What is the meaning of 2 Kings 4:9? Then the woman said to her husband • The Shunammite wife takes the initiative; Scripture shows a godly marriage as a partnership where each spouse can speak into the other’s life. Compare Proverbs 31:10-12—“The heart of her husband trusts in her”—and Genesis 2:18, where the woman is a “suitable helper.” • Her respectful approach models the balance of submission and influence taught in Ephesians 5:33. She honors her husband yet leads him toward a gracious decision. Behold • “Behold” signals urgency: Pay attention, something spiritually weighty is happening. John 1:29 uses the same summons—“Look, the Lamb of God”—to draw eyes to divine activity. • Moments when God is at work deserve an intentional pause; Psalm 46:8 invites, “Come, see the works of the LORD.” now I know • The woman moves from impression to conviction. Faith is not guesswork; it rests on evidence God provides. Like the healed man in John 9:25, she can say, “There is one thing I do know.” • 1 John 5:13 reminds believers that assurance is God’s gift: “so that you may know that you have eternal life.” that the one who often comes our way • Her certainty is built on observed consistency. Elisha’s repeated visits allowed her to test his character—Luke 6:44, “Each tree is known by its own fruit.” • Hospitality opened the door to discernment. Hebrews 13:2 urges, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,” and 1 Peter 4:9 adds, “Show hospitality… without complaining.” • Regular exposure to godly people sharpens our perception of holiness. is a holy man of God. • She recognizes Elisha’s set-apart life. “Holy” speaks of moral purity and divine commissioning. Psalm 4:3: “Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself.” • Her declaration echoes the widow’s words in 1 Kings 17:24 to Elijah: “Now I know that you are a man of God.” • Holiness is observable. Acts 4:13 notes that the council “recognized that [Peter and John] had been with Jesus.” Elisha’s conduct, words, and power authenticated his calling. summary The Shunammite woman’s statement in 2 Kings 4:9 moves step-by-step from respectful dialogue with her husband, through careful observation, to a settled conviction that Elisha is God’s holy servant. Her discernment grows in the soil of hospitality and repeated exposure to a godly life. The verse encourages believers to cultivate homes open to the servants of the Lord, to watch for the consistent fruit of holiness, and to respond with decisive faith when God’s work becomes clear. |
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