2 Kings 5 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
1 Now was there one Naaman captaine of the hoste of the King of Aram, a great man, and honourable in the sight of his lorde, because that by him the Lord had deliuered the Aramites. He also was a mightie man and valiant, but 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 And the Aramites had gone out by bands, and had taken a litle mayde of the land of Israel, and shee serued Naamans 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 sayd vnto her mistres, Would God my lord were with the Prophet that is in Samaria, he would soone deliuer him of his leprosie.
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 he went in, and tolde his lorde, saying, Thus and thus saith the mayde that is of the land of Israel.
4 Someone went in and told his lord, saying, “The girl who is from the land of Israel said this.”
5 And the King of Aram sayde, Goe thy way thither, and I will send a letter vnto the King of Israel. And he departed, and tooke with him ten talents of siluer, and sixe thousand pieces of golde, and ten change of rayments,
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 brought the letter to the King of Israel to this effect, Now when this letter is come vnto thee, vnderstand, that I haue sent thee Naaman my seruant, that thou maiest heale him of his leprosie.
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 And when the King of Israel had read the letter, he rent his clothes, and sayde, Am I God, to kill and to giue life, that hee doth send to mee, that I should heale a man from his leprosie? wherfore consider, I pray you, and see howe he seeketh a quarel against me.
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 But when Elisha the man of God had heard that the King of Israel had rent his clothes, hee sent vnto the King, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall knowe 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 Then Naaman came with his horses, and with his charets, and stoode at the doore of the house of Elisha.
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 messenger vnto him, saying, Go and wash thee in Iorden seuen times, and thy flesh shall come againe to thee, and thou shalt be clensed.
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 wroth and went away, and sayde, Beholde, I thought with my selfe, Hee will surely come out, and stande, and call on the Name of the Lord his God and put his hand on the place, and heale the leprosie.
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 Abanah and Pharpar, riuers of Damascus, better then all the waters of Israel? may I not washe mee in them, and bee cleansed? so hee turned, and departed in displeasure.
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 But his seruants came, and spake vnto him, and sayd, Father, if the Prophet had commanded thee a great thing, wouldest thou not haue done it? howe much rather then, when hee sayth to thee, Wash and be cleane?
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 went he downe, and washed him selfe seuen times in Iorden, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came againe, like vnto ye flesh of a litle child, and he was cleane.
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 And hee turned againe to the man of God, hee, and all his companie, and came and stood before him, and sayd, Behold, now I knowe that there is no God in all the world, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a reward of thy seruant.
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 hee sayde, As the Lord liueth (before whom I stand) I wil not receiue it. And he would haue constrained him to receiue it, but he refused.
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 Moreouer Naaman sayde, Shall there not be giuen to thy seruant two mules loade of this earth? for thy seruant will henceforth offer neither burnt sacrifice nor offring vnto any other god, saue vnto 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 Herein the Lord bee mercifull vnto thy seruant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon, to worship there, and leaneth on mine hand, and I bowe my selfe in the house of Rimmon: when I doe bowe downe, I say, in the house of Rimmon, the Lord be mercifull vnto thy seruant in this point.
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 Vnto whome he saide, Goe in peace. So he departed from him about halfe a dayes iourney of grounde.
19 He said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a little way.
20 And Gehazi the seruant of Elisha the man of God sayde, Beholde, my master hath spared this Aramite Naaman, receiuing not those things at his hand that he brought: as the Lord liueth, I will runne after him, and take somewhat of 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 followed speedily after Naaman. And when Naaman sawe him running after him, he light downe from the charet to meete 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 answered, All is well: my master hath set me, saying, Behold, there be come to me, euen nowe from mount Ephraim two yong men of the children of the Prophets: giue them, I pray thee, a talent of siluer, and two change of garmets.
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 saide, Yea, take two talents: and he compelled him, and bound two talents of siluer in two bagges, with two change of garments, and gaue them vnto two of his seruants, that they might beare them 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 And when he came to the towre, he tooke them out of their handes, and laide them in the house, and sent away the men: and they departed.
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 went in, and stoode before his master. And Elisha said vnto him, Whence commest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy seruant went no whither.
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 But he saide vnto him, Went not mine heart with thee when the man turned againe from his charet to meete thee? Is this a time to take money, and to receiue garments, and oliues, and vineyardes, and sheepe, and oxen, and men seruants, and maide seruants?
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 The leprosie therefore of Naaman shall cleaue vnto thee, and to thy seede for euer. And he went out from his presence a leper white as snowe.
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)