2 Kings 4:31
New International Version
Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”

New Living Translation
Gehazi hurried on ahead and laid the staff on the child’s face, but nothing happened. There was no sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and told him, “The child is still dead.”

English Standard Version
Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, “The child has not awakened.”

Berean Standard Bible
Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”

King James Bible
And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

New King James Version
Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, “The child has not awakened.”

New American Standard Bible
Then Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he returned to meet him and informed him, saying, “The boy has not awakened.”

NASB 1995
Then Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the lad’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he returned to meet him and told him, “The lad has not awakened.”

NASB 1977
Then Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the lad’s face, but there was neither sound nor response. So he returned to meet him and told him, “The lad has not awakened.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he returned to meet him and told him, saying, “The boy has not awakened.”

Amplified Bible
Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response [from the boy]. So he turned back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened (revived).”

Christian Standard Bible
Gehazi went ahead of them and placed the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or sign of life, so he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy didn’t wake up.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Gehazi went ahead of them and placed the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or sign of life, so he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy didn’t wake up.”

American Standard Version
And 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.

Contemporary English Version
Gehazi ran on ahead and laid Elisha's walking stick on the boy's face, but the boy didn't move or make a sound. Gehazi ran back to Elisha and said, "The boy didn't wake up."

English Revised Version
And 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Gehazi went ahead of them and put the staff on the boy's face, but there was no sound or sign of life. So Gehazi came back to meet the man of God. Gehazi told him, "The boy didn't wake up."

Good News Translation
Gehazi went on ahead and held Elisha's stick over the child, but there was no sound or any other sign of life. So he went back to meet Elisha and said, "The boy didn't wake up."

International Standard Version
Meanwhile, Gehazi went on ahead of them and placed the staff on the youngster's face, but when there was no sound or reaction, he returned, met Elisha, and told him, "The youngster has shown no sign of awakening."

Majority Standard Bible
Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy?s face, but there was no sound or response. So he went back to meet Elisha and told him, ?The boy has not awakened.?

NET Bible
Now Gehazi went on ahead of them. He placed the staff on the child's face, but there was no sound or response. When he came back to Elisha he told him, "The child did not wake up."

New Heart English Bible
Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Therefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, "The child has not awakened."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

World English Bible
Gehazi went ahead of them, and laid the staff on the child’s face; but there was no voice and no hearing. Therefore he returned to meet him, and told him, “The child has not awakened.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Gehazi has passed on before them, and lays the staff on the face of the youth, and there is no voice, and there is no attention, and he turns back to meet him, and declares to him, saying, “The youth has not awoken.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Gehazi hath passed on before them, and layeth the staff on the face of the youth, and there is no voice, and there is no attention, and he turneth back to meet him, and declareth to him, saying, 'The youth hath not awaked.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Gehazi passed over before them, and he will put the prop upon the face of the boy, and no voice and no attention. And he will turn back to meet him; and he will announce to him, saying, The boy awaked not.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Giezi was gone before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child, and there was no voice nor sense: and he returned to meet him, and told him, saying: The child is not risen.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But Gehazi had gone before them, and he had placed the staff upon the face of the boy. And there was no voice, nor any response. And so he returned to meet him. And he reported to him, saying, “The boy did not rise up.”

New American Bible
Meanwhile, Gehazi had gone on ahead and had laid the staff upon the boy, but there was no sound, no response. He returned to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”

New Revised Standard Version
Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. He came back to meet him and told him, “The child has not awakened.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Gehazi went on before them and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he returned to meet Elisha, and told him, saying, The child is not awake.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Gekhazi passed on before them and put his staff on the face of the boy, and there was not a voice, neither one hearing. And he returned to meet him and he told him and said to him: “The boy has not awakened!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And 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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Giezi went on before her, and laid his staff on the child's face: but there was neither voice nor any hearing. So he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son
30And the mother of the boy said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her. 31Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.” 32When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed.…

Cross References
1 Kings 17:21-22
Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!” / And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the child’s life returned to him, and he lived.

Mark 5:39-42
He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.” / And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child. / Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” ...

Luke 7:14-15
Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!” / And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Acts 9:40-41
Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. / Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.

Matthew 9:24-25
“Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him. / After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

John 11:43-44
After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” / The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them.

1 Kings 18:26-29
And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. / At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!” / So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them. ...

2 Kings 13:21
Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders, so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. And as soon as his body touched the bones of Elisha, the man was revived and stood up on his feet.

Acts 20:9-12
And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead. / But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!” / Then Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. And after speaking until daybreak, he departed. ...

Luke 8:52-55
Meanwhile, everyone was weeping and mourning for her. But Jesus said, “Stop weeping; she is not dead but asleep.” / And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. / But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” ...

Genesis 22:5
“Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told his servants. “The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you.”

1 Samuel 1:17
“Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.”

1 Kings 17:18
“O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”

2 Kings 5:11
But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the spot to cure my leprosy.

Matthew 17:16-18
I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.” / “O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.” / Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.


Treasury of Scripture

And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Why he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

neither voice

1 Samuel 14:37
And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

1 Samuel 28:6
And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

Ezekiel 14:3
Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?

hearing [heb] attention

1 Kings 18:26,29
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made…

not awaked

Job 14:12
So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

Daniel 12:2
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Mark 5:39
And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

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Awaked Awakened Boy Boy's Child Elisha Face Gehazi Geha'zi Hearing Laid Life Meet Passed Response Sign Sound Staff Voice Wherefore
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2 Kings 4
1. Elisha multiplies the widow's oil
8. He obtains a son for the good Shunammite
18. He restores her son when dead
38. At Gilgal he heals the deadly pottage
42. He satisfies a hundred men with twenty loaves














Gehazi went on ahead of them
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, is a figure who often represents the human tendency to act without full understanding or faith. His name in Hebrew means "valley of vision," which is ironic given his spiritual blindness in later chapters. In this context, Gehazi's role is to act as an intermediary, but his actions lack the spiritual authority that Elisha possesses. This phrase sets the stage for the unfolding miracle, highlighting the limitations of human effort without divine intervention.

and laid the staff on the boy’s face
The staff is a symbol of authority and power, often used by prophets as a tangible representation of God's presence. In Hebrew culture, the staff could signify leadership and divine support. Gehazi's act of laying the staff on the boy's face is an attempt to transfer life or healing, yet it underscores the necessity of faith and divine will for miracles to occur. The staff alone, without the presence of God's anointed prophet, Elisha, proves ineffective, teaching us that rituals and symbols are powerless without genuine faith and God's blessing.

but there was no sound or response
This phrase emphasizes the absence of life and the futility of Gehazi's actions. The Hebrew words used here convey a sense of silence and inactivity, underscoring the boy's condition as beyond human remedy. It serves as a reminder that human efforts, devoid of divine power, cannot bring about true change or revival. This moment of silence is a precursor to the miraculous, illustrating that God's timing and methods often transcend human understanding.

So he went back to meet Elisha
Gehazi's return to Elisha signifies a recognition of his own limitations and the need for true spiritual authority. Elisha, whose name means "God is salvation," embodies the power and presence of God. This action reflects the biblical principle of returning to God and seeking His intervention when human efforts fail. It is a call to humility and reliance on divine wisdom and power.

and told him, 'The boy has not awakened.'
The report given by Gehazi is straightforward, yet it carries a deeper spiritual implication. The term "awakened" in Hebrew can also mean "to arise" or "to be stirred." This statement acknowledges the boy's continued state of death, setting the stage for Elisha's forthcoming miracle. It highlights the theme of resurrection and new life, which is a foreshadowing of the ultimate resurrection through Christ. This moment of apparent failure is transformed into a testimony of God's power to bring life where there is death, reinforcing the Christian belief in the hope and promise of eternal life through faith.

(31) There was neither voice, nor hearing.--1Kings 18:29; see margin, and Isaiah 21:7.

Wherefore he went again.--And he came back to meet him (Elisha).

The child is not awaked.--The lad woke not.

The Rabbis explain Gehazi's failure by assuming that he had disobeyed his master's injunction by loitering on the way. This is contradicted by the narrative itself. He had acted with all despatch. Others blame him on other grounds, which, in the absolute silence of the text, cannot be substantiated. The prophet says no word of censure when he receives the announcement of the failure. Bahr thinks that Elisha himself was at fault in supposing he could transfer the spirit and power of a prophet to his servant; and acted in over-haste without a Divine incentive. (Comp. 2Samuel 7:3 seq.)

The true explanation is suggested in the Note on 2Kings 4:29. (Bahr is wrong in taking the staff to be other than a walking staff. A different word would be used for rod or sceptre.) . . .

Verse 31. - And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Gehazi did as he had Been told, executed his mission faithfully; but there was no apparent result. The child was not reused by the staff being placed across his face. All remained still and silent as before. Although on some occasions it has pleased God to allow miracles to be wrought by the instrumentality of lifeless objects, as when Elisha's hones resuscitated a dead man (2 Kings 13:21), and when virtue went out from the hem of our Lord's garment (Mark 5:25-34), and still more remarkably, when "handkerchiefs or aprons from the body of Paul were brought unto the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits were case out of them" (Acts 19:12); yet the instances are, comparatively speaking, rare, and form exceptions to what may be called the usual Divine economy of miracles. Miracles are, as a general rule, attached in Scripture to intense unwavering faith - faith, sometimes, in those that are the objects of them, almost always in those that are the workers of them. The present case was not to be an exception to the general rule, the circumstances not calling for an exception. The power of faith was to be shown forth once more in Elisha, as not long previously in Elijah (1 Kings 17:19-23); and Israel was to be taught, by a second marvelous example, how much the effectual fervent prayer of a faithful and righteous man avails with the Most High. The lesson would have been lest had the staff been allowed to effect the resuscitation. Wherefore he - i.e. Gehazi - went again to meet him - i.e. Elisha - and told him, saying, The child is not waked. It is clear from this, that Gehazi had expected an awakening; but there is nothing to show what the prophet himself had expected. We are certainly not entitled to conclude, with Peter Martyr,' that "Elisha did wrong in attempting to 'delegate his power of working miracles to another;" or even, with Starke, that "Elisha gave the command to Gehazi from over haste, without having any Divine incentive to it."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Gehazi
וְגֵחֲזִ֞י (wə·ḡê·ḥă·zî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1522: Gehazi -- perhaps 'valley of vision', servant of Elisha

went on
עָבַ֣ר (‘ā·ḇar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

ahead of them
לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם (lip̄·nê·hem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

and laid
וַיָּ֤שֶׂם (way·yā·śem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

the staff
הַמִּשְׁעֶ֙נֶת֙ (ham·miš·‘e·neṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4938: Support, sustenance, a walking-stick

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the boy’s
הַנַּ֔עַר (han·na·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

face,
פְּנֵ֣י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

but there was no
וְאֵ֥ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

sound
ק֖וֹל (qō·wl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

[or]
וְאֵ֣ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

response.
קָ֑שֶׁב (qā·šeḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7182: Attentiveness

So he went back
וַיָּ֤שָׁב (way·yā·šāḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to meet [Elisha]
לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ (liq·rā·ṯōw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7125: Against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way

and told him,
וַיַּגֶּד־ (way·yag·geḏ-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

“The boy
הַנָּֽעַר׃ (han·nā·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

has not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

awakened.”
הֵקִ֖יץ (hê·qîṣ)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6974: Arise, be awake, watch


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OT History: 2 Kings 4:31 Gehazi passed on before them and laid (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 4:30
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