2 Kings 4:18-20
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This verse subtly highlights the passage of time and the fulfillment of God's promise, showing the boy not just alive, but actively participating in his father's work. It's a beautiful snapshot of a normal, thriving family life restored after a miracle.
When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears right after a miraculous revival of a child by the prophet Elisha. The Shunammite woman, who had hosted Elisha and was promised a son, had her child suddenly struck with a terrible head pain and die. Elisha then miraculously brought the boy back to life, a powerful display of God's intervention in their lives. Now, we see the child as a young boy, joining his father in the fields, highlighting the restored normalcy and joy in their family.
Sometimes, the most profound miracles aren't instantaneous. They unfold with the quiet rhythm of passing seasons, reminding us that God's timing is perfect.
This verse marks a significant moment in the story of the Shunammite woman. After the prophet Elisha miraculously promised her a son, and that son was then tragically taken from her, this is the first mention of the boy again. It's not a sudden re-appearance but a natural progression: 'When the child had grown...' This tells us time has passed. The grief may have been deep, the longing intense, but life continued, and God's promise was being realized through the ordinary flow of days.
This isn't a story of instant gratification, but of patient endurance and faithfulness. The boy has grown into a young man, capable of working alongside his father. This growth signifies not just physical development but the maturation of a life that was given back by God.
Miracles don't always happen in dramatic, life-altering moments. Sometimes, they're woven into the fabric of daily life, becoming so familiar we almost forget their origin.
The setting here is crucial: 'he went out one day to his father among the reapers.' This isn't a scene in a temple or a prophet's chamber; it's the field, during harvest time. The boy is participating in the normal, vocational life of his family. This grounding in the ordinary highlights the quiet power of the miracle:
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Understand the original words
qatsir · Hebrew Noun
Those who cut the grain during the harvest. The harvest was a critical time for agricultural societies, representing God's provision for the people.
na'ar · Hebrew Noun
An attendant or worker under the authority of a master. In the Bible, a servant's role was to perform necessary tasks as directed, facilitating the master's will.
berek · Hebrew Noun
A term for the knees or the area of the thighs while sitting. It symbolizes a place of intimacy, nurture, safety, and rest, particularly between a parent and a child.
muth · Hebrew Verb
The cessation of physical life. In biblical thought, it is the separation of the spirit from the body, and while viewed as a tragedy, it is never outside the sovereign knowledge and ultimate control of God.
This event occurs during the prophetic ministry of Elisha, highlighting God's direct intervention and care for individuals through His servants amidst the broader history of Israelite kings and prophets.
c. 9th century BC
Elisha ministers in Israel
The prophet Elisha, successor to Elijah, carries out his ministry during a tumultuous period in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
c. 9th century BC
Shunammite woman's hospitality
A prominent and childless woman from Shunem shows extraordinary kindness to Elisha, offering him lodging.
c. 9th century BC
Elisha promises a son
In gratitude, Elisha prophesies to the Shunammite woman that she will have a son within a year.
c. 9th century BC
Birth of the Shunammite's son
The woman conceives and gives birth to a healthy son, fulfilling Elisha's prophecy.
c. 9th century BC— this verse
Son suddenly falls ill
The boy suffers a severe, sudden headache while working with his father in the fields and dies.
c. 9th century BC
Elisha raises the boy
The Shunammite woman seeks out Elisha, and through his prayer and God's power, the boy is miraculously restored to life.
This verse highlights the theme of sons growing up and participating in the family's work, similar to how Isaac was involved with Abraham's sheep.
Deuteronomy 6:7This passage speaks to the importance of teaching children diligently about God's ways as they grow and are involved in daily life, mirroring the context of growth and activity.
1 Samuel 16:11This shows David, after being anointed, tending to the sheep, illustrating the natural progression of young men taking on responsibilities within their families and calling.
Luke 2:52This verse describes Jesus growing 'in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man,' emphasizing the holistic development of a child which includes physical growth and integration into community life.
This verse subtly highlights the passage of time and the fulfillment of God's promise, showing the boy not just alive, but actively participating in his father's work. It's a beautiful snapshot of a normal, thriving family life restored after a miracle.
This verse appears right after a miraculous revival of a child by the prophet Elisha. The Shunammite woman, who had hosted Elisha and was promised a son, had her child suddenly struck with a terrible head pain and die. Elisha then miraculously brought the boy back to life, a powerful display of God's intervention in their lives. Now, we see the child as a young boy, joining his father in the fields, highlighting the restored normalcy and joy in their family.
This verse appears right after a miraculous revival of a child by the prophet Elisha. The Shunammite woman, who had hosted Elisha and was promised a son, had her child suddenly struck with a terrible head pain and die. Elisha then miraculously brought the boy back to life, a powerful display of God's intervention in their lives. Now, we see the child as a young boy, joining his father in the fields, highlighting the restored normalcy and joy in their family.
"When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” And when he had lifted him and brought him to his…" — This verse subtly highlights the passage of time and the fulfillment of God's promise, showing the boy not just alive, but actively participating in his father's work. It's a beautiful snapshot of a…
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Last reviewed October 2026
