II Kings 7:1 · Bible study
2 Kings 7:1 Commentary: Hope from the Word of the Lord
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Elisha's prophecy of immediate relief in Samaria's famine, examining how God's word challenges despair and invites trust against all odds.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A prophetic promise of immediate, abundant relief from the famine in Samaria, fulfilled within 24 hours.
- Key words: Hear (command to obey), word of the LORD (prophetic authority), seah/shekel (specific measures of abundance), gate (public marketplace).
- Main debate: No major interpretive debate on the verse itself; minor discussion concerns the exact capacity of a seah and the value of a shekel.
- Theological theme: God’s sovereignty over history and his faithfulness to his word, reversing judgment with mercy.
- Best use: Preaching on hope in desperate circumstances, teaching on the reliability of God’s promises, evangelistic message of God’s ability to save suddenly.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: ‘About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel, and two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel.’”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Elisha said, “Hear Yahweh’s word. Yahweh says, ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’”
KJV King James Version 1769
Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Elisha said, Hear ye the word of Jehovah: thus saith Jehovah, To-morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Elisha saith, `Hear ye a word of Jehovah: thus said Jehovah, About this time to-morrow, a measure of fine flour is at a shekel, and two measures of barley at a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Elisha said, Hear the word of Jehovah. Thus saith Jehovah: To-morrow about this time shall the measure of fine flour be at a shekel, and two measures of barley at a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Eliseus said: Hear ye the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord: Tomorrow, about this time, a bushel of fine flour shall be sold for a stater, and two bushels of barley for a stater, in the gate of Samaria.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
DIJO entonces Eliseo: Oid palabra de Jehová: Así dijo Jehová: Mañana á estas horas valdrá el seah de flor de harina un siclo, y dos seah de cebada un siclo, á la puerta de Samaria.
Disse então Eliseu: Ouvi palavra do SENHOR: Assim disse o SENHOR: Amanhã a estas horas valerá a medida de flor de farinha um siclo, e duas medidas de cevada um siclo, à porta de Samaria.
Élisée dit: Écoutez la parole de l’ Éternel! Ainsi parle l’ Éternel: Demain, à cette heure, on aura une mesure de fleur de farine pour un sicle et deux mesures d’ orge pour un sicle, à la porte de Samarie.
Elisa aber sprach: Höret des HERRN Wort! So spricht der HERR: Morgen um diese Zeit wird ein Scheffel Semmelmehl einen Silberling gelten und zwei Scheffel Gerste einen Silberling unter dem Tor zu Samaria.
Toen zeide Elisa: Hoort het woord des HEEREN; zo zegt de HEERE: Morgen omtrent dezen tijd zal een maat meelbloem verkocht worden voor een sikkel, en twee maten gerst voor een sikkel, in de poort van Samaria.
Allora Eliseo disse: “Ascoltate la parola dell’Eterno! Così dice l’Eterno: Domani, a quest’ora, alla porta di Samaria, la misura di fior di farina si avrà per un siclo, e le due misure d’orzo si avranno per un siclo”.
Tedy rzekł Elizeusz: Słuchajcie słowa Pańskiego. Tak mówi Pan: O tym czasie jutro miara mąki pszennej będzie za sykiel, a dwie miary jęczmienia za sykiel, w bramie Samaryjskiej.
И сказал Елисей: выслушайте слово Господне: так говорит Господь: завтра в это время мера муки лучшей будет по сиклю и две меры ячменя по сиклю у ворот Самарии.
以利沙 說：「你們要聽 耶和華 的話，耶和華 如此 說：明日 約到這時候，在撒馬利亞 城門口，一細亞 細麵 要賣銀一舍客勒，二細亞 大麥 也要賣銀一舍客勒。」
Then Elisha said, Give ear to the word of the Lord: the Lord says, Tomorrow, about this time, a measure of good meal will be offered for the price of a shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the market-place of Samaria.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Kings 7:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse records a divinely given promise of immediate, dramatic relief from the famine that had brought Samaria to its worst extremity. Elisha’s opening command, “Hear Yahweh’s word” (v.1), frames the following statement as an authoritative oracle, not a human opinion. The prophecy specifies a precise time frame ('tomorrow about this time'), exact measures (a seah of fine flour and two seahs of barley), and a fixed price (one shekel), all to be transacted “in the gate of Samaria”, the normal marketplace. This degree of specificity, as Matthew Henry observes, shows that “the return of peace is thus expressed” (cf. Judges 5:11). Barnes notes that the promised prices were actually cheaper than ordinary, making the prophecy even more startling. The weight of the promise stands in direct contrast to the desperation recorded in 2 Kings 6:25-29, where an ass’s head sold for eighty shekels. As Keil & Delitzsch state, “in comparison with the prices given in 2 Ki 6:25 … it was incredibly cheap.” The consensus is clear: God’s word overrides human hopelessness, and he is able to supply abundance in a single day.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: This verse is a clear prophecy of immediate relief from famine, fulfilled the next day when the Syrian siege ended and food became plentiful in the market.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Prophetic specificity | All commentators affirm that the detailed promise (time, measure, price, location) demonstrates the divine origin of the word. | Some focus on the historical value of the shekel and seah (Gill, Barnes), while others highlight the theological contrast with the famine prices as evidence of God’s reversal (Henry, K&D). |
| Mechanism of fulfillment | Christians agree that God caused the deliverance, as recorded in the ensuing narrative. | Some understand the provision as a direct miracle of abundant supply; others see it as providentially orchestrated through the Syrians’ flight and the lepers’ discovery (K&D, Cambridge). |
| Meaning of 'Hear the word of the Lord' | It is a call to obedient attention, not mere listening. | Some emphasize the corporate context (addressed to king and elders as representatives of the city, Henry), while others see it as a rhetorical challenge to the king’s earlier despair (Clarke). |
Historical & Cultural Context
The setting is the siege of Samaria by Ben-hadad II of Syria, a crisis so severe that the city’s food supplies had run out and an ass’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver (2 Kings 6:25). Mothers had even resorted to cannibalism (2 Kings 6:28, 29). King Jehoram, blaming the prophet Elisha, had sworn to kill him. But as the king reached Elisha’s house, the prophet gave this word: within twenty-four hours, normal market trade would resume at the city gate. The seah (a dry measure roughly equal to a gallon and a half to three gallons, depending on the source) of sōlet (fine wheat flour, the best grade) would cost one shekel, and two seahs of barley (coarser but still sustaining) would cost the same. The contrast with the earlier prices could not be sharper.
The “gate of Samaria” was the public square where legal, commercial, and social life happened (see Ruth 4:1, 2). Elisha’s oracle thus pictured not just food, but the whole civic order restored. The phrase “hear Yahweh’s word” echoes the prophetic call of Moses (Exodus 9:5: “Yahweh appointed a set time, saying, ‘Tomorrow Yahweh shall do this thing in the land’”) and Joshua (Joshua 3:5: “Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow Yahweh will do wonders among you”). God often works a reversal when human strength is gone (Deuteronomy 32:36). Here, the worst moment becomes the threshold of deliverance, and the specificity of the prophecy underlines that this is not wishful thinking but a word from the Lord.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is well-attested across manuscript traditions, with no substantial differences that affect meaning.
Reception History
This passage has been used consistently in Christian tradition to illustrate God’s sudden provision in times of crisis. The story of the lepers and the captain is often preached alongside it to highlight the choice between faith and skepticism. While specific patristic or medieval commentaries are not provided here, the narrative as a whole appears in lectionaries for seasons focused on hope and divine intervention, such as Advent and Epiphany. The verse’s emphasis on the precise timing and public nature of the deliverance has made it a favorite text for sermons on the trustworthiness of God’s promises, especially in situations of acute need.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God speaks when hope is gone. Elisha’s word comes at the very moment the king despairs (2 Kings 6:33). When we stop expecting anything, God may be about to act.
- God’s promise is particular and concrete. The prophecy names measures, price, and location. Real faith trusts a God who knows the details of our lives, not a vague hope for better times.
- God’s word demands a hearing that leads to trust. ‘Hear’ in Hebrew (shama) carries the force of obeying. The contrasting responses of the captain (v.2) and the lepers (vv.3, 4) show that the same word can be met with scorn or with desperate hope.
Five-point outline
- Desperation as the setting for revelation. The famine and the king’s murderous anger create the backdrop. Human extremity is not a barrier to God’s intervention; it is often the condition for it.
- The prophet’s authoritative word. “Thus says the LORD” (koh amar YHWH) is the formula of divine speech. Elisha speaks not from himself but from the One who keeps covenant.
- The content of the promise. Fine flour (luxury) and barley (staple) together signal complete restoration. Food that was unimaginably expensive will become abundant and affordable.
- The place of fulfillment. The gate was where grain was sold and where justice was done. Normal life will resume; the siege is over.
- The timeline of grace. “Tomorrow about this time.” God’s timing is not our timing, but when he moves, he moves quickly.
Illustration hooks
- A family facing eviction receives an anonymous gift that exactly covers the debt. They had prayed for weeks and were down to their last day.
- A patient told they have a few months to live suddenly experiences a remission that doctors cannot explain. The news comes with no warning.
- A small business owner has their largest order on the day they were about to close. The intervention seems too good to be true.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I ‘hear the word of the Lord’ when my circumstances are screaming the opposite?
- Why does God often wait until the very last moment to deliver?
- What does it mean to trust a promise that seems impossible?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows us a God who speaks into the darkest situation and calls for trust. The famine in Samaria was real; the suffering was unbearable. Yet the word of the Lord came with a precise, almost unbelievable promise. As you work through these questions, pay attention to how the text describes both the crisis and the hope.
Discussion questions
- What does Elisha say, and to whom is he speaking? (Consider the presence of the king and the elders.)
- How does the promise in verse 1 contrast with the situation described in 2 Kings 6:25, 29?
- Why do you think the prophet gives such specific details, time, food type, price, location?
- What does this verse reveal about God’s character? How does it shape your picture of him?
- The verb “hear” (shama) in Hebrew often implies obedience. In what ways are we tempted to hear God’s promises without actually trusting them?
- Think of a time when you felt trapped in a “siege” situation, financially, relationally, or spiritually. How might this passage speak to that memory?
- What is one area of your life where you need to “hear the word of the Lord” today, even though the evidence says otherwise?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 8:23 | I will put a division between my people and your people. This sign shall happen by tomorrow.”’” |
| Exodus 9:5 | Yahweh appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow Yahweh shall do this thing in the land.” |
| Exodus 9:6 | Yahweh did that thing on the next day; and all the livestock of Egypt died, but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died. |
| Exodus 14:13 | Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will work for you today; for you will never again see the Egyptians whom you have seen today. |
| Exodus 16:12 | “I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At evening you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am Yahweh your God.’” |
| Joshua 3:5 | Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow Yahweh will do wonders among you.” |
| I Samuel 11:9 | They said to the messengers who came, “Tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.’” The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. |
| I Kings 22:19 | Micaiah said, “Therefore hear Yahweh’s word. I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke points out that Elisha's promise of grain at bargain prices directly answers the king's accusation that the prophet caused the famine. The contrast is stark: fine flour will soon cost a few shillings, while moments earlier a donkey's head was sold for a fortune, showing the scale of the miracle.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes sets the scene: Elisha answers the king's despair by announcing that within a single day Yahweh will end the famine and make food plentiful and cheap. He specifies the precise amounts of flour and barley and notes that the city gate, where business was done, would become the grain market.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible Schools draws attention to the dramatic quantitative contrast in the prophecy. A seah of fine flour, six times the size of the
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Then Elisha saide, Heare ye the worde of the Lord: thus saith the Lord, To morowe this time a measure of fine floure shalbe solde for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel in the gate of Samaria.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes the precise economic detail in the prophecy by calculating the exact ancient measures and their modern equivalents. He notes a "seah" of fine flour equals about two and a half wine gallons, and a shekel amounts to roughly two shillings and four pence farthing, showing the prophecy's literal accuracy.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB gives a concrete estimate of the prophecy's promise: a peck of fine flour for about half a crown, with barley at the same rate. He also notes that selling produce at the city gate each morning was, and still is, a common Eastern custom.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch notes that a shekel for a seah of wheat was still a high price, but incredibly cheap compared to the famine prices of 2 Kings 6:25. The officer's mockery about "windows in heaven" alludes to Genesis 7:11, as though flour must rain down. Elisha's reply promises the officer will see the cheapness but not share in it.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange insists the miracles in this account are literal, historical facts, not symbolic stories or later embellishments. He rejects rationalistic attempts to explain away Elisha’s supernatural knowledge or the fiery chariots. For Lange, the narrative’s whole point is to prove that a true prophet of Jehovah is in Israel, working through direct divine intervention.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry highlights that Elisha's prophecy of plenty came at the moment of deepest despair, when the king had given up all hope. For Henry this illustrates a divine pattern: God's power is most clearly shown when human strength is exhausted. The relief arrived precisely when it seemed impossible.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley gives the exact Hebrew term for the measure mentioned, identifying it as a seah. He then converts it into the familiar English units of his day, explaining that a seah holds about six cabs, or roughly a peck and a pottle.