2 Kings 4:19
2 Kings 4:19 in Multiple Translations
“My head! My head!” he complained to his father. So his father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”
And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.
And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to his servant, Carry him to his mother.
And he said to his father, My head, my head! And the father said to a servant, Take him in to his mother.
he complained to his father, “My head hurts! My head hurts!” His father told one of his servants, “Carry him back to his mother.”
And he sayde to his father, Mine head, mine head. Who sayd to his seruant, Beare him to his mother.
and he saith unto his father, 'My head, my head;' and he saith unto the young man, 'Bear him unto his mother;'
He said to his father, “My head! My head!” He said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”
And he said to his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.
He said to his father: My head acheth, my head acheth. But he said to his servant: Take him, and carry him to his mother.
Suddenly the boy exclaimed, “My head hurts! My head hurts a lot!” His father said to one of the servants, “Carry him home to his mother!”
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Kings 4:19
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
2 Kings 4:19 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יֹּ֥אמֶר
אֶל
אָבִ֖י/ו
רֹאשִׁ֣/י
רֹאשִׁ֑/י
וַ/יֹּ֨אמֶר֙
אֶל
הַ/נַּ֔עַר
שָׂאֵ֖/הוּ
אֶל
אִמּֽ/וֹ
וַ/יֹּ֥אמֶר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
אֶל
ʼêl
H413
to(wards)
Prep
אָבִ֖י/ו
ʼâb
H1
father
N-ms | Suff
רֹאשִׁ֣/י
rôʼsh
H7218
head
N-ms | Suff
רֹאשִׁ֑/י
rôʼsh
H7218
head
N-ms | Suff
וַ/יֹּ֨אמֶר֙
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
אֶל
ʼêl
H413
to(wards)
Prep
הַ/נַּ֔עַר
naʻar
H5288
youth
Art | N-ms
שָׂאֵ֖/הוּ
nâsâʼ
H5375
to lift
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff
אֶל
ʼêl
H413
to(wards)
Prep
אִמּֽ/וֹ
ʼêm
H517
mother
N-fs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Kings 4:19
וַ/יֹּ֥אמֶר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
אֶל
ʼêl
H413
"to(wards)"
Prep
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Definition: 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Usage: Occurs in 4205 OT verses. KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:9; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 31:13.
אָבִ֖י/ו
ʼâb
H1
"father"
N-ms | Suff
In Hebrew, this word means father, whether literal or figurative. It is used to describe God as the father of his people, as well as human fathers like Abraham. The word is about a paternal relationship or authority.
Definition: 1) father of an individual 2) of God as father of his people 3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan 4) ancestor 4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person 4b) of people 5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art 6) of producer, generator (fig.) 7) of benevolence and protection (fig.) 8) term of respect and honour 9) ruler or chief (spec.) Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
Usage: Occurs in 1060 OT verses. KJV: chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. See also: Genesis 2:24; Genesis 42:37; Leviticus 19:3.
רֹאשִׁ֣/י
rôʼsh
H7218
"head"
N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means chief or prince, and is used to describe leaders in the Bible, such as in the book of 1 Samuel. It signifies a position of authority and importance.
Definition: : head 1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning 1a) head (of man, animals) 1b) top, tip (of mountain) 1c) height (of stars) 1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest) 1e) head, front, beginning 1f) chief, choicest, best 1g) head, division, company, band 1h) sum
Usage: Occurs in 547 OT verses. KJV: band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. See also: Genesis 2:10; Numbers 17:18; 2 Samuel 4:7.
רֹאשִׁ֑/י
rôʼsh
H7218
"head"
N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means chief or prince, and is used to describe leaders in the Bible, such as in the book of 1 Samuel. It signifies a position of authority and importance.
Definition: : head 1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning 1a) head (of man, animals) 1b) top, tip (of mountain) 1c) height (of stars) 1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest) 1e) head, front, beginning 1f) chief, choicest, best 1g) head, division, company, band 1h) sum
Usage: Occurs in 547 OT verses. KJV: band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. See also: Genesis 2:10; Numbers 17:18; 2 Samuel 4:7.
וַ/יֹּ֨אמֶר֙
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
אֶל
ʼêl
H413
"to(wards)"
Prep
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Definition: 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Usage: Occurs in 4205 OT verses. KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:9; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 31:13.
הַ/נַּ֔עַר
naʻar
H5288
"youth"
Art | N-ms
In the original Hebrew, this word means a young person, either a boy or a girl, from infancy to adolescence. It is used to describe the servants and attendants who worked for kings and other important people in the Old Testament, like King David's servants.
Definition: 1) a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer 1a) boy, lad, youth 1b) servant, retainer
Usage: Occurs in 221 OT verses. KJV: babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man). See also: Genesis 14:24; 1 Samuel 25:5; Psalms 37:25.
שָׂאֵ֖/הוּ
nâsâʼ
H5375
"to lift"
V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to lift or raise something, and it's used in many ways, like lifting a burden or raising someone's status. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often talking about God lifting people up. It's about supporting or carrying something or someone.
Definition: : raise/take_up 1) to lift, bear up, carry, take 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lift, lift up 1a2) to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure 1a3) to take, take away, carry off, forgive 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be lifted up, be exalted 1b2) to lift oneself up, rise up 1b3) to be borne, be carried 1b4) to be taken away, be carried off, be swept away 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to lift up, exalt, support, aid, assist 1c2) to desire, long (fig.) 1c3) to carry, bear continuously 1c4) to take, take away 1d) (Hithpael) to lift oneself up, exalt oneself 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to cause one to bear (iniquity) 1e2) to cause to bring, have brought
Usage: Occurs in 609 OT verses. KJV: accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield. See also: Genesis 4:13; Numbers 4:2; 1 Samuel 14:3.
אֶל
ʼêl
H413
"to(wards)"
Prep
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Definition: 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Usage: Occurs in 4205 OT verses. KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:9; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 31:13.
אִמּֽ/וֹ
ʼêm
H517
"mother"
N-fs | Suff
The Hebrew word for 'mother' is used in the Bible to describe a female parent or a maternal figure. It can also refer to the source or origin of something, such as a river or a family. In some cases, it is used figuratively to describe a person's relationship to others.
Definition: 1) mother 1a) of humans 1b) of Deborah's relationship to the people (fig.) 1c) of animals 2) point of departure or division
Usage: Occurs in 202 OT verses. KJV: dam, mother, [idiom] parting. See also: Genesis 2:24; 2 Kings 4:19; Psalms 22:10.
Study Notes — 2 Kings 4:19
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Kings 4:19 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 4:19
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 4:19
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:19
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:19
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:19
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:19
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 4:19
- Barnes' Notes on 2 Kings 4:19
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:19
- Sermons on 2 Kings 4:19
Context — Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son
17But the woman did conceive, and at that time the next year she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
18And the child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the harvesters.
19“My head! My head!” he complained to his father. So his father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”
20After the servant had picked him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. 21And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God. Then she shut the door and went out.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 14:1–2 | “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 4:19 | My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pain in my chest! My heart pounds within me; I cannot be silent. For I have heard the sound of the horn, the alarm of battle. |
2 Kings 4:19 Summary
In this verse, a young boy is suffering from a severe headache and his father tells a servant to carry him to his mother for care. This shows that even in difficult times, we can trust God to provide for our needs and seek help from others, just as the father seeks the mother's care for their son. The father's response also teaches us about the importance of seeking help and support in times of need, similar to how God commands us to bear one another's burdens in Galatians 6:2. By trusting God and seeking help from others, we can find comfort and support in times of distress, just like the woman finds comfort in Elisha's prophecy and care in 2 Kings 4:16.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is happening to the child in this verse?
The child is complaining of a severe headache, which suggests that he is experiencing some kind of illness or injury, as seen in 2 Kings 4:19. This event is a pivotal moment in the story, leading to the mother's desperate actions in the following verses, such as laying him on the bed of the man of God in 2 Kings 4:21.
Why does the father tell a servant to carry the child to his mother?
The father instructs the servant to carry the child to his mother, likely because she is the primary caregiver and the father is busy with the harvesters, as mentioned in 2 Kings 4:18. This decision shows the father's trust in the mother's ability to care for their son, similar to how God entrusts us with the care of others, as seen in Matthew 25:40.
What can we learn from the father's response to his son's suffering?
The father's response teaches us about the importance of seeking help and support in times of need, much like the Psalmist cries out to God in Psalm 38:9. By instructing the servant to carry the child to his mother, the father is seeking the care and comfort that only a mother can provide, illustrating the value of community and mutual support in times of distress, as emphasized in Galatians 6:2.
How does this verse relate to the broader story of Elisha and the woman?
This verse is a continuation of the story that began in 2 Kings 4:8-17, where Elisha prophesies that the woman will have a son, and now the child is facing a life-threatening situation, prompting the mother to seek Elisha's help once again, as seen in 2 Kings 4:22-37. This event highlights the woman's faith and Elisha's role as a prophet and intermediary between God and humanity, much like Moses in Exodus 32:31-32.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in your life when you have felt overwhelmed by pain or suffering, and how did you respond?
- How can you seek help and support from others when you are struggling, just like the father seeks the mother's care for their son?
- What does this verse teach you about the importance of community and mutual support in times of distress, and how can you apply this to your own life?
- How can you trust God with the challenges and uncertainties of life, just as the woman trusts Elisha and God with her son's life, as seen in 2 Kings 4:27?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 4:19
And he said unto his father, my head, my head,.... After he had been some time with him, he complained of a pain in his head, which might be owing, as Abarbinel thinks, to the sun's beating upon it,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 4:19
And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. My head, my head!
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:19
His head was grievously pained; which possibly came from the heat of the harvest season, to which he was exposed in the field.
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:19
2 Kings 4:19 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.Ver. 19. And he said to his father, My head, my head.] The sunbeams in that hot season of harvest had beaten hard upon his head, and made him sick. The Latins call a sick man Aegrum, from the pitiful moan he maketh, crying, Ai, Ai . But what an undivine inference was that of the Bishop of Hereford in his sermon at Oxford upon this text, in the reign of Edward II - pursued at that time by his queen and son - that an aching and sick head of a kingdom was of necessity to be taken off, and no otherwise cured! Till noon, and then died.] The child was well, sick, and dead, and all in the space of four or five hours. A sore trial; and a fair warning to all parents not to love their little ones too much, lest God soon take away the earthly idol. ai, ai, vox dolentis. Dan., Hist., 216.
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:19
(19) My head, my head.—The boy had a sunstroke. It was the hot season of harvest, and his head was probably uncovered. A lad.—Rather, the young man. The servant waiting on him.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:19
Verse 19. My head, any head.] Probably affected by the coup de soleil, or sun stroke, which might, in so young a subject, soon occasion death, especially in that hot country.
Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 4:19
19. My head, my head] The description points to an attack of sunstroke, where the first symptom is pain in the head. But the father thinks lightly of it, for such attacks are more frequent with older persons than with children. He merely tells a servant to carry the child home. Sunstroke is alluded to in Psalms 121:6, and it was from it that Manasses the husband of Judith died, in the barley harvest (Jdt 8:2-3). to a lad] R.V. to his servant. The Hebrew has a definite noun ‘to the servant’, i.e. who was at hand to carry out any order the master might give. Hence the change in R.V.
Barnes' Notes on 2 Kings 4:19
The child’s malady was a sunstroke. The inhabitants of Palestine suffered from this (Psalms 121:6; Isaiah 49:10; Judith 8:3).
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Kings 4:19
19. My head, my head — He was probably sun struck, and this is the more likely in view of the season of the year, and of his own youth and tenderness.
Sermons on 2 Kings 4:19
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Look to Me" (Isaiah 45:22) by Anne Ortlund | Anne Ortlund emphasizes the importance of fixing our eyes on Jesus for salvation and sanctification, highlighting the tendency to be consumed by our own worries, fears, and shortco |
|
Time's Shortness by Thomas Watson | Thomas Watson preaches a sermon on the shortness of time, emphasizing the brevity and transitoriness of life. He urges believers to love one another, avoid discord, and strive for |
|
Man . . . Is of Few Days, and Full of Trouble by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon reflects on the transient nature of life, urging believers to remember that earthly joys are fleeting and often accompanied by trouble. He emphasizes the importance o |
|
The Common Inn of All Mankind by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes that death is the inevitable fate of all humanity, regardless of social status or wealth. He illustrates that death treats everyone equally, from the highe |
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Take Heed, Lest You Fall by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the role of a prophet and the importance of listening to God's voice. The prophet in focus is described as having a fierce loyalty to God and |
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In Time of War by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches a powerful sermon on the Valley of Vision, using the prophecy in Isaiah to warn about the impending danger faced by Jerusalem due to their sins and lack of r |
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A Call to Set Our Hearts on God by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of setting our hearts on God, drawing inspiration from the life of the prophet Jeremiah, who sought the Lord and received His word. Despit |