2 Kings 4:29
New International Version
Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. Don’t greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.”

New Living Translation
Then Elisha said to Gehazi, “Get ready to travel; take my staff and go! Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Go quickly and lay the staff on the child’s face.”

English Standard Version
He said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child.”

Berean Standard Bible
So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then he said to Gehazi, “Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.”

New American Standard Bible
Then he said to Gehazi, “Get ready and take my staff in your hand, and go; if you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply to him. And lay my staff on the boy’s face.”

NASB 1995
Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand, and go your way; if you meet any man, do not salute him, and if anyone salutes you, do not answer him; and lay my staff on the lad’s face.”

NASB 1977
Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand, and go your way; if you meet any man, do not salute him, and if anyone salutes you, do not answer him; and lay my staff on the lad’s face.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand, and go; if you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; and lay my staff on the boy’s face.”

Amplified Bible
Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins (prepare now!) and take my staff in your hand, and go [to the woman’s house]; if you meet any man [along the way], do not greet him and if a man greets you, do not [stop to] answer him; and lay my staff on the face of the boy [as soon as you reach the house].”

Christian Standard Bible
So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your mantle under your belt, take my staff with you, and go. If you meet anyone, don’t stop to greet him, and if a man greets you, don’t answer him. Then place my staff on the boy’s face.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your mantle under your belt, take my staff with you, and go. If you meet anyone, don’t stop to greet him, and if a man greets you, don’t answer him. Then place my staff on the boy’s face.”

American Standard Version
Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy 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.

Contemporary English Version
"Gehazi, get ready and go to her house," Elisha said. "Take along my walking stick, and when you get there, lay it on the boy's face. Don't stop to talk to anyone, even if they try to talk to you."

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The man of God told Gehazi, "Put on a belt, take my shepherd's staff in your hand, and go. Whenever you meet anyone, don't stop to greet him. If he greets you, don't stop to answer him. Lay my staff on the boy's face."

Good News Translation
Elisha turned to Gehazi and said, "Hurry! Take my walking stick and go. Don't stop to greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, don't take time to answer. Go straight to the house and hold my stick over the boy."

International Standard Version
At this he told Gehazi, "Get ready to run! Take my staff in your hand, and get on the road. Don't greet anyone you meet. If anyone greets you, don't respond. Just go lay my staff on the youngster's face."

Majority Standard Bible
So Elisha said to Gehazi, ?Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy?s face.?

NET Bible
Elisha told Gehazi, "Tuck your robes into your belt, take my staff, and go! Don't stop to exchange greetings with anyone! Place my staff on the child's face."

New Heart English Bible
Then he said to Gehazi, "Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him again. Then lay my staff on the face of the child."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way: and if thou shalt meet any man, salute him not; and if any shall salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.

World English Bible
Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don’t answer him again. Then lay my staff on the child’s face.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he says to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go; when you meet a man, you do not greet him; and when a man greets you, you do not answer him; and you have laid my staff on the face of the youth.”

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith to Gehazi, 'Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go; when thou dost meet a man, thou dost not salute him; and when a man doth salute thee, thou dost not answer him; and thou hast laid my staff on the face of the youth.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins and take my prop in thy hand, and go: If thou shalt find a man, thou shalt not praise him; and if a man shall praise thee, thou shalt not answer him: and put my prop upon the face of the boy.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then he said to Giezi: Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go. If any man meet thee, salute him not: and if any man salute thee, answer him not: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so he said to Gehazi: “Gird your waist, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If any man will meet you, you shall not greet him. And if anyone greets you, you shall not respond to him. And place my staff upon the face of the boy.”

New American Bible
He said to Gehazi, “Get ready for a journey. Take my staff with you and be off; if you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff upon the boy.”

New Revised Standard Version
He said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer; and lay my staff on the face of the child.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet any man, do not salute him; and if any man salutes you, do not answer him; and lay my staff upon the face of the child.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to Gekhazi: “Wrap up your loins and take my staff in your hand and go. If you find a man, you will not bless him, and if a man will bless you, you shall not answer him. And put my staff on the face of the boy.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then he said to Gehazi: 'Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way; if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not; and lay my staff upon the face of the child.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Elisaie said to Giezi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go: if thou meet any man, thou shalt not salute him, and if a man salute thee thou shalt not answer him: and thou shalt lay my staff on the child's face.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son
28Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’ ” 29So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.” 30And the mother of the boy said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.…

Cross References
Luke 10:4
Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road.

Matthew 10:10
Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.

1 Kings 17:21
Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!”

Acts 20:10
But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!”

Mark 6:8
He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—

Exodus 7:19
And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers and canals and ponds and all the reservoirs—that they may become blood.’ There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in the vessels of wood and stone.”

1 Kings 18:42-44
So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the summit of Carmel, bent down on the ground, and put his face between his knees. / “Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” / On the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

Acts 9:40
Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

Matthew 9:25
After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

1 Samuel 17:22
Then David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing.

1 Kings 13:4
Now when King Jeroboam, who was at the altar in Bethel, heard the word that the man of God had cried out against it, he stretched out his hand and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward him withered, so that he could not pull it back.

2 Kings 5:10
Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.”

2 Kings 13:21
Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders, so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. And as soon as his body touched the bones of Elisha, the man was revived and stood up on his feet.

John 11:43-44
After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” / The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them.

Genesis 22:3
So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.


Treasury of Scripture

Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go your way: if you meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute you, answer him not again: and lay my staff on the face of the child.

Gird up thy loins

2 Kings 9:1
And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:

1 Kings 18:46
And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Ephesians 6:14
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

take my

2 Kings 2:14
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

Exodus 4:17
And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

salute him not

Luke 10:4
Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

lay my staff

2 Kings 2:8,14
And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground…

Exodus 7:19,20
And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone…

Exodus 14:16
But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

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Child Face Gehazi Gird Greet Greets Hand Lay Meet Salute Staff Waist Way
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Child Face Gehazi Gird Greet Greets Hand Lay Meet Salute Staff Waist Way
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














So Elisha said to Gehazi
Elisha, the prophet and successor of Elijah, is a central figure in the narrative of 2 Kings. His name means "God is salvation," reflecting his role as a divine messenger. Gehazi, his servant, plays a significant role in Elisha's ministry. The relationship between Elisha and Gehazi is one of mentorship and service, illustrating the importance of obedience and faithfulness in God's work. Historically, prophets often had attendants or disciples who assisted them, and Gehazi's role is consistent with this tradition.

Tuck your cloak into your belt
This phrase is a directive for Gehazi to prepare for swift travel. In ancient times, long garments were common, and tucking them into a belt allowed for greater mobility. The Hebrew phrase "gird up your loins" is often used in the Bible to signify readiness and urgency. This instruction underscores the immediacy and seriousness of the task at hand, reflecting the urgency of God's work and the need for readiness in spiritual matters.

take my staff in your hand
The staff is a symbol of authority and power, often associated with leadership and divine intervention. In the context of Elisha's ministry, the staff represents the prophetic authority bestowed upon him by God. By instructing Gehazi to take the staff, Elisha is extending his prophetic authority to his servant, indicating that Gehazi is acting on his behalf. This act also signifies the transmission of divine power, as seen in other biblical accounts where objects are used as conduits of God's miraculous works.

and go
The command to "go" is a call to action, emphasizing obedience and the execution of God's will. In the biblical narrative, when God or His prophets issue a command to "go," it often precedes a significant event or miracle. This directive highlights the importance of immediate and unquestioning obedience to divine instructions, a recurring theme in Scripture that underscores faith and trust in God's plan.

If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer
This instruction reflects the cultural norms of the time, where greetings were often lengthy and involved. By instructing Gehazi to avoid such interactions, Elisha emphasizes the urgency and importance of the mission. The directive to avoid distractions is a reminder of the singular focus required in fulfilling God's commands. It also illustrates the principle of prioritizing divine tasks over social conventions, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible.

Then lay my staff on the boy’s face
The act of laying the staff on the boy's face is symbolic of imparting life and divine intervention. In the biblical context, physical actions often accompany spiritual realities, and this gesture signifies the transfer of God's power to bring about healing or resurrection. The use of the staff, a symbol of Elisha's prophetic authority, underscores the belief in God's ability to work miracles through His chosen instruments. This act foreshadows the miraculous events that follow and serves as a testament to God's power and faithfulness.

(29) If thou meet any man, salute him not.--An injunction of utmost haste. (Comp. the similar words of our Saviour, Luke 10:4.) A short greeting might end in a long halt. "Orientals lose much time in tedious salutations" (Keil).

Lay my staff upon the face of the child.--It seems to be implied that if the mother had had faith this would have sufficed for raising the child. (Comp. 2Kings 2:8; Acts 19:12.) Keil supposes that the prophet foresaw the failure of this expedient, and intended by it to teach the Shunammitess and his followers generally that the power of working miracles was not magically inherent in himself or in his staff, as they might imagine, but only in Jehovah, who granted the temporary use of that power to faith and prayer. In other words, Elisha was seeking to lift the minds of his disciples to higher and more spiritual conceptions of the prophetic office. But this seems doubtful.

Verse 29. - Than 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. The object of all these injunctions is haste. Lose not a moment. Go as quickly as thou canst to the house where the child lies. Spend no time in greetings on the way. Slack not. Tarry not. And lay my staff upon the face of the child. What effect the prophet expected from this act, we are not told. Gehazi appears to have expected that it would at once cause a resuscitation (ver. 31); but there is no evidence that the prophet participated in the expectation. He may have done so, for prophets are not infallible beyond the sphere of the revelations made to them; but he may only have intended to comfort and cheer the mother, and to raise in her an expectation of the resuscitation which he trusted it would be allowed him to effect.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Elisha said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to Gehazi,
לְגֵיחֲזִ֜י (lə·ḡê·ḥă·zî)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1522: Gehazi -- perhaps 'valley of vision', servant of Elisha

“Tie up
חֲגֹ֣ר (ḥă·ḡōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 2296: To gird, gird on, gird oneself

your garment,
מָתְנֶ֗יךָ (mā·ṯə·ne·ḵā)
Noun - mdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4975: The waist, small of the back, the loins

take
וְקַ֨ח (wə·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

my staff
מִשְׁעַנְתִּ֣י (miš·‘an·tî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4938: Support, sustenance, a walking-stick

in your hand,
בְיָדְךָ֮ (ḇə·yā·ḏə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

and go!
וָלֵךְ֒ (wā·lêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

If
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you meet
תִמְצָ֥א (ṯim·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

anyone,
אִישׁ֙ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

greet him,
תְבָרְכֶ֔נּוּ (ṯə·ḇā·rə·ḵen·nū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

and if
וְכִֽי־ (wə·ḵî-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

anyone
אִ֖ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

greets you,
יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ (yə·ḇā·reḵ·ḵā)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

answer him.
תַעֲנֶנּ֑וּ (ṯa·‘ă·nen·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

Then lay
וְשַׂמְתָּ֥ (wə·śam·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

my staff
מִשְׁעַנְתִּ֖י (miš·‘an·tî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4938: Support, sustenance, a walking-stick

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the boy?s
הַנָּֽעַר׃ (han·nā·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

face.?
פְּנֵ֥י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT History: 2 Kings 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi Gird up (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 4:28
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