2 Kings 4:40
“So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →As the men eat, they cry out that there is death in the pot and cannot continue.
Context
The poisoned meal is discovered instantly, the taste, the sensation, the body's alarm. The prophets recognize danger and stop eating, calling out to Elisha.
What Does 2 Kings 4:40 Mean?
They taste it and cry out at once. 'O thou man of God, there is death in the pot.' No slow decline, no hidden sickness working unseen. The body knows immediately when poison enters it. Their cry is both literal and profound, they have eaten what will kill them, and they turn to the man who stands with God.
In grace, God often alerts us quickly when we have ingested something poisonous. A prayer answered with silence. A joy that cools. A word that disturbs. These are mercies, invitations to cry out and seek help. We do not have to finish eating the poison. We can stop, recognize the danger, and call upon God through his servants and his Word.
Application
When we sense spiritual or moral poison in our lives, swift recognition and urgent prayer are the beginning of healing.