Lexical Summary neshi: Forgetfulness, oblivion Original Word: נְשִׁי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance debt From nashah; a debt -- debt. see HEBREW nashah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nashah Definition a debt NASB Translation debt (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נְשִׁי] noun [masculine] debt; — only suffix 2 feminine singular נשׁיכי Kt, נַשְׁיֵךְ Qr 2 Kings 4:7 (so Baer; van d. H. Ginsb נִשְׁיֵךְ) pay (שַׁלְּמִי) thy debt. Topical Lexicon Semantic and Cultural Setting נְשִׁי designates a financial obligation that binds a person to a creditor until payment is satisfied. In the agrarian economy of ancient Israel, unsecured borrowing could quickly place a household in danger of losing land, liberty, or even family members to indentured service (compare Leviticus 25:39). Debt therefore carried heavy moral, social, and spiritual weight, and Mosaic legislation consistently sought to curb its abuses (Exodus 22:25; Deuteronomy 15:1-11). Single Old-Testament Occurrence The term surfaces only in 2 Kings 4:7, within the narrative of Elisha and the widow: “Then she went and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debt. Then you and your sons can live on the remainder.’” Here נְשִׁי frames the crisis: an unnamed prophet’s widow faces the seizure of her sons to satisfy a creditor. Her plight underscores the vulnerability of faithful but impoverished believers, and the prophet’s intervention highlights the Lord’s concern for covenant families in distress. Historical Background Royal and temple taxation under the Omride and early Jehu dynasties (Ninth Century BC) created chronic scarcity for small farming families. High-interest loans were common; default empowered creditors to claim a debtor’s children until Jubilee release (Leviticus 25:40). Against this backdrop Elisha’s miracle—multiplying a household commodity into marketable surplus—sets divine provision over human exploitation. Theological Themes 1. Divine compassion. God hears the cry of the oppressed widow (Psalm 68:5) and acts through His servant. Wider Biblical Witness on Debt • Prohibition of interest to the poor: Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-37. Practical Ministry Applications – Advocacy: The Church is called to defend the financially oppressed, reflecting Elisha’s intervention. – Stewardship: Responsible borrowing and lending should respect human dignity and avoid predatory gain. – Mercy Ministries: Providing resources, skills, and opportunities that enable the vulnerable to repay obligations mirrors the widow’s oil—sustainable, not merely consumable aid. – Gospel Illustration: Just as the widow’s jar kept pouring until the need was met, so Christ’s grace supplies the full satisfaction of humanity’s immeasurable moral debt. Christological Echoes Elisha’s miracle foreshadows Christ multiplying loaves (Matthew 14:13-21) and paying the ultimate ransom. Both narratives move from scarcity to sufficiency, from bondage to freedom, demonstrating that God’s redemptive purpose encompasses economic as well as spiritual realms. Summary נְשִׁי in 2 Kings 4:7 crystallizes Scripture’s balanced approach to debt: it affirms legal obligation while championing compassionate relief. The episode stands as a timeless call for God’s people to honor justice, provide mercy, and proclaim the greater cancellation of debt accomplished at the cross. Forms and Transliterations נִשְׁיֵ֑ךְ נשיך niš·yêḵ nishYech nišyêḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 4:7 HEB: [נִשְׁיֵכִי כ] (נִשְׁיֵ֑ךְ ק) וְאַ֣תְּ NAS: and pay your debt, and you [and] your sons KJV: and pay thy debt, and live INT: the oil and pay debt you afflicted 1 Occurrence |
    |