The Meaning of 2 Kings 4:3 Explained

2 Kings 4:3

KJV: Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

YLT: And he saith, 'Go, ask for thee vessels from without, from all thy neighbours -- empty vessels -- let them not be few;

Darby: And he said, Go, borrow for thyself vessels abroad from all thy neighbours, empty vessels; let it not be few;

ASV: Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then he said,  Go,  borrow  thee vessels  abroad  of all thy neighbours,  [even] empty  vessels;  borrow not a few. 

What does 2 Kings 4:3 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 4:1-7 - Every Vessel Filled
Elisha's ministry was not startling. It was redemptive and constructive. Widows came to him for help against their creditors; mothers appealed on behalf of their children; poison was rendered powerless; and loaves were multiplied. Do not judge power by the noise it makes. The dew excites less notice than a thunder-storm, but it may be more refreshing. A life filled with quiet ministry will bear comparison with one whose outbursts of passion are followed by reaction and depression. Twelve hours of daily sunshine, year in and year out, are preferable to the summer of daylight in the Arctic Circle, followed by months of midnight.
When our need is urgent, and we spread it before God, the question is never about the amount of oil, but of the empty vessels. We fear that there will not be enough oil; God is concerned lest we fail to bring sufficient vessels to hold all He wants to give. The oil was multiplied in the pouring, as the meal of the other widow was increased in the spending. God's oil will never be exhausted so long as we can receive and impart. According to our faith will it be done. It is not a question of how much God can give, but how much we can use. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 4

1  Elisha multiplies the widow's oil
8  He obtains a son for the good Shunammite
18  He restores her son when dead
38  At Gilgal he heals the deadly pottage
42  He satisfies a hundred men with twenty loaves

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 4:3 mean?

And he said go borrow to you vessels from everywhere from all - your neighbors vessels empty not do gather just a few
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לְכִ֨י שַׁאֲלִי־ לָ֤ךְ כֵּלִים֙ מִן־ הַח֔וּץ מֵאֵ֖ת כָּל־ [שכנכי] (שְׁכֵנָ֑יִךְ‪‬) כֵּלִ֥ים רֵקִ֖ים אַל־ תַּמְעִֽיטִי

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  And  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לְכִ֨י  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, feminine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
שַׁאֲלִי־  borrow 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, feminine singular
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
לָ֤ךְ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
כֵּלִים֙  vessels 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: כְּלִי  
Sense: article, vessel, implement, utensil.
הַח֔וּץ  everywhere 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חוּץ  
Sense: outside, outward, street, the outside.
[שכנכי]  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
(שְׁכֵנָ֑יִךְ‪‬)  your  neighbors 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: שָׁכֵן  
Sense: inhabitant, neighbour.
כֵּלִ֥ים  vessels 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: כְּלִי  
Sense: article, vessel, implement, utensil.
רֵקִ֖ים  empty 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רֵיק  
Sense: empty, vain.
תַּמְעִֽיטִי  do  gather  just  a  few 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person feminine singular
Root: מָעַט  
Sense: to be or become small, be few, be diminished.

What are the major concepts related to 2 Kings 4:3?

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