When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another." But he replied, "There are no more jars." Then the oil stopped flowing. When all the jars were fullThis phrase signifies the miraculous provision of God through the prophet Elisha. The Hebrew root for "full" (מָלֵא, male) conveys a sense of completeness and abundance. In the historical context, oil was a valuable commodity, essential for cooking, lighting, and religious rituals. The filling of all the jars symbolizes God's ability to meet our needs abundantly when we act in faith and obedience. This miracle reflects God's provision and the importance of trusting Him to provide beyond our expectations. she said to her son
The interaction between the widow and her son highlights the familial bond and the role of the family in witnessing God's miracles. In ancient Israel, family units were central to society, and the involvement of her son underscores the teaching and passing down of faith through generations. This moment also emphasizes the widow's active participation in the miracle, as she instructs her son, demonstrating her faith and leadership within her household. Bring me another
This request shows the widow's expectation and hope for continued provision. The Hebrew verb for "bring" (יָבֵא, yabe) implies an action of carrying or fetching, indicating her anticipation of God's unending supply. Her command reflects a heart of faith, expecting that God's blessings would continue as long as there was capacity to receive them. It serves as a reminder for believers to maintain a posture of expectancy and readiness to receive God's blessings. But he replied, 'There are no more jars.'
The son's response marks the limit of human preparation and capacity. The phrase "no more jars" signifies the boundary of human effort and the point at which divine intervention ceases when there is no further preparation or expectation. This teaches a valuable lesson about the importance of preparing to receive God's blessings and the role of human responsibility in the divine-human partnership. Then the oil stopped flowing
The cessation of the oil flow illustrates the principle that God's provision is linked to our capacity and readiness to receive. The Hebrew word for "stopped" (עָמַד, amad) means to stand still or cease, indicating that the miracle was directly tied to the availability of vessels. This serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual readiness and the necessity of creating space in our lives for God's work. It challenges believers to continually expand their capacity for God's blessings through faith, obedience, and preparation. Persons / Places / Events 1. The WidowA woman whose husband, a prophet, had died, leaving her in debt. She sought help from Elisha to save her sons from being taken as slaves by creditors. 2. ElishaA prophet of God who succeeded Elijah. He performed many miracles, including the multiplication of the widow's oil. 3. The Widow's SonsThey assisted their mother by gathering jars and were at risk of being taken as slaves due to the family's debt. 4. The JarsEmpty vessels collected by the widow and her sons, which were miraculously filled with oil. 5. The OilSymbolic of God's provision and blessing, it continued to flow until there were no more jars to fill. Teaching Points God's Provision is AbundantJust as the oil flowed until there were no more jars, God's provision is limitless and sufficient for our needs. Faith and ObedienceThe widow's faith in following Elisha's instructions led to her miraculous provision. Our obedience to God's guidance can open the door to His blessings. Preparation for BlessingThe widow's preparation by gathering jars was crucial. We must be ready and willing to receive God's blessings in our lives. Trust in God's TimingThe oil stopped flowing when the jars were full, indicating that God's provision is perfectly timed and measured for our needs. Community and SupportThe widow involved her sons in the process, highlighting the importance of family and community support in times of need. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the widow's situation before the miracle reflect our own times of need, and how can we apply her faith and actions in our lives? 2. In what ways can we prepare ourselves to receive God's blessings, similar to how the widow prepared by gathering jars? 3. How does the account of the widow's oil encourage us to trust in God's provision, even when circumstances seem dire? 4. What are some practical ways we can involve our family or community in seeking God's help and provision? 5. How do the accounts of God's provision in 1 Kings 17 and John 2 reinforce the message of 2 Kings 4:6, and what can we learn from these connections? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 17:8-16The account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, where God provided an unending supply of flour and oil during a famine, demonstrating His provision. John 2:1-11Jesus' miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana, showing God's ability to provide abundantly and miraculously. Philippians 4:19Paul's assurance that God will supply all needs according to His riches in glory, reflecting the theme of divine provision. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Bring, Container, Containers, Filling, Flow, Flowing, Full, Isn't, Jar, Nigh, Oil, Pass, Replied, Stayed, Stayeth, Stopped, Vessel, Vessels, YetDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:3-6 1418 miracles, responses
7773 prophets, role 2 Kings 4:3-7 1416 miracles, nature of Library When the Oil Flows
'And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.'--2 KINGS iv. 6. The series of miracles ascribed to Elisha are very unlike most of the wonderful works of even the Old Testament, and still more unlike those of the New. For about a great many of them there seems to have been no special purpose, either doctrinal or otherwise, but simply the relief of trivial and transient distresses. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureA Miracle Needing Effort
'So she went, and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 26. Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband! is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. 27. And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Infant Salvation
Now, let every mother and father here present know assuredly that it is well with the child, if God hath taken it away from you in its infant days. You never heard its declaration of faith--it was not capable of such a thing--it was not baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ, not buried with him in baptism; it was not capable of giving that "answer of a good conscience towards God;" nevertheless, you may rest assured that it is well with the child, well in a higher and a better sense than it is well …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861 That the Grace of Devotion is Acquired by Humility and Self-Denial
The Voice of the Beloved Thou oughtest to seek earnestly the grace of devotion, to ask it fervently, to wait for it patiently and faithfully, to receive it gratefully, to preserve it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to leave to God the time and manner of heavenly visitation until it come. Chiefly oughtest thou to humble thyself when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion, yet not to be too much cast down, nor to grieve out of measure. God ofttimes giveth in one short moment what He …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ Extracts No. Ix.
[As the objector here begins to give up his ground, his letters from this place will be given nearly entire. He commences this number as follows, viz.] "Dear sir and brother--Your reply to my seventh number has been received, and hereby duly acknowledged. I have just given it a second reading, with peculiar care and attention; and I must add, generally speaking, with peculiar satisfaction too; for as it has tended in some degree to revive my almost extinguished faith in divine revelation, so it …
Hosea Ballou—A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation Abram's Horror of Great Darkness.
"And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him." If we consider the sketch, given us in scripture, of the life of this patriarch, we shall find that few have had equal manifestations of the divine favor. But the light did not at all times shine on him. He had his dark hours while dwelling in this strange land. Here we find an horror of great darkness to have fallen upon him. The language used to describe his state, on this occasion, …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects The Soul.
Man as we behold him is not all there is of man. He is a wonderful being. He stands in the highest order of God's creation. He Is A Compound. Man was created a physical and spiritual organism. He possesses an animal and a spiritual life. Thus he is connected with two worlds. The physical creation is termed the "outward man," and the spiritual, the "inward man." "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Cor. 4:16. "For we know …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day Answer to the Jewish Rabby's Letter.
WE Are now come to the letter of Mr. W's Jewish Rabby, whom Mr. W. calls his friend, and says his letter consists of calm and sedate reasoning, p. 55. I on the other hand can see no reason in it. But the reader than not need to rely upon my judgment. Therefore I will transcribe some parts of it, and then make some remarks. The argument of the letter is, that the story of Lazarus's being raised is an imposture; or else the Jews could not have been so wicked, as to be on that account provoked against …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles Supplementary Note to Chapter ii. The Year of Christ's Birth.
The Christian era commences on the 1st of January of the year 754 of the city of Rome. That our Lord was born about the time stated in the text may appear from the following considerations-- The visit of the wise men to Bethlehem must have taken place a very few days after the birth of Jesus, and before His presentation in the temple. Bethlehem was not the stated residence of Joseph and Mary, either before or after the birth of the child (Luke i. 26, ii. 4, 39; Matt. ii. 2). They were obliged to …
William Dool Killen—The Ancient Church Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 4:6 NIV2 Kings 4:6 NLT2 Kings 4:6 ESV2 Kings 4:6 NASB2 Kings 4:6 KJV
2 Kings 4:6 Commentaries
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