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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
2 Kings 4:3
"Here's what you do," said Elisha. "Go up and down the street and borrow jugs and bowls from all your neighbors. And not just a few—all you can get. Then come home and lock the door behind you, you and your sons. Pour oil into each container; when each is full, set it aside."
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Then he said, “Go out and borrow empty containers from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few.
Then he said, “Go out and borrow empty containers from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few.
Hebrew Names Version
Then he said, Go, borrow you vessels abroad of all your neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
Then he said, Go, borrow you vessels abroad of all your neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
King James Version
Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
English Standard Version
Then he said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few.
Then he said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few.
New Century Version
Then Elisha said, "Go and get empty jars from all your neighbors. Don't ask for just a few.
Then Elisha said, "Go and get empty jars from all your neighbors. Don't ask for just a few.
New English Translation
He said, "Go and ask all your neighbors for empty containers. Get as many as you can.
He said, "Go and ask all your neighbors for empty containers. Get as many as you can.
Amplified Bible
Then he said, "Go, borrow containers from all your neighbors, empty containers—and not just a few.
Then he said, "Go, borrow containers from all your neighbors, empty containers—and not just a few.
New American Standard Bible
Then he said, "Go, borrow containers elsewhere for yourself, empty containers from all your neighbors—do not get too few.
Then he said, "Go, borrow containers elsewhere for yourself, empty containers from all your neighbors—do not get too few.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he sayde, Goe, and borowe thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, emptie vessels, and spare not.
And he sayde, Goe, and borowe thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, emptie vessels, and spare not.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then he said, "Go, ask for vessels for yourself, from those outside, from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few.
Then he said, "Go, ask for vessels for yourself, from those outside, from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few.
Contemporary English Version
Elisha told her, "Ask your neighbors for their empty jars. And after you've borrowed as many as you can,
Elisha told her, "Ask your neighbors for their empty jars. And after you've borrowed as many as you can,
Complete Jewish Bible
Then he said, "Go, and borrow containers from all your neighbors, empty containers; and don't borrow just a few!
Then he said, "Go, and borrow containers from all your neighbors, empty containers; and don't borrow just a few!
Darby Translation
And he said, Go, borrow for thyself vessels abroad from all thy neighbours, empty vessels; let it not be few;
And he said, Go, borrow for thyself vessels abroad from all thy neighbours, empty vessels; let it not be few;
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Elisha said, "Go and borrow bowls from all your neighbors. They must be empty. Borrow plenty of bowls.
Then Elisha said, "Go and borrow bowls from all your neighbors. They must be empty. Borrow plenty of bowls.
George Lamsa Translation
Then he said to her, Go, borrow for yourself vessels from the houses of all your neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
Then he said to her, Go, borrow for yourself vessels from the houses of all your neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
Good News Translation
"Go to your neighbors and borrow as many empty jars as you can," Elisha told her.
"Go to your neighbors and borrow as many empty jars as you can," Elisha told her.
Lexham English Bible
Then he said to her, "Go, ask for yourself some containers from the streets, from all your neighbors. You must collect as many empty containers as you can!
Then he said to her, "Go, ask for yourself some containers from the streets, from all your neighbors. You must collect as many empty containers as you can!
Literal Translation
And he said, Go, beg vessels for yourself from outside, from your neighbors, empty vessels. Do not let them be few.
And he said, Go, beg vessels for yourself from outside, from your neighbors, empty vessels. Do not let them be few.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He sayde: Go yi waye, borowe without of all thy neghboures emptye vessels, & that not a fewe,
He sayde: Go yi waye, borowe without of all thy neghboures emptye vessels, & that not a fewe,
American Standard Version
Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
Bible in Basic English
Then he said, Go out to all your neighbours and get vessels, a very great number of them.
Then he said, Go out to all your neighbours and get vessels, a very great number of them.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He saide vnto her: Go, and borow vessels for thee [of them that are] without, [euen] of all thy neighbours, emptie vessels, and that not a fewe:
He saide vnto her: Go, and borow vessels for thee [of them that are] without, [euen] of all thy neighbours, emptie vessels, and that not a fewe:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then he said: 'Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
Then he said: 'Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
King James Version (1611)
Then hee said, Goe, borrow thee vessels abroad, of all thy neighbours; euen emptie vessels, borrow not a few.
Then hee said, Goe, borrow thee vessels abroad, of all thy neighbours; euen emptie vessels, borrow not a few.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he said to her, Go, borrow for thyself vessels without of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
And he said to her, Go, borrow for thyself vessels without of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
English Revised Version
Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
Berean Standard Bible
"Go," said Elisha, "borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few.
"Go," said Elisha, "borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
To whom he seide, Go thou, and axe bi borewyng of alle thi neiyboris voide vessels not fewe.
To whom he seide, Go thou, and axe bi borewyng of alle thi neiyboris voide vessels not fewe.
Young's Literal Translation
And he saith, `Go, ask for thee vessels from without, from all thy neighbours -- empty vessels -- let [them] not be few;
And he saith, `Go, ask for thee vessels from without, from all thy neighbours -- empty vessels -- let [them] not be few;
Update Bible Version
Then he said, Go, borrow for yourself vessels abroad of all your neighbors, even empty vessels; don't borrow a few.
Then he said, Go, borrow for yourself vessels abroad of all your neighbors, even empty vessels; don't borrow a few.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, [even] empty vessels; borrow not a few.
Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, [even] empty vessels; borrow not a few.
World English Bible
Then he said, Go, borrow you vessels abroad of all your neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
Then he said, Go, borrow you vessels abroad of all your neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
New King James Version
Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors--empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors--empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
New Living Translation
And Elisha said, "Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors.
And Elisha said, "Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors.
New Life Bible
Then he said, "Go around and get jars from all your neighbors. Get empty jars, many of them.
Then he said, "Go around and get jars from all your neighbors. Get empty jars, many of them.
New Revised Standard
He said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not just a few.
He said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not just a few.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he said - Go, ask thee vessels, from without, of all thy neighbours, - empty vessels, let them not be few.
And he said - Go, ask thee vessels, from without, of all thy neighbours, - empty vessels, let them not be few.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to her: Go, borrow of all thy neighbours empty vessels, not a few.
And he said to her: Go, borrow of all thy neighbours empty vessels, not a few.
Revised Standard Version
Then he said, "Go outside, borrow vessels of all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few.
Then he said, "Go outside, borrow vessels of all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few.
Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few.
Contextual Overview
1 One day the wife of a man from the guild of prophets called out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead. You well know what a good man he was, devoted to God . And now the man to whom he was in debt is on his way to collect by taking my two children as slaves." 2 Elisha said, "I wonder how I can be of help. Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Nothing," she said. "Well, I do have a little oil." 3"Here's what you do," said Elisha. "Go up and down the street and borrow jugs and bowls from all your neighbors. And not just a few—all you can get. Then come home and lock the door behind you, you and your sons. Pour oil into each container; when each is full, set it aside." 5She did what he said. She locked the door behind her and her sons; as they brought the containers to her, she filled them. When all the jugs and bowls were full, she said to one of her sons, "Another jug, please." He said, "That's it. There are no more jugs." Then the oil stopped. 7 She went and told the story to the man of God. He said, "Go sell the oil and make good on your debts. Live, both you and your sons, on what's left."
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
empty vessels: 2 Kings 3:16, John 2:7
borrow not a few: Heb. scant not, 2 Kings 13:18, 2 Kings 13:19, Psalms 81:10, John 16:24
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 8:4 - all the great Luke 5:6 - they enclosed
Cross-References
Genesis 4:1
Adam slept with Eve his wife. She conceived and had Cain. She said, "I've gotten a man, with God 's help!"
Adam slept with Eve his wife. She conceived and had Cain. She said, "I've gotten a man, with God 's help!"
1 Kings 17:7
Eventually the brook dried up because of the drought. Then God spoke to him: "Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I've instructed a woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you."
Eventually the brook dried up because of the drought. Then God spoke to him: "Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I've instructed a woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you."
Nehemiah 13:6
When this was going on I wasn't there in Jerusalem; in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, I had traveled back to the king. But later I asked for his permission to leave again. I arrived in Jerusalem and learned of the wrong that Eliashib had done in turning over to him a room in the courts of The Temple of God. I was angry, really angry, and threw everything in the room out into the street, all of Tobiah's stuff. Then I ordered that they ceremonially cleanse the room. Only then did I put back the worship vessels of The Temple of God, along with the Grain-Offerings and the incense.
When this was going on I wasn't there in Jerusalem; in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, I had traveled back to the king. But later I asked for his permission to leave again. I arrived in Jerusalem and learned of the wrong that Eliashib had done in turning over to him a room in the courts of The Temple of God. I was angry, really angry, and threw everything in the room out into the street, all of Tobiah's stuff. Then I ordered that they ceremonially cleanse the room. Only then did I put back the worship vessels of The Temple of God, along with the Grain-Offerings and the incense.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Then he said, go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours,.... For he perceived that she had none:
even empty vessels; which they might more readily lend her:
borrow not a few; but as many as she could get; the prophet, under a divine impulse, was directed to say this to her, foreseeing, by a spirit of prophecy, that a large quantity of oil would be given her.
