And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

2 KINGS 4:27KJV
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2 Kings 4:27 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 4:27 mean?

2 Kings 4:27 shows the Shunammite woman coming to Elisha, grabbing his feet in desperation, while Elisha’s servant Gehazi tries to push her away. Elisha tells Gehazi to leave her alone because she is deeply troubled, and he admits that God has not revealed to him the reason for her distress.

In this scene, the Shunammite woman approaches Elisha, the "man of God," on a hill, overwhelmed by grief after her son’s sudden death. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, tries to stop her, but Elisha recognizes her deep sorrow and insists she not be disturbed. Elisha’s comment that the LORD has "hid it from me" shows that even prophets sometimes do not know everything and must wait for God’s guidance.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 4:27

  • נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, "soul"): This word means "life," "self," or "inner being." Elisha says her "soul is vexed" (נַפְשָׁהּ מָרָה, "her soul is bitter"), highlighting the depth of her emotional pain, not just surface upset.
  • מָרָה (marah, "vexed"): This word carries the sense of being deeply bitter or distressed. It emphasizes that the woman’s anguish is intense and heartfelt.
  • הִסְתִּיר (histir, "hid"): Elisha says the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH) has "hid it from me," using a word that means to conceal or keep something secret. This points out that even prophets are not always given insight into every situation.

Why 2 Kings 4:27 matters

  • This verse clarifies that prophets like Elisha, though close to God, do not always have immediate answers or knowledge about every situation; God sometimes withholds information even from them.
  • The verse highlights the Shunammite woman’s boldness and deep grief, showing her willingness to break social norms by grabbing Elisha’s feet in her desperation.
  • The interaction sets up the following miracle, emphasizing the importance of compassion and attentiveness to those in distress, rather than simply following protocol or pushing people away.

Where else these words appear

“away” Hebrew H1920 · used in 11 verses

  • Numbers 35:20 But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;
  • Deuteronomy 9:4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
  • Proverbs 10:3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

“Gehazi” Hebrew H1522 · used in 12 verses

  • 2 Kings 4:12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.
  • 2 Kings 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
  • 2 Kings 5:21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

“vexed” Hebrew H4843 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 49:23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
  • Ruth 1:20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
  • Isaiah 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

“hid” Hebrew H5956 · used in 27 verses

  • Leviticus 4:13 And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;
  • Deuteronomy 22:4 Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.
  • Psalms 55:1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.