2 Kings Chapter 4 · Verse 33
He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּבֹ֕א
He went in
H935
וַיָּבֹ֕א
He went in
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 8
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וַיִּסְגֹּ֥ר
therefore and shut
H5462
וַיִּסְגֹּ֥ר
therefore and shut
Strong's:
H5462
Word #:
2 of 8
to shut up; figuratively, to surrender
בְּעַ֣ד
H1157
בְּעַ֣ד
Strong's:
H1157
Word #:
4 of 8
in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc
Cross References
Matthew 6:6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.2 Kings 4:4And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.Acts 9:40But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.Luke 8:51And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
Historical Context
Historical Setting: 2 Kings 4 takes place during the Elisha prophetic ministry, approximately 850-800 BCE. The chapter's theme (Elisha's Miracles of Provision and Life) reflects the historical reality of God's compassionate provision through prophetic miracles while both kingdoms struggled with persistent idolatry. Archaeological evidence from this period includes royal inscriptions, administrative documents, and material culture that corroborate the biblical account while providing additional context for understanding the political and social dynamics at work.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this verse contribute to understanding the theological message of 2 Kings 4 regarding god's compassionate power through his prophet?
- What does this passage reveal about God's character, particularly His justice, mercy, and faithfulness to covenant promises?
- In what practical ways should this text shape contemporary Christian thinking about faithfulness, worship, and obedience to God?
Analysis & Commentary
He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.
This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 4: God's compassionate power through His prophet. The divine name emphasizes Yahweh's covenant relationship with Israel and His sovereign control over historical events. The prophetic ministry served as God's primary means of covenant enforcement, calling both kings and people to faithfulness. During this period, Israel and Judah struggled with persistent idolatry, particularly Baal worship introduced under Ahab and Jezebel.
The narrative demonstrates God's justice in judging covenant unfaithfulness while maintaining His ultimate purposes for redemption.