Bible Strands
2 Kings 4:17
But the woman did conceive, and at that time the next year she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator reports the fulfillment of Elisha’s prophecy to the Shunammite woman at the moment she delivers her promised child. This occurs immediately after Elisha’s earlier declaration that she would bear a son at the appointed time.
The words — לַ/מּוֹעֵ֤ד (la./mo.'Ed) translates literally as "to the appointed time," and כָּ/עֵ֣ת (ka./'Et) means "at that time." These terms emphasize the precise fulfillment of the prophetic timeline.
The thread — This pattern of promised conception and timely birth echoes Genesis 21:1, Psalm 113:9, and Luke 1:36. Each reference documents God’s faithfulness to fulfill specific promises regarding barren or unexpected pregnancies.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to recognize divine reliability in delayed promises. It demands attention to the exact wording of prophecy and its literal fulfillment without embellishment.
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
And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
Cross-references
- Genesis 21:1 Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised.
- Psalms 113:9 He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
- Luke 1:36 Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
- Hebrews 11:11 By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
- 1 Samuel 1:19 The next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.
- Luke 1:24 After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,