2 Kings 4:38-41·~1 min

Elisha Purifies the Poisonous Stew

In a time of famine, a meal for the prophets becomes dangerous when unknown gourds are cut into the pot. Elisha responds, and the stew is made safe for them to eat.

W³⁸hen 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.” ³⁹One 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. ⁴⁰And 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. ⁴¹Then Elisha said, “Get some flour.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Pour it out for the people to eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot.

Verse 38Elisha returns to Gilgal during a famine and tells his attendant to put on a large pot and make stew for the sons of the prophets.

It sets the scene of shared hunger and ordinary provision.

Verse 39One man gathers herbs and wild gourds from a vine and cuts them into the stew, though no one knows what they are.

It introduces the hidden source of danger.

Verse 40When the stew is served, the men cry out that there is death in the pot, and they cannot eat it.

It reveals the threat and stops the meal.

Verse 41Elisha asks for flour, throws it into the pot, and orders the food served again, and nothing harmful remains.

It resolves the danger and restores the meal.

Passage shape

A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.

vv. 38-41
In a time of famine, a meal for the prophets becomes dangerous when unknown gourds are cut into the pot. Elisha responds, and the stew is made safe for them to eat.
This single paragraph presents a compact crisis-and-resolution around food in a season of scarcity.
38 39 40 41

Section summaryDuring famine at Gilgal, the prophets’ stew is spoiled by wild gourds gathered in ignorance, and they cry out that death is in the pot. Elisha throws flour into it and has it served again, and the food is no longer harmful.

Role in the chapterAfter the long household story in Shunem, this brief scene returns to communal need among the prophets. It keeps the chapter’s rhythm of danger turning into sustenance through Elisha’s intervention.