2 Kings 4:13

and Elisha said to Gehazi, “Now tell her, ‘Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’” “I have a home among my own people,” she replied.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Elisha directs Gehazi to call the Shunammite woman and offers to secure her favor with the king or army commander in exchange for her hospitality. She declines the offer, stating she currently dwells safely among her own people.

The words — חָרַדְתְּ (cha.radt) literally means "you have been troubled" or "you have taken care," denoting the labor of her provision. The prepositional phrase אֵלֶי/הָ (e.lei./ha) translates as "to her," marking the direct object of Elisha’s inquiry.

The thread — The pattern of recognizing faithful service appears in 2 Timothy 1:16, Philippians 4:18, and Hebrews 6:10, which each note that God remembers and repays those who minister to His people.

Why it lands — The text records a prophet’s offer of earthly honor and a woman’s quiet refusal, requiring the reader to assess whether spiritual service pursues public recognition or contentment in ordinary life.

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

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he saidל֗וֹl/oto/ himאֱמָר־'e.mor-say נָ֣אna'please אֵלֶיהָ֮'e.lei./Hato/ her הִנֵּ֣הhi.Nehhere!חָרַ֣דְתְּ׀cha.Radtyou have taken care אֵלֵינוּ֮'e.lei./Nuto/ us אֶת־'et-<obj.>כָּל־kol-all הַחֲרָדָ֣הha./cha.ra.Dahthe/ care הַזֹּאת֒ha./zoT<the>/ this מֶ֚הmehwhat?לַעֲשׂ֣וֹתla./'a.Sot[is] to/ doלָ֔ךְLa/khfor/ youהֲיֵ֤שׁha./Yesh¿/ [is] there לְדַבֶּר־le./da.ber-to/ speakלָךְ֙lo/Khfor/ youאֶל־'el-to הַמֶּ֔לֶךְha./Me.lekhthe/ king א֖וֹ'oor?אֶל־'el-to שַׂ֣רsar[the] commander of הַצָּבָ֑אha./tza.Va'the/ army וַתֹּ֕אמֶרva./To.merand/ she said בְּת֥וֹךְbe./Tokhin/ among עַמִּ֖י'a.M/iown people/ my אָנֹכִ֥י'a.no.KhiI יֹשָֽׁבֶת׃yo.Sha.vet[am] dwelling

King James Version

And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.

Cross-references

2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.
Philippians 4:18 I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
1 Timothy 6:6 Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.
Romans 16:6 Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
2 Samuel 19:13 And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’”
Psalms 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Matthew 10:40 He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.