2 Kings 4:3

“Go,” said Elisha, “borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Elisha addresses a widow who possesses only a single jar of oil, giving her immediate instructions before any supernatural provision begins.

The words — The imperative לְכִי (le.Khi) commands "go," while שַׁאֲלִי כְלִים (sha.'a.li ke.Lim) literally translates to "ask vessels," directing her to request containers from the surrounding neighborhood.

The thread — The text records Elisha's command to gather empty jars, which parallels Jesus instructing servants to fill stone jars with water (John 2:7) and God's declaration to open wide mouths for filling (Psalms 81:10).

Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to obey a specific, resource-independent command before any visible change occurs, demonstrating that action precedes provision.

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

וַיֹּ֗אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said לְכִ֨יle.Khigo שַׁאֲלִי־sha.'a.li-askלָ֤ךְla/khfor/ yourselfכֵּלִים֙ke.Limvessels מִן־min-from הַח֔וּץha./Chutzthe/ outside מֵאֵ֖תme./'Etfrom/ with כָּל־kol-all שְׁכֵנָ֑יִךְshikh.ni./kheneighbors/ your כֵּלִ֥יםke.Limvessels רֵקִ֖יםre.Kimempty אַל־'al-may not תַּמְעִֽיטִי׃tam.'I.tiyou make few

King James Version

Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

Cross-references

John 2:7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.
Psalms 81:10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.
John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
2 Kings 3:16 and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’
2 Kings 13:18 Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them, and Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped.