Bible Strands
2 Kings 4:10
Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Shunammite woman speaks to her husband after observing the prophet Elisha’s frequent visits. She proposes constructing a dedicated chamber to house him during his stays.
The words — The Hebrew נַֽעֲשֶֽׂה (na.'a.seh) translates literally to "let us make," and עֲלִיַּת (‘a.li.yat) means "an upper room." These terms establish the explicit action of building a private, elevated space.
The thread — The text describes the physical preparation of a room for a prophet, which Matthew 10:41 and Matthew 25:40 connect to receiving a prophet or the least and receiving a reward or Christ. Romans 12:13 further links this narrative action to the command to practice hospitality.
Why it lands — The verse states the need to provide concrete shelter and furnishings for a traveling servant of God. It requires the reader to translate recognition of holiness into tangible, prepared accommodation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
Cross-references
- Romans 12:13 Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- Matthew 10:41 Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
- Matthew 25:40 And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
- Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
- Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
- 1 Peter 4:9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
- Isaiah 32:8 But a noble man makes honorable plans; he stands up for worthy causes.
- Mark 9:41 Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
- Luke 8:3 Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.
- 1 Kings 17:19 But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed.