New International Version So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him,’ but she had hidden him.” New Living Translation So we cooked my son and ate him. Then the next day I said to her, ‘Kill your son so we can eat him,’ but she has hidden her son.” English Standard Version So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him.’ But she has hidden her son.” Berean Standard Bible So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.” Berean Literal Bible And we boiled my son and ate him, and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ And she has hidden her son.” King James Bible So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son. New King James Version So we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.” New American Standard Bible So we cooked my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, so that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.” NASB 1995 “So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.” NASB 1977 “So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.” Legacy Standard Bible So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.” Amplified Bible So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give your son so that we may eat him’; but she had hidden her son.” Berean Annotated Bible So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him. But she had hidden her son. Christian Standard Bible So we boiled my son and ate him, and I said to her the next day, ‘Give up your son, and we will eat him,’ but she has hidden her son.” Holman Christian Standard Bible So we boiled my son and ate him, and I said to her the next day, ‘Give up your son, and we will eat him,’ but she has hidden her son.” American Standard Version So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him; and she hath hid her son. Contemporary English Version So yesterday we cooked my son and ate him. But today when I went to her house to eat her son, she had hidden him." English Revised Version So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son. GOD'S WORD® Translation So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day I told her, 'Give up your son. We'll eat him,' but she hid her son." Good News Translation So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I told her that we would eat her son, but she had hidden him!" International Standard Version So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day, I told her, 'Give me your son so we can eat him!' But she has hidden her son!" NET Bible So we boiled my son and ate him. Then I said to her the next day, 'Hand over your son and we'll eat him.' But she hid her son!" New Heart English Bible So we boiled my son, and ate him: and I said to her on the next day, 'Give your son, that we may eat him;' and she has hidden her son." Webster's Bible Translation So we boiled my son, and ate him: and I said to her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.” World English Bible So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him;’ and she has hidden her son.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand we boil my son and eat him, and I say to her on the next day, Give your son, and we eat him; and she hides her son.” Berean Literal Bible And we boiled my son and ate him, and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ And she has hidden her son.” Young's Literal Translation and we boil my son and eat him, and I say unto her on the next day, Give thy son, and we eat him; and she hideth her son.' Smith's Literal Translation And we shall boil my son, and eat him: and saying to her on the day after, Thou shalt give thy son, and we will eat him: and she will hide her son. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSo we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day: Give thy son that we may eat him. And she hath hid her son. Catholic Public Domain Version Therefore, we cooked my son, and we ate him. And I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, so that we may eat him.’ But she concealed her son.” New American Bible So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Now give up your son that we may eat him.’ But she hid her son.” New Revised Standard Version So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son and we will eat him.’ But she has hidden her son.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo we cooked my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, Give your son, that we may eat him; but she had hidden her son. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And we boiled my son and we ate him, and I said to her the next day: ‘Give your son; we shall eat him’, and she hid her son!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917So we boiled my son, and did eat him; and I said unto her on the next day: Give thy son, that we may eat him; and she hath hid her son.' Brenton Septuagint Translation So we boiled my son, and ate him; and I said to her on the second day, Give thy son, and let us eat him: and she has hidden her son. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Siege and Famine of Samaria…28Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son.’ 29So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.” 30When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. And as he passed by on the wall, the people saw the sackcloth under his clothes next to his skin.… Cross References So we boiled my son and ate him, Lamentations 4:10 The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. Deuteronomy 28:53 Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. Leviticus 26:29 You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters. and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ Jeremiah 19:9 I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’ Deuteronomy 28:54-57 The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, / refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. / The most gentle and refined woman among you, so gentle and refined she would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge the husband she embraces and her son and daughter … Lamentations 2:20 Look, O LORD, and consider: Whom have You ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the infants they have nurtured? Should priests and prophets be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord? But she had hidden her son.” Exodus 2:2-3 and she conceived and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months. / But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict. 2 Kings 11:2 But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed. Ezekiel 5:10 As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’ 2 Kings 6:25 So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver. 2 Kings 7:1-2 Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: ‘About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel, and two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel.’” / But the officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” replied Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it.” 2 Kings 7:16-20 Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. It was then that a seah of fine flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. / Now the king had appointed the officer on whose arm he leaned to be in charge of the gate, but the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died, just as the man of God had foretold when the king had come to him. / It happened just as the man of God had told the king: “About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel.” … 2 Kings 8:1-2 Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed that a seven-year famine will come to the land.” / So the woman had proceeded to do as the man of God had instructed. And she and her household lived as foreigners for seven years in the land of the Philistines. 2 Kings 8:12 “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.” 2 Kings 9:7 And you are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD shed by the hand of Jezebel. Treasury of Scripture So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said to her on the next day, Give your son, that we may eat him: and she has hid her son. next [heb] other 1 Kings 3:26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Isaiah 49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Isaiah 66:13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. Jump to Previous Ate Boil Boiled Boiling Cooked Eat Food Give Hid Hidden Hideth Meal SecretJump to Next Ate Boil Boiled Boiling Cooked Eat Food Give Hid Hidden Hideth Meal Secret2 Kings 6 1. Elisha, allowing the young prophets to enlarge dwellings, floats an axhead8. He discloses the king of Syria's counsel 13. The army which was sent to Dothan to apprehend Elisha, is blinded 19. Being brought into Samaria, they are dismissed in peace 24. The famine in Samaria causes women to eat their own children 30. The king sends to slay Elisha So we boiled my son and ate him, The siege had reduced Samaria to a condition of unimaginable famine, where normal human affection and moral restraint were overwhelmed by desperation. The women’s account reveals the terrible reality inside the city as the Aramean army cut off its food supply. Lam 4:10 The hands of compassionate women have cooked… and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ Having fulfilled her part of their dreadful agreement, the first woman demanded that the other do the same. Their arrangement shows how completely suffering and fear had shattered the order of family and community. Jer 19:9 I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters,… But she had hidden her son.” The other mother concealed her child rather than surrender him, breaking the agreement and bringing the dispute before the king. Her action preserves a remaining instinct to protect her son, while exposing the depth of Samaria’s misery under the siege. Exo 2:2-3 and she conceived and gave birth to a son.… Persons / Places / Events 1. The King of IsraelThe unnamed king during this time, likely King Jehoram, who was ruling the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He was faced with a dire situation during the siege of Samaria. 2. The Two Women These women represent the desperate citizens of Samaria during the siege. Their account highlights the extreme conditions and moral decay resulting from the siege. 3. Samaria The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which was under siege by the Arameans. The city faced severe famine, leading to desperate acts. 4. The Siege by Arameans The Arameans, led by King Ben-Hadad, besieged Samaria, cutting off supplies and causing a severe famine. 5. Elisha the Prophet Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Elisha plays a significant role in the surrounding account, providing hope and divine intervention. Teaching Points The Consequences of DisobedienceThe events in 2 Kings 6:29 serve as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of turning away from God. The Israelites' disobedience led to judgment and suffering, fulfilling the warnings given in the Law. Desperation and Moral Decay The moral decay depicted in this passage shows how extreme circumstances can lead to desperate and sinful actions. It challenges us to consider how we respond to crises and the importance of maintaining faith and integrity. God's Sovereignty and Deliverance Despite the dire situation, the broader account reveals God's sovereignty and ability to deliver His people. This encourages believers to trust in God's timing and provision, even when circumstances seem hopeless. The Role of Prophets and God's Word Elisha's presence in the account highlights the importance of listening to God's prophets and adhering to His word. It reminds us of the value of seeking divine guidance in times of trouble. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 6:29?2. How does 2 Kings 6:29 illustrate the severity of Israel's famine and sin? 3. What can we learn about desperation from the actions in 2 Kings 6:29? 4. How does this verse connect to God's warnings in Deuteronomy 28:53? 5. How should Christians respond to extreme trials, unlike the response in 2 Kings 6:29? 6. What role does faith play when facing dire circumstances like in 2 Kings 6:29? 7. How does 2 Kings 6:29 align with God's nature as loving and just? 8. What historical context explains the events in 2 Kings 6:29? 9. How should Christians interpret the moral implications of 2 Kings 6:29? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 6? (29) she hath hid her son.--Perhaps to save him. (Comp. 1Kings 3:26.)Verse 29. - So we boiled my son (setup. Lamentations 4:10, "The hands of the pitiful woman have sodden their own children"), and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son. Some have supposed that the woman concealed her child in order to consume it alone; but it is more probable that, when the time came for carrying out her agreement, she found that she could not give it up, and hid it in order to save it. 2 Kings 6:29 records a literal event during the Aramean siege, demonstrating the fulfillment of covenant curses and the horrific depths to which unchecked sin and divine judgment can drive people. The verse is not hyperbole but a sober warning: when God’s word is dismissed, even the strongest natural affections disintegrate, justice becomes twisted, and deception reigns. Yet the surrounding narrative ultimately points forward to God’s deliverance (2 Kings 7:1-2), reminding us that while judgment is real, His mercy awaits all who return to Him in faith. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So we boiledוַנְּבַשֵּׁ֥ל (wan·nə·ḇaš·šêl) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural Strong's 1310: To boil up, cooking, to ripen my son בְּנִ֖י (bə·nî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 1121: A son and ate him, וַנֹּֽאכְלֵ֑הוּ (wan·nō·ḵə·lê·hū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural | third person masculine singular Strong's 398: To eat and the next הָאַחֵ֗ר (hā·’a·ḥêr) Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other day בַּיּ֣וֹם (bay·yō·wm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3117: A day I said וָאֹמַ֨ר (wā·’ō·mar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to her, אֵלֶ֜יהָ (’ê·le·hā) Preposition | third person feminine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to ‘Give up תְּנִ֤י (tə·nî) Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set your son, בְּנֵךְ֙ (bə·nêḵ) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 1121: A son and we will eat him.’ וְנֹ֣אכְלֶ֔נּוּ (wə·nō·ḵə·len·nū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person masculine singular Strong's 398: To eat But she has hidden וַתַּחְבִּ֖א (wat·taḥ·bi) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 2244: To withdraw, hide her son.” בְּנָֽהּ׃ (bə·nāh) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 1121: A son Additonal Resources 2 Kings 6:29 Blue Letter Bible2 Kings 6:29 Bible Gateway 2 Kings 6:29 Bible.com 2 Kings 6:29 NIV |
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