2 Kings 4:3

3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

2 Kings 4:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 4:3

Then he said, go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy
neighbours
For he perceived that she had none:

even empty vessels;
which they might more readily lend her:

borrow not a few;
but as many as she could get; the prophet, under a divine impulse, was directed to say this to her, foreseeing, by a spirit of prophecy, that a large quantity of oil would be given her.

2 Kings 4:3 In-Context

1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear Jehovah: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two children to be bondmen.
2 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.
3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4 And thou shalt go in, and shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and pour out into all those vessels; and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons; they brought [the vessels] to her, and she poured out.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.