Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
Then he said, 'Go and borrow containers from all your neighbors—empty jars and pots. Don't just borrow a few—get as many as you can.'
The prophet Elisha is telling the widow to gather as many empty containers as possible from her neighbors, preparing for God's miraculous provision.
📚 Historical Context
This instruction comes from the prophet Elisha to a desperate widow whose husband (a fellow prophet) had died, leaving her in debt with creditors threatening to take her two sons as slaves. Elisha had just learned she only had a small jar of oil left in her house. In ancient Israel, borrowing household items from neighbors was common practice, and oil was a valuable commodity used for cooking, lighting, and trade.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.