2 Kings 4:14
◄  2 Kings 4:14  ►
New International Version (©2011)
"What can be done for her?" Elisha asked. Gehazi said, "She has no son, and her husband is old."

New Living Translation (©2007)
Later Elisha asked Gehazi, "What can we do for her?" Gehazi replied, "She doesn't have a son, and her husband is an old man."

English Standard Version (©2001)
And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
So he said, "What then is to be done for her?" And Gehazi answered, "Truly she has no son and her husband is old."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
So he asked, "Then what should be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.""

International Standard Version (©2012)
He responded, "What, then, is to be done on her behalf?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son and her husband is growing old."

NET Bible (©2006)
So he asked Gehazi, "What can I do for her?" Gehazi replied, "She has no son, and her husband is old."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"What should we do for her?" Elisha asked. Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she has no child, and her husband is old.

American King James Version
And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Truly she has no child, and her husband is old.

American Standard Version
And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no son, and her husband is old.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said : What will she then that I do for her? And Giezi said: Do not ask, for she hath no son, and her husband is old.

Darby Bible Translation
And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi said, Verily, she has no son, and her husband is old.

English Revised Version
And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no son, and her husband is old.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.

World English Bible
He said, "What then is to be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Most certainly she has no son, and her husband is old."

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith, 'And what -- to do for her?' and Gehazi saith, 'Verily she hath no son, and her husband is aged.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:8-17 Elisha was well thought of by the king of Israel for his late services; a good man can take as much pleasure in serving others, as in raising himself. But the Shunammite needed not any good offices of this kind. It is a happiness to dwell among our own people, that love and respect us, and to whom we are able to do good. It would be well with many, if they did but know when they are really well off. The Lord sees the secret wish which is suppressed in obedience to his will, and he will hear the prayers of his servants in behalf of their benefactors, by sending unasked-for and unexpected mercies; nor must the professions of men of God be supposed to be delusive like those of men of the world.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 14. - And he said - he, Elisha, said to Gehazi - What then is to be done for her? If the woman will suggest nothing herself, can Gehazi suggest anything? Has he heard her express any wish? Does he know of any boon that would be welcome to her? Evidently the woman's disinterestedness has increased the prophet's desire to do something for her. b It does not appear that the woman had made any complaint or exhibited any special anxiety on the subject of offspring. But Gehazi knows, that to be barren is regarded by all Hebrew women as a re-preach, that it exposes them to scorn and contumely (1 Samuel 1:6, 7), and that offspring is universally, or all but universally, desired. He therefore assumes that the Shunammite must wish for it. And Elisha accepts his suggestion without a moment's hesitation.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he said,.... That is, Elisha to Gehazi, when he returned to him, and told him what the Shunammite said:

what then is to be done for her? something he thought should be done in gratitude, the favours they had received, and advises with his servant what could be thought of, he being one about the house:

and Gehazi answered, verily she hath no child, and her husband is old; and so not likely to have any by him; as children were always very desirable by women, and especially in those days, the servant suggests, that no doubt to have one would be very acceptable to her.

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The Shunammite Woman
…13And he said to him, Say now to her, Behold, you have been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for you? would you be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among my own people. 14And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Truly she has no child, and her husband is old. 15And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. …

2 Kings 4:13 Elisha said to him, "Tell her, 'You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?'" She replied, "I have a home among my own people."
2 Kings 4:15 Then Elisha said, "Call her." So he called her, and she stood in the doorway.