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And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. <a href="/nkjv/2_kings/6.htm">New King James Version</a> Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ <a href="/nasb_/2_kings/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then the king said to her, “What is on your mind?” And she said, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son so that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ <a href="/nasb/2_kings/6.htm">NASB 1995</a> And the king said to her, &#8220What is the matter with you?&#8221 And she answered, &#8220This woman said to me, &#8216Give your son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.&#8217 <a href="/nasb77/2_kings/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And the king said to her, “What is the matter with you?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ <a href="/lsb/2_kings/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And the king said to her, “What is the matter with you?” And she said, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ <a href="/amp/2_kings/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a> And the king said to her, “What is the matter with you?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son so we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ <a href="/csb/2_kings/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Then the king asked her, “What’s the matter? ” She said, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, and we will eat him today. Then we will eat my son tomorrow.’ <a href="/hcsb/2_kings/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Then the king asked her, &#8220What&#8217s the matter?&#8221 She said, &#8220This woman said to me, &#8216Give up your son, and we will eat him today. Then we will eat my son tomorrow.&#8217 <a href="/asv/2_kings/6.htm">American Standard Version</a> And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to-day, and we will eat my son to-morrow. <a href="/cev/2_kings/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Then he asked, "What's the matter anyway?" The woman answered, "Another woman and I were so hungry that we agreed to eat our sons. She said if we ate my son one day, we could eat hers the next day. <a href="/erv/2_kings/6.htm">English Revised Version</a> And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. <a href="/gwt/2_kings/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Then the king asked her, "What's the matter?" She answered, "This woman told me, 'Give up your son. Let's eat him today. We'll eat my son tomorrow.' <a href="/gnt/2_kings/6.htm">Good News Translation</a> What's your trouble?" She answered, "The other day this woman here suggested that we eat my child, and then eat her child the next day. <a href="/isv/2_kings/6.htm">International Standard Version</a> Then the king asked her, "What's bothering you?" She said, "This woman told me, 'Give up your son, and we'll eat him today, and we'll eat your son tomorrow.'" <a href="/msb/2_kings/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Then the king asked her, ?What is the matter?? And she answered, ?This woman said to me, ?Give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son.? <a href="/net/2_kings/6.htm">NET Bible</a> Then the king asked her, "What's your problem?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Hand over your son; we'll eat him today and then eat my son tomorrow.' <a href="/nheb/2_kings/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> The king said to her, "What ails you?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.' <a href="/wbt/2_kings/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And the king said to her, What aileth thee? and she answered, This woman said to me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to-day, and we will eat my son to-morrow. <a href="/web/2_kings/6.htm">World English Bible</a> Then the king asked her, “What is your problem?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/2_kings/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And the king says to her, “What is [troubling] you?” And she says, “This woman said to me, Give your son, and we eat him today, and we eat my son tomorrow; <a href="/ylt/2_kings/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And the king saith to her, 'What -- to thee?' and she saith, 'This woman said unto me, Give thy son, and we eat him to-day, and my son we eat to-morrow; <a href="/slt/2_kings/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And the king will say to her, What to thee? and she will say, This woman said to me, Thou shalt give thy son, and we will eat him this day, and my son we will eat to-morrow.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/2_kings/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> This woman said to me: Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. <a href="/cpdv/2_kings/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> “This woman said to me: ‘Give your son, so that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ <a href="/nabre/2_kings/6.htm">New American Bible</a> Then the king asked her, “What is your trouble?” She replied: “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son that we may eat him today; then tomorrow we will eat my son.’ <a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> But then the king asked her, “What is your complaint?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son; we will eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And the king said to her, What troubles you? And she said to him, This woman said to me, Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. <a href="/hpbt/2_kings/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> The King said to her: “What has happened to you?” She said to him: “This woman said to me, “Give your son; we will eat him today, and my son we will eat tomorrow.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/2_kings/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And the king said unto her: 'What aileth thee?' And she answered: 'This woman said unto me: Give thy son, that we may eat him to-day, and we will eat my son to-morrow. <a href="/sep/2_kings/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And the king said to her, What is the matter with thee? And the woman said to him, This woman said to me, Give thy son, and we will eat him to-day, and we will eat my son to-morrow. <a href="/parallel/2_kings/6-28.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=2100" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/2_kings/6.htm">The Siege and Famine of Samaria</a> …27He answered, “If the LORD does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress?” 28<a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: ham·me·leḵ (Art:: N-ms) -- King. From malak; a king.">Then the king</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">asked</a> <a href="/hebrew/lāh (Prep:: 3fs) -- ">her,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: mah- (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">“What</a> <a href="/hebrew/lāḵ (Prep:: 2fs) -- ">is the matter?”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wat·tō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">And she answered,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2063.htm" title="2063: haz·zōṯ (Art:: Pro-fs) -- Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that. Irregular feminine of zeh; this.">“This</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: hā·’iš·šāh (Art:: N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">woman</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ā·mə·rāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lay (Prep:: 1cs) -- To, into, towards. ">to me,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: tə·nî (V-Qal-Imp-fs) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">‘Give up</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bə·nêḵ (N-msc:: 2fs) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">your son,</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: wə·nō·ḵə·len·nū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf.h-1cp:: 3mse) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">that we may eat him,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: hay·yō·wm (Art:: N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative."></a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/4279.htm" title="4279: mā·ḥār (Adv) -- Tomorrow, in time to come. Probably from 'achar; properly, deferred, i.e. The morrow; usually tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter.">tomorrow</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: nō·ḵal (V-Qal-Imperf-1cp) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">we will eat</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bə·nî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">my son.’</a> 29So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-53.htm">Deuteronomy 28:53-57</a> Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. / The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, / refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. ... <a href="/lamentations/4-10.htm">Lamentations 4:10</a> The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. <a href="/leviticus/26-29.htm">Leviticus 26:29</a> You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters. <a href="/jeremiah/19-9.htm">Jeremiah 19:9</a> I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’ <a href="/ezekiel/5-10.htm">Ezekiel 5:10</a> As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’ <a href="/2_kings/6-29.htm">2 Kings 6:29-30</a> So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.” / When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. And as he passed by on the wall, the people saw the sackcloth under his clothes next to his skin. <a href="/2_kings/7-1.htm">2 Kings 7:1-2</a> 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.’” / But the officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” replied Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it.” <a href="/2_kings/7-16.htm">2 Kings 7:16-20</a> Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. It was then that a seah of fine flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. / Now the king had appointed the officer on whose arm he leaned to be in charge of the gate, but the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died, just as the man of God had foretold when the king had come to him. / It happened just as the man of God had told the king: “About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel.” ... <a href="/2_kings/4-38.htm">2 Kings 4:38-41</a> When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet, he said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and boil some stew for the sons of the prophets.” / One of them went out to the field to gather herbs, and he found a wild vine from which he gathered as many wild gourds as his garment could hold. Then he came back and cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were. / And they poured it out for the men to eat, but when they tasted the stew they cried out, “There is death in the pot, O man of God!” And they could not eat it. ... <a href="/2_kings/8-1.htm">2 Kings 8:1-6</a> Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed that a seven-year famine will come to the land.” / So the woman had proceeded to do as the man of God had instructed. And she and her household lived as foreigners for seven years in the land of the Philistines. / At the end of seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to the king to appeal for her house and her land. ... <a href="/1_kings/17-12.htm">1 Kings 17:12-16</a> But she replied, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.” / “Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. “Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have, and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son, / for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’” ... <a href="/1_kings/18-2.htm">1 Kings 18:2</a> So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria, <a href="/1_kings/18-41.htm">1 Kings 18:41-45</a> And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” / So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the summit of Carmel, bent down on the ground, and put his face between his knees. / “Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” ... <a href="/matthew/24-19.htm">Matthew 24:19</a> How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! <a href="/luke/21-23.htm">Luke 21:23</a> How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And the king said to her, What ails you? And she answered, This woman said to me, Give your son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.What aileth thee<a href="/genesis/21-17.htm">Genesis 21:17</a> And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.<a href="/judges/18-23.htm">Judges 18:23</a> And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?<a href="/1_samuel/1-8.htm">1 Samuel 1:8</a> Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?Give thy son<a href="/leviticus/26-29.htm">Leviticus 26:29</a> And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.<a href="/deuteronomy/28-53.htm">Deuteronomy 28:53-57</a> And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: … <a href="/isaiah/9-20.htm">Isaiah 9:20,21</a> And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: … <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_samuel/14-5.htm">Aileth</a> <a href="/2_samuel/14-5.htm">Ails</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-22.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/1_kings/21-6.htm">Give</a> <a href="/2_kings/5-18.htm">Matter</a> <a href="/1_kings/20-6.htm">Morrow</a> <a href="/2_kings/4-23.htm">Today</a> <a href="/2_kings/4-23.htm">To-Day</a> <a href="/1_kings/20-6.htm">Tomorrow</a> <a href="/1_kings/20-6.htm">To-Morrow</a> <a href="/2_kings/4-13.htm">Trouble</a> <a href="/1_kings/18-18.htm">Troubling</a> <a href="/1_kings/1-41.htm">What's</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/114-5.htm">Aileth</a> <a href="/job/16-3.htm">Ails</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-29.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-29.htm">Give</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-10.htm">Matter</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-1.htm">Morrow</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-31.htm">Today</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/18-4.htm">To-Day</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-1.htm">Tomorrow</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-1.htm">To-Morrow</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-33.htm">Trouble</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/15-6.htm">Troubling</a> <a href="/judges/18-23.htm">What's</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 6</div>1. <a href="/2_kings/6-1.htm">Elisha, allowing the young prophets to enlarge dwellings, floats an axhead</a> 8. <a href="/2_kings/6-8.htm">He discloses the king of Syria's counsel</a> 13. <a href="/2_kings/6-13.htm">The army which was sent to Dothan to apprehend Elisha, is blinded</a> 19. <a href="/2_kings/6-19.htm">Being brought into Samaria, they are dismissed in peace</a> 24. <a href="/2_kings/6-24.htm">The famine in Samaria causes women to eat their own children</a> 30. <a href="/2_kings/6-30.htm">The king sends to slay Elisha</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/6.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/2_kings/6.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?” In this passage, the king of Israel, likely King Jehoram, is confronted with the dire situation in Samaria during a severe famine caused by the Aramean siege. The king's inquiry reflects his desperation and helplessness as he walks on the city wall, witnessing the suffering of his people. This moment highlights the role of a king as a shepherd to his people, responsible for their welfare, yet here he is powerless. The king's question also underscores the severity of the famine, as he is approached by a woman with a grievous complaint, indicating the extreme conditions within the city.And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him, The woman's response reveals the horrific reality of the famine, where the situation has become so desperate that cannibalism is considered. This echoes the curses outlined in <a href="/deuteronomy/28-53.htm">Deuteronomy 28:53-57</a>, where disobedience to God would lead to such dire circumstances. The moral and social breakdown is evident, as the natural affection of a mother for her child is overridden by the instinct for survival. This phrase also serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God, as the Israelites had done by worshipping other gods and neglecting the covenant.and tomorrow we will eat my son.’” The agreement between the two women to eat their children on successive days illustrates the depth of despair and the collapse of societal norms. This situation is reminiscent of the siege of Jerusalem in <a href="/lamentations/4-10.htm">Lamentations 4:10</a>, where similar acts of desperation occurred. The mention of "tomorrow" suggests a false hope or a temporary solution to their immediate hunger, highlighting the futility of their actions. This phrase can also be seen as a type of the ultimate sacrifice, contrasting with the selfless sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself willingly for the salvation of others, in stark contrast to the selfish and desperate actions depicted here.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_king_of_israel.htm">The King of Israel</a> Likely King Jehoram, son of Ahab, who was ruling during the time of the Aramean siege of Samaria. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_woman.htm">The Woman</a> A desperate mother in Samaria who approaches the king with a grievous complaint during a severe famine. 3. <a href="/topical/s/samaria.htm">Samaria</a> The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, under siege by the Arameans, leading to extreme famine and desperation. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_siege.htm">The Siege</a> The Aramean army besieged Samaria, causing a severe famine that led to desperate and horrific actions by the inhabitants. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_other_woman.htm">The Other Woman</a> Another mother involved in the tragic agreement to eat their children due to the famine.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a> The dire situation in Samaria is a direct result of Israel's disobedience to God. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments. <a href="/topical/t/the_depths_of_human_desperation.htm">The Depths of Human Desperation</a> The account illustrates the extreme lengths to which people will go when faced with severe hardship. It challenges us to consider how we respond to crises and where we place our trust. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_leadership_in_times_of_crisis.htm">The Role of Leadership in Times of Crisis</a> The king's inability to provide a solution reflects the failure of leadership when it is not grounded in faith and reliance on God. Leaders are called to seek divine wisdom in guiding their people. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_faith_and_repentance.htm">The Importance of Faith and Repentance</a> In times of distress, turning back to God in faith and repentance is crucial. The account encourages believers to seek God earnestly and trust in His provision and deliverance. <a href="/topical/t/the_hope_of_redemption.htm">The Hope of Redemption</a> Despite the grim circumstances, the broader account of Scripture points to God's redemptive plan. Believers are reminded of the hope found in Christ, who delivers us from spiritual famine and death.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_kings_6.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 6</a> <a href="/q/what_events_are_described_in_2_kings.htm">What events are described in 2 Kings?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_cannibalism.htm">What does the Bible say about cannibalism?</a> <a href="/q/how_is_cannibalism_in_ezekiel_5_10_verified.htm">In Ezekiel 5:10, how can extreme acts like cannibalism be historically verified or reconciled with known records of siege conditions? </a> <a href="/q/evidence_of_israelite_cannibalism.htm">(Leviticus 26:29) Do we have any archaeological or recorded history of Israelites resorting to cannibalism precisely as this curse suggests? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_kings/6.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(28) And the king said.--When she had explained what she wanted. With the hideous facts here recorded, comp. <a href="/deuteronomy/28-56.htm" title="The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,">Deuteronomy 28:56</a>, seq. Similar things were done during the sieges of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (<a href="/1_samuel/4-10.htm" title="And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.">1Samuel 4:10</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/5-10.htm" title="Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the middle of you, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in you, and the whole remnant of you will I scatter into all the winds.">Ezekiel 5:10</a>), and by Vespasian and Titus (Josephus, Bell. Jud. vi. 3, 4).<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 28. - And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? Probably, as Bahr suggests, the woman explained to the king that she did not appear before him to beg food, but to claim his interposition as judge, in a case in which she considered herself to be wronged. Such an appeal the king was bound to hear; and he therefore asks," What aileth thee?" i.e. "What is thy ground of complaint?" Then she tells her story. And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. Compare the prophecy in Deuteronomy, "The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil towards the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, and toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates" (<a href="/deuteronomy/28-56.htm">Deuteronomy 28:56, 57</a>). There is historical testimony that the prophecy was three times fulfilled; viz. (1) in Samaria on the present occasion; (2) in Jerusalem during the last siege by Nebuchadnezzar (<a href="/lamentations/4-10.htm">Lamentations 4:10</a>); and (3) in Jerusalem during the last siege by Titus (Josephus, 'Bell. Jud.,' 6:03. § 4). In modern sieges surrender is made before the population is driven to such straits. <a href="/commentaries/2_kings/6-28.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Then the king הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> A king asked her, וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ (way·yō·mer-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “What is the matter?” מַה־ (mah-) Interrogative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> What?, what!, indefinitely what And she answered, וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (wat·tō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “This הַזֹּ֜את (haz·zōṯ) Article | Pronoun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2063.htm">Strong's 2063: </a> Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that, woman הָאִשָּׁ֨ה (hā·’iš·šāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> Woman, wife, female said אָמְרָ֣ה (’ā·mə·rāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say to me, אֵלַ֗י (’ê·lay) Preposition | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to ‘Give up תְּנִ֤י (tə·nî) Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> To give, put, set your son, בְּנֵךְ֙ (bə·nêḵ) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son and we will eat him today, וְנֹאכְלֶ֣נּוּ (wə·nō·ḵə·len·nū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> To eat and וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-) Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker <a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> Untranslatable mark of the accusative case tomorrow מָחָֽר׃ (mā·ḥār) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4279.htm">Strong's 4279: </a> Deferred, the morrow, tomorrow, hereafter we will eat נֹאכַ֥ל (nō·ḵal) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> To eat my son.’ בְּנִ֖י (bə·nî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/6-28.htm">2 Kings 6:28 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/2_kings/6-28.htm">2 Kings 6:28 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/2_kings/6-28.htm">2 Kings 6:28 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/2_kings/6-28.htm">2 Kings 6:28 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/2_kings/6-28.htm">2 Kings 6:28 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/6-28.htm">2 Kings 6:28 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/6-28.htm">2 Kings 6:28 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/6-28.htm">2 Kings 6:28 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/6-28.htm">2 Kings 6:28 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/2_kings/6-28.htm">2 Kings 6:28 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-28.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 6:28 The king said to her What ails (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/6-27.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 6:27"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 6:27" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/6-29.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 6:29"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 6:29" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>