· Translation: KJV

2 Kings 4:37Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; and she took up her son, and went out.

The setting

Inside the upper room in Shunem, ~850 BC. The wealthy woman enters to find her son — who had died that morning — now sitting up alive. Her knees buckle in worship...

The emotion here: recording a moment too sacred for words

The original word

hishtahawah (הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה) — to prostrate oneself, worship, showing complete surrender and gratitude

Why it matters

This woman had initially said 'Don't lie to me' when Elisha promised her a son, showing her practical nature

Read with care

What most readers miss in 2 Kings 4:37

She doesn't say a word — sometimes the deepest gratitude is wordless worship

Common misconceptionPeople think this is just ancient politeness, but this is a mother receiving her dead child back — her prostration shows she recognizes this as divine intervention.

Bible Genome reading

2 Kings 4:37 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerNarrator
EraDivided Kingdom
Primary emotionworship
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power90%
Quotability70%
Memorability80%
Crisis relevance50%
Standalone40%
Themes:gratitudeworshipreverence

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 2 Kings 4

2 Kings 4:37 comes from the book of 2 Kings, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 90% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include gratitude, worship, reverence. Notable phrases: fell at his feet; bowed to the ground.

Your reflection

What does 2 Kings 4:37 mean to you, today?

A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.

Speak your heart →

Get 3 verses for "worship"

Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.