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2 Kings 5

YHWH heals a Syrian commander who follows Elisha’s word, while the prophet’s servant faces judgment for seeking wealth through deceit.

Naaman, commander of Syria’s army, has leprosy despite his rank and victories, which the narrator attributes to YHWH. An Israelite girl taken captive into his household points him toward Elisha. Naaman travels to Israel with gifts and a royal letter, then resists Elisha’s instruction to wash in the Jordan. After his healing, he confesses Israel’s God and offers a gift. Elisha refuses it, but his servant Gehazi pursues payment through lies and comes under judgment.

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1Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria; he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
2The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little girl, and she waited on Naaman’s wife.
3She said to her mistress, “I wish that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.”
4Someone went in and told his lord, saying, “The girl who is from the land of Israel said this.”
5The king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing.
7When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.”
8It was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
9So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean.”
11But Naaman was angry, and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’
12Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
13His servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”
14Then went he down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
15He returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, “See now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. Now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.”
16But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” He urged him to take it; but he refused.
17Naaman said, “If not, then, please let two mules’ load of earth be given to your servant; for your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD.
18In this thing may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon. When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this thing.”
19He said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a little way.
20But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him, and take something from him.”
22He said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’”
23Naaman said, “Be pleased to take two talents.” He urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants; and they carried them before him.
24When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and stored them in the house. Then he let the men go, and they departed.
25But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you come from, Gehazi?” He said, “Your servant went nowhere.”
26He said to him, “Didn’t my heart go with you when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and cattle, and male servants and female servants?
27Therefore the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and to your offspring forever.” He went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
2 Kings 5:15Naaman’s return marks a change from anger at Elisha’s instruction to confession that Israel’s God alone is God.
2 Kings 5:20Gehazi invokes YHWH’s name while deciding to pursue the wealth his master has refused.
2 Kings 5:26Elisha exposes Gehazi’s hidden transaction and challenges his pursuit of wealth at the moment Naaman has received healing.
Where this chapter reaches

Luke names Naaman’s cleansing in Jesus’ account of God’s mercy reaching a foreigner through Elisha, sharing the same person and event. Exodus shares the image of skin made leprous and white as snow, seen in Moses’ hand and in Gehazi’s judgment here.

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After reading the whole chapter

What do the captive girl and Naaman’s servants contribute that the kings cannot?

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How does Elisha’s refusal of gifts shape your reading of Gehazi’s pursuit of Naaman?

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Questions people ask about 2 Kings 5

Why did Naaman wash seven times in the Jordan?

Elisha’s messenger tells Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan, promising that his flesh will be restored. The text gives no separate explanation for the number seven. It emphasizes Naaman’s resistance, his servants’ counsel, and his eventual obedience to the prophet’s word, after which he is healed.

Why was Gehazi punished with leprosy?

Gehazi pursues a gift after Elisha has refused Naaman’s offer. He invents a request on Elisha’s behalf, hides the silver and clothing, and lies about where he has been. Elisha exposes his actions and declares that Naaman’s leprosy will cling to Gehazi and his offspring. Gehazi leaves with the disease.

Did Elisha allow Naaman to worship Rimmon?

Naaman pledges to sacrifice to YHWH alone, then asks pardon for bowing in Rimmon’s temple while supporting his king. Elisha answers, “Go in peace.” The brief reply does not explain how Naaman should handle every future duty, and the text records no command permitting worship of Rimmon.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).