2 Kings 4:31

there was neither voice, nor hearing In the margin both A.V. and R.V. give -attention" as the literal meaning of the last word. It is the same which in the account of Elijah's contest with the Baal-priests (1 Kings 18:29) is translated -any that regarded". Here it means that no sign of returning life was seen. The word is used as an adverb -diligently" after the cognate verb -to hearken" in Isaiah 21:7.

Wherefore he went again R.V. returned. The same word is so rendered below in verse 35.

The child is not awaked This does not mean that Gehazi thought the child was not dead. He knew this as well as the mother. But -sleep", even in the Old Testament, is used for its more dreadful sister -death". Cf. Job 14:12; Psalms 13:3; Jeremiah 51:57. The common phrase on the death of a king is -he slept with his fathers". See 1 Kings 1:21.