Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elisha doesn't just tell Gehazi to call the woman; he specifically instructs him to tell her to pick up her son. This small detail highlights the direct role the mother plays in the miracle, emphasizing her faith and agency in receiving the life that has been restored.
Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elisha, the prophet, has just raised the Shunammite woman's son from the dead, a miracle that deeply impacts her life. She's just had her son back in her arms, full of life, after seeing him die and bringing his body to the prophet's room. Now, Elisha calls her back, ready to address her directly after this incredible restoration.
Have you ever wondered if your small acts of service are noticed by God? Gehazi, though flawed, played a crucial role in a divine miracle.
Gehazi's Role: More Than Just a Messenger
In this moment, Gehazi is tasked with calling the Shunammite woman. While his own story takes a dark turn later (2 Kings 5:20-27), here he's simply obeying Elisha. It’s a reminder that even ordinary people, in their assigned roles, can be part of extraordinary divine workings. God uses all people, and their obedience in their given tasks, to accomplish His purposes.
Imagine the Shunammite woman's grief. What does it mean to be told to 'pick up your son' when he has just died?
A Command That Defies Logic
Elisha’s instruction, “Pick up your son,” is astonishing. The boy had just died, and the natural response would be mourning and burial, not picking him up. This command isn't about logistics; it's about faith. Elisha is setting the stage for the miracle he's about to perform – the resurrection of the child. The command requires the mother to step out in faith, believing in the impossible possibility that Elisha represents.
Understand the original words
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Shunammith · Hebrew Proper Noun / Adjective
A woman from the city of Shunem; in this context, it refers to the woman whose son Elisha had previously restored to life.
This account unfolds during a time when the northern kingdom of Israel was experiencing spiritual and political turmoil, yet God's power and provision, often mediated through His prophets Elijah and Elisha, remained a constant source of hope for individuals like the Shunammite woman.
c. 900 BC
Reign of King David
David established Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and consolidated the kingdom, setting a precedent for centralized monarchy.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom split into the northern Kingdom of Israel (10 tribes) and the southern Kingdom of Judah (2 tribes).
c. 870 BC
Reign of King Ahab
Ahab ruled the northern kingdom of Israel, a period marked by significant prophetic activity, including that of Elijah.
c. 870-860 BC— this verse
Elijah ministers in Israel
The prophet Elijah confronts pagan worship and performs miracles, including raising the Shunammite woman's son.
c. 850 BC
Elisha succeeds Elijah
Elisha, Elijah's protégé, continues his prophetic ministry in the northern kingdom, encountering many of the same social and spiritual issues.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants and ending its existence as an independent state.
This passage shows Elijah raising a boy from the dead by praying for God's power, mirroring the miracle Gehazi is about to perform through Elisha's intercession.
Luke 7:14Jesus, like Elisha here, touches the bier (or coffin) of a deceased young man and commands him to rise, demonstrating a similar divine authority over death.
John 11:43Jesus calls to Lazarus, 'Lazarus, come out!' echoing the direct, authoritative command Elisha gives to the Shunammite's son, signaling life's return.
2 Kings 2:23Before this event, Gehazi had a less-than-stellar moment where he was cursed with leprosy; this miracle showcases God's continued power through Elisha and, by extension, Elisha's servant, despite human frailty.
Elisha doesn't just tell Gehazi to call the woman; he specifically instructs him to tell her to pick up her son. This small detail highlights the direct role the mother plays in the miracle, emphasizing her faith and agency in receiving the life that has been restored.
Elisha, the prophet, has just raised the Shunammite woman's son from the dead, a miracle that deeply impacts her life. She's just had her son back in her arms, full of life, after seeing him die and bringing his body to the prophet's room. Now, Elisha calls her back, ready to address her directly after this incredible restoration.
Elisha, the prophet, has just raised the Shunammite woman's son from the dead, a miracle that deeply impacts her life. She's just had her son back in her arms, full of life, after seeing him die and bringing his body to the prophet's room. Now, Elisha calls her back, ready to address her directly after this incredible restoration.
"Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.”" — Elisha doesn't just tell Gehazi to call the woman; he specifically instructs him to tell her to pick up her son. This small detail highlights the direct role the mother plays in the miracle, emphas…
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Last reviewed October 2026