Elisha admits that God has not revealed to him the reason for her distress. This highlights that even prophets don't have perfect or constant access to divine knowledge. It shows that Elisha's prophetic ability is subject to God's will and timing. God chooses what to reveal, and when. In this instance, God is intentionally withholding the reason for the woman's suffering from Elisha.
In essence, the verse conveys the following:
The Shunammite woman is in a state of profound distress.
She seeks Elisha's help with urgency and humility.
Elisha, though a prophet, doesn't immediately know the source of her trouble.
God has chosen to keep the reason hidden from Elisha, emphasizing the limitations of even the most gifted prophets.
The woman's desperation and the mystery surrounding her situation set the stage for the subsequent revelation and miraculous intervention.
The verse creates suspense and makes the reader curious about what could have caused such anguish. It sets the stage for the revelation of the tragedy that has befallen her (the death of her son) and Elisha's subsequent role in the miraculous resurrection. It also teaches a theological point about the sovereignty of God over knowledge, even prophetic knowledge.