This verse reminds us that God always fulfills His promises, no matter how impossible they appear.
“The woman conceived and bore a son at that season the next year, as Elisha had said to her.” (v.17) This verse describes how the Shunammite woman received the exact blessing spoken by the prophet Elisha, who ministered in the northern kingdom of Israel during the 9th century BC. Elisha’s ministry followed that of the prophet Elijah, and he often traveled throughout the region performing miracles of provision, healing, and resurrection. The Shunammite woman lived in Shunem, a village located in the territory of Issachar, near the Jezreel Valley. Having previously shown Elisha great hospitality, she was granted a promise of motherhood—an extraordinary gift since she and her husband had been childless. The fulfillment of this promise (the woman conceived and bore a son) underscores God’s faithfulness to His word despite human limitations.
The child’s birth not only brought joy to the Shunammite woman but also revealed the Lord’s power to grant life in circumstances that seemed hopeless. Both the Old and New Testaments affirm that God can work in miraculous ways to bless His people, such as when He provided children for Sarah in her old age (Genesis 21:1-3) or for Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother (Luke 1:36-37). Scripture later shows that this same son of the Shunammite woman, once grown, was raised from the dead after a sudden illness (2 Kings 4:18-37). This event testified to God’s continued involvement in her life well beyond the initial miracle of conception.
Much like other supernatural births recorded in Scripture, the birth of the Shunammite’s son highlights a pattern: God keeps His promises and often works in ways that exceed human expectation. The prophet Elisha’s declaration foreshadows the miraculous power of God ultimately manifested in Christ, whose miraculous conception (Matthew 1:18-23) shattered earthly limitations and demonstrated divine grace to all who believe.
Set to dark mode
2 Kings 4:17 meaning
“The woman conceived and bore a son at that season the next year, as Elisha had said to her.” (v.17) This verse describes how the Shunammite woman received the exact blessing spoken by the prophet Elisha, who ministered in the northern kingdom of Israel during the 9th century BC. Elisha’s ministry followed that of the prophet Elijah, and he often traveled throughout the region performing miracles of provision, healing, and resurrection. The Shunammite woman lived in Shunem, a village located in the territory of Issachar, near the Jezreel Valley. Having previously shown Elisha great hospitality, she was granted a promise of motherhood—an extraordinary gift since she and her husband had been childless. The fulfillment of this promise (the woman conceived and bore a son) underscores God’s faithfulness to His word despite human limitations.
The child’s birth not only brought joy to the Shunammite woman but also revealed the Lord’s power to grant life in circumstances that seemed hopeless. Both the Old and New Testaments affirm that God can work in miraculous ways to bless His people, such as when He provided children for Sarah in her old age (Genesis 21:1-3) or for Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother (Luke 1:36-37). Scripture later shows that this same son of the Shunammite woman, once grown, was raised from the dead after a sudden illness (2 Kings 4:18-37). This event testified to God’s continued involvement in her life well beyond the initial miracle of conception.
Much like other supernatural births recorded in Scripture, the birth of the Shunammite’s son highlights a pattern: God keeps His promises and often works in ways that exceed human expectation. The prophet Elisha’s declaration foreshadows the miraculous power of God ultimately manifested in Christ, whose miraculous conception (Matthew 1:18-23) shattered earthly limitations and demonstrated divine grace to all who believe.