2 Kings 4:2

King James Version (KJV)

And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

Translations

2 Kings 4:2 - Amplified Bible

Elisha said to her, What shall I do for you? Tell me, what have you [of sale value] in the house? She said, Your handmaid has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.

2 Kings 4:2 - American Standard Version

And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me; what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thy handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil.

2 Kings 4:2 - Bible in Basic English

Then Elisha said to her, What am I to do for you? say now, what have you in the house? And she said, Your servant has nothing in the house but a pot of oil.

2 Kings 4:2 - Darby Bible

And Elisha said to her, What shall I do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thy handmaid has not anything at all in the house but a pot of oil.

2 Kings 4:2 - English Standard Version

And Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?" And she said, "Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil."

2 Kings 4:2 - King James Version

And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

2 Kings 4:2 - La Biblia de las Americas

Y Eliseo le dijo: ¿Qué puedo hacer por ti? Dime qué tienes en casa. Y ella respondiò: Tu sierva no tiene en casa más que una vasija de aceite.

2 Kings 4:2 - The Message

Elisha said, "I wonder how I can be of help. Tell me, what do you have in your house?"    "Nothing," she said. "Well, I do have a little oil."

2 Kings 4:2 - New American Standard Bible

Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil."

2 Kings 4:2 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Y Eliseo le dijo: "¿Qué puedo hacer por ti? Dime qué tienes en casa." Y ella respondiò: "Su sierva no tiene en casa más que una vasija de aceite."

2 Kings 4:2 - World English Bible

Elisha said to her, What shall I do for you? tell me; what have you in the house? She said, Your handmaid has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil.

2 Kings 4:2 - Young's Living Translation

And Elisha saith unto her, `What do I do for thee? declare to me, what hast thou in the house?` and she saith, `Thy maid-servant hath nothing in the house except a pot of oil.`

2 Kings 4:2 - Additional Comments

Note Elisha was ready to immediately respond with kindness. He did not have to think about it.
Elisha did not say "Be comforted" -- he gave her real help. Also, he did not give her a small token gift to ease his conscience -- he met her real need.
Also, instead of just a gift, he helped her best by using her own efforts to make it happen, teaching her the value of her own efforts.
Anything she had may have been used to pay her debts, but it was not enough. She was in dire straits because of their debt. Except for unusual circumstances, is it okay to go into debt? The borrower becomes the lender's slave (Prov 22:7). But we are to lend freely (Matt 5:42). Yet in the next verse she is asked to borrow containers for the oil.
This teaches us to make the best of what we have. Don't ever belittle what God has given you, for any and all can be used for you and for His glory.

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