So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.

2 KINGS 4:40KJV
Know the Bible

2 Kings 4:40 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 4:40 mean?

2 Kings 4:40 describes how, after food was served to a group of men, they realized something was dangerously wrong with the stew and cried out to Elisha, calling it deadly and refusing to eat it. The verse shows the men’s alarm and their trust in Elisha as a “man of God” when faced with a life-threatening situation.

The setting is a time of famine, and Elisha’s followers have gathered to eat a stew made from wild plants. As they begin to eat, some realize the food is poisonous and urgently alert Elisha, fearing for their lives. Their cry, “there is death in the pot,” highlights both the seriousness of the danger and their reliance on Elisha’s spiritual authority to help them.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 4:40

  • “Death” (מָוֶת, mavet): The men say there is “death” in the pot, using a word that means not just physical death but also deadly danger. This shows how serious and immediate the threat felt to them.
  • “Pot” (סִיר, sir): The word for “pot” here refers to a large cooking vessel, emphasizing that the danger affected the entire meal, not just a small portion.
  • “Man of God” (אִישׁ אֱלֹהִים, ish elohim): The men address Elisha with this title, showing their respect and belief that he has a special connection to God and can intervene in desperate situations.

Why 2 Kings 4:40 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that the men were simply being picky or dramatic; the language shows they truly believed their lives were at risk.
  • The verse emphasizes the role of Elisha as a trusted spiritual leader whom people turn to in crisis, setting up the miracle that follows.
  • It connects to the wider passage by showing the dangers of famine and the risks people took just to find food, making the need for God’s help very real and urgent.

Where else these words appear

“pottage” Hebrew H5138 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 25:29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
  • Genesis 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
  • 2 Kings 4:39 And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.

“pot” Hebrew H5518 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 16:3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
  • 2 Chronicles 35:13 And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.
  • Ezekiel 11:3 Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.

“out” Hebrew H3332 · used in 51 verses

  • Genesis 28:18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
  • Leviticus 14:26 And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand:
  • 2 Kings 4:5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

“out” Hebrew H6817 · used in 53 verses

  • Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
  • Deuteronomy 26:7 And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:
  • 2 Kings 8:5 And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.