Bible Strands
2 Kings 4:36
Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” So he called her and she came. Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Elisha speaks to his servant Gehazi immediately after the Shunammite’s son opens his eyes following Elisha’s physical intervention. He instructs Gehazi to summon the mother so Elisha can return the restored child to her.
The words — The verb וַ/יִּקְרָ֣א (va/i.yik.Ra') means “and he summoned” or “call,” directing Gehazi to retrieve the Shunammite woman. The phrase אֶל\־ הַ/שֻּׁנַמִּ֣ית הַ/זֹּ֔את literally identifies the recipient as “to this Shunammite woman.”
The thread — This command to return a revived child to a parent parallels Elijah’s action in 1 Kings 17:23 and Jesus’ restoration of the widow’s son in Luke 7:15. The broader category of receiving the dead back to life is noted in Hebrews 11:35.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that prophetic power operates through direct, practical commission rather than abstract ritual. It demands immediate obedience to restore what was lost without delay or mediation.
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 he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 11:35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
- 1 Kings 17:23 Then Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. “Look, your son is alive,” Elijah declared.
- Luke 7:15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.