2 Kings · Bible in Basic English
2 Kings 5 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Now Naaman, chief of the army of the king of Aram, was a man of high position with his master, and greatly respected, because by him the Lord had given salvation to Aram; but he was a leper.
1 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Syria; he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
2 Now the Aramaeans had gone out in bands, and taken prisoner from Israel a little girl, who became servant to Naaman's wife.
2 The 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.
3 And she said to her master's wife, If only my lord would go to the prophet in Samaria, he would make him well.
3 She 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.”
4 And someone went and said to his lord, This is what the girl from the land of Israel says.
4 Someone went in and told his lord, saying, “The girl who is from the land of Israel said this.”
5 So the king of Aram said, Go then; and I will send a letter to the king of Israel. And he went, taking with him ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.
5 The 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.
6 And he took the letter to the king of Israel, in which the king of Aram had said, See, I have sent my servant Naaman to you to be made well, for he is a leper.
6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.”
7 But the king of Israel, after reading the letter, was greatly troubled and said, Am I God, to give death and life? why does this man send a leper to me to be made well? is it not clear that he is looking for a cause of war?
7 When 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.”
8 Now Elisha, the man of God, hearing that the king of Israel had done this, sent to the king, saying, Why are you troubled? send the man to me, so that he may see that there is a prophet in Israel.
8 It 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.”
9 So Naaman, with all his horses and his carriages, came to the door of Elisha's house.
9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10 And Elisha sent a servant to him, saying, Go to Jordan, and after washing seven times in its waters your flesh will be well again and you will be clean.
10 Elisha 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.”
11 But Naaman was angry and went away and said, I had the idea that he would come out to see such an important person as I am, and make prayer to the Lord his God, and with a wave of his hand over the place make the leper well.
11 But 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 Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not be washed in them and become clean? So turning, he went away in wrath.
12 Aren’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.
13 Then his servants came to him and said, If the prophet had given you orders to do some great thing, would you not have done it? how much more then, when he says to you, Be washed and become clean?
13 His 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’?”
14 Then he went down seven times into the waters of Jordan, as the man of God had said; and his flesh became like the flesh of a little child again, and he was clean.
14 Then 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.
15 Then he went back to the man of God, with all his train, and, taking his place before him, said, Now I am certain that there is no God in all the earth, but only in Israel: now then, take an offering from me.
15 He 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.”
16 But he said, By the life of the Lord whose servant I am, I will take nothing from you. And he did his best to make him take it but he would not.
16 But he said, “As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” He urged him to take it; but he refused.
17 Then Naaman said, If you will not, then let there be given to your servant as much earth as two beasts are able to take on their backs; because from now on, your servant will make no offering or burned offering to other gods, but only to the Lord.
17 Naaman 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 Yahweh.
18 But may your servant have the Lord's forgiveness for this one thing: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon for worship there, supported on my arm, and my head is bent in the house of Rimmon; when his head is bent in the house of Rimmon, may your servant have the Lord's forgiveness for this thing.
18 In this thing may Yahweh 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 Yahweh pardon your servant in this thing.”
19 And he said to him, Go in peace. And he went from him some distance.
19 He said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a little way.
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said, Now my master has taken nothing from Naaman, this Aramaean, of what he would have given him: by the living Lord, I will go after him and get something from him.
20 But 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 Yahweh lives, I will run after him, and take something from him.”
21 So Gehazi went after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from his carriage and went back to him and said, Is all well?
21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?”
22 And he said, All is well: but my master has sent me, saying, Even now, two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill-country of Ephraim; will you give me a talent of silver and two changes of clothing for them?
22 He 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.’”
23 And Naaman said, Be good enough to take two talents. And forcing him to take them, he put two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and gave them to his two servants to take before him.
23 Naaman 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.
24 When he came to the hill, he took them from their hands, and put them away in the house; and he sent the men away, and they went.
24 When 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.
25 Then he came in and took his place before his master. And Elisha said to him, Where have you come from, Gehazi? And he said, Your servant went nowhere.
25 But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you come from, Gehazi?” He said, “Your servant went nowhere.”
26 And he said to him, Did not my heart go with you, when the man got down from his carriage and went back to you? Is this a time for getting money, and clothing, and olive-gardens and vine-gardens, and sheep and oxen, and men-servants and women-servants?
26 He 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?
27 Because of what you have done, the disease of Naaman the leper will take you in its grip, and your seed after you, for ever. And he went out from before him a leper as white as snow.
27 Therefore 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.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Gehazi
Elisha's servant, who carried messages to the Shunammite woman, took gifts from Naaman by deceit and was struck with Naaman's leprosy, and later told the king of Elisha's wonders.
Cited in the guide: 2 Kings 4:12; 2 Kings 4:31; 2 Kings 5:20
Naaman
The commander of the army of the king of Aram, a mighty man of valor with leprosy, who went to Elisha on the advice of an Israelite girl, washed seven times in the Jordan, and was…
Cited in the guide: 2 Kings 5:1; 2 Kings 5:9; 2 Kings 5:14
Places
Damascus
An ancient Aramean capital where Saul (Paul) was converted and first preached. He later escaped over its wall in a basket.
Cited in the guide: Acts 9:3; Genesis 14:15; 2 Kings 5:12
Cross references (26)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Luke 4:27; Romans 15:18; Proverbs 21:31; Numbers 12:10–12; Esther 9:4
- 2 2 Kings 6:23; 2 Kings 13:20; Psalm 123:2; 1 Samuel 13:17–18; Judges 9:34
- 3 Numbers 11:29; Acts 26:29; Luke 17:12–14; 1 Corinthians 4:8; Matthew 11:5
- 4 1 Corinthians 1:26–27; 2 Kings 7:9–11; Mark 5:19; John 1:42–46; John 4:28–29
- 5 Judges 14:12; 2 Kings 8:8–9; Ecclesiastes 2:1; Genesis 45:22; Isaiah 5:5
- 7 1 Samuel 2:6; Genesis 30:2; 1 Kings 20:7; Deuteronomy 32:39; Hosea 6:1
- 8 2 Kings 5:15; 2 Samuel 3:31; 1 Kings 17:24; 1 Kings 18:36–37; Romans 11:13
- 9 Isaiah 60:14; 2 Kings 6:32; Acts 16:37–39; Acts 16:29–30; 2 Kings 3:12
- 10 John 9:7; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Leviticus 14:7; Matthew 15:23–26; Joshua 6:4
- 11 Proverbs 13:10; John 4:48; Matthew 15:27; 1 Corinthians 1:21–25; 1 Corinthians 2:14–16
- 12 Mark 1:9; Joshua 3:15–17; 2 Kings 2:14; 2 Kings 5:17; Proverbs 19:11
- 13 2 Kings 6:21; Job 32:8–9; 2 Kings 2:12; Revelation 7:14; 2 Kings 13:14
- 14 Job 33:25; Luke 4:27; Luke 5:13; Zechariah 14:8; John 2:5
- 15 Daniel 2:47; Daniel 6:26–27; Joshua 2:9–11; 2 Kings 5:8; Isaiah 44:8
- 16 2 Kings 5:26; 2 Kings 3:14; 2 Kings 5:20; Genesis 14:22–23; 1 Kings 13:8
- 17 Acts 26:18; 1 Peter 4:3; Romans 14:1; Exodus 20:24; 2 Kings 5:12
- 18 2 Kings 7:2; 2 Kings 7:17; Jeremiah 50:20; 2 Kings 17:35; 1 Kings 19:18
- 19 1 Samuel 1:17; Mark 5:34; Exodus 4:18; Matthew 9:16–17; Luke 8:48
- 20 2 Kings 4:12; Titus 1:7; 2 Kings 6:31; 2 Kings 4:36; 2 Kings 4:31
- 21 Acts 10:25–26; 2 Kings 4:26; Luke 7:6–7; 2 Kings 9:17–22; Acts 8:31
- 22 2 Kings 5:5; Jeremiah 9:5; John 8:44; Revelation 21:8; Acts 5:3–4
- 23 2 Kings 5:16; 2 Kings 2:17; Isaiah 30:6; Luke 11:54; 1 Kings 20:7
- 24 1 Kings 21:16; Joshua 7:21; Joshua 7:1; Joshua 7:11–12; Habakkuk 2:6
- 25 2 Kings 5:22; Proverbs 30:20; Acts 5:3–4; Ezekiel 33:31; John 13:26–30
- 26 Colossians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 5:3; 2 Kings 6:12; Acts 20:35; 2 Kings 5:16
- 27 Exodus 4:6; Numbers 12:10; 2 Kings 15:5; Joshua 7:25; 2 Kings 5:1
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For, following the Septuagint version, these are the prophet's words: "Did not my heart go with thee, when the man came out of his chariot to meet thee, and thou tookedst his gifts?" Or, as the presbyter Jerome rendered it from the Hebrew, "Was not my heart present when the man turned from his chariot to meet thee?" The prophet …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
"For I thought," saith he, "he will surely come out, and will lay on his hand." For in truth they who are more or less dull of temper, require sight and sensible things.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
And when he came, Elisseus asked him; and like Peter, when he said, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? he also enquires, Whence comest thou, Gehazi?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)