2 Kings 4:14

14 And he said, What then will she that I do to her? (And he said, What then desireth her that I should do for her?) [And] Gehazi said to him, Ask thou not (me), for she hath no son, and her husband is eld.

2 Kings 4:14 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 4:14

And he said
That is, Elisha to Gehazi, when he returned to him, and told him what the Shunammite said:

what then is to be done for her?
something he thought should be done in gratitude, the favours they had received, and advises with his servant what could be thought of, he being one about the house:

and Gehazi answered, verily she hath no child, and her husband is old;
and so not likely to have any by him; as children were always very desirable by women, and especially in those days, the servant suggests, that no doubt to have one would be very acceptable to her.

2 Kings 4:14 In-Context

12 And he said to Gehazi, his servant, Call thou this Shunammite. And when he had called her, and she had stood before him,

13 he said to his servant, Speak thou to her, Lo! thou hast ministered to us busily in all things; what wilt thou that I do to thee? Whether thou hast a cause, and wilt that I speak to the king, either to the prince of the chivalry? And she answered, I dwell in the midst of my people. (And then she went away.) (he said to his servant, Speak thou to her, and say, Lo! thou hast busily served us in all things; what wilt thou that I do for thee? Hast thou a case, that I speak about to the king, or to the leader of the cavalry, or of the army? And she answered, All is well; I live here in the midst of my people. And then she went away.)

14 And he said, What then will she that I do to her? (And he said, What then desireth her that I should do for her?) [And] Gehazi said to him, Ask thou not (me), for she hath no son, and her husband is eld.

15 Therefore Elisha commanded, that he should call her (back). And when she was called, and stood before the door,

16 he said to her, In this time, as in (the) time of life (At this time, next year), thou shalt embrace a son. And she answered, Do not thou, my lord, the man of God, I beseech (thee), do not thou lie to thine handmaid.