Bible Strands
2 Kings 6:1
Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Please take note that the place where we meet with you is too small for us.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The sons of the prophets address Elisha to report that their current meeting location has become too cramped for their growing numbers. This practical request occurs immediately before they propose relocating to the Jordan to construct new living quarters.
The words — The Hebrew phrase הִנֵּֽה נָא (hi.neh na) literally renders "behold please" or "please take note," functioning as a polite attention-getter before stating their need regarding הַמָּקוֹם (ha.ma.kom), "the place."
The thread — This concern for expanding physical space echoes the sons of Joseph's complaint to Joshua over their inheritance in Joshua 17:14 and anticipates the prophetic command to enlarge dwelling sites in Isaiah 54:2.
Why it lands — It requires readers to recognize that spiritual communities often face practical constraints that demand proactive, communal solutions rather than passive endurance.
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 sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 2:3 Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.”
- Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes in deep.
- Joshua 17:14 Then the sons of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one portion as an inheritance? We have many people, because the LORD has blessed us abundantly.”
- Joshua 19:47 (Later, when the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and put it to the sword. So they took possession of Leshem, settled there, and renamed it after their father Dan.)
- 1 Samuel 19:20 he sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy.
- 1 Kings 20:35 Meanwhile, by the word of the LORD, one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me, please!” But the man refused to strike him.
- 2 Kings 4:1 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”
- Isaiah 49:19 For your ruined and desolate places and your ravaged land will now indeed be too small for your people, and those who devoured you will be far away.
- Job 36:16 Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.
- 2 Kings 4:38 When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet, he said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and boil some stew for the sons of the prophets.”