← All Chapters The Book of 2 Kings · Chapter 5

2 Kings 5: Wash and Be Clean

A proud Syrian commander is humbled and healed of leprosy in the Jordan, while greedy Gehazi grasps for reward and inherits the disease.

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2 Kings 5 (WEB)

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 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.

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 Someone went in, and told his lord, saying, “The maiden who is from the land of Israel said this.”

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, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing.

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 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 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 came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

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, “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 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 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 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 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, “As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” He urged him to take it; but he refused.

17 Naaman said, “If not, then, please let two mules’ burden 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 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 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, “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 after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?”

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 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 hand, and stored them in the house. Then he let the men go, and they departed.

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 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 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and to your seed forever.” He went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.

Summary

Naaman, the mighty commander of Syria's army, is a great and honored man, but he is a leper. A captive Israelite servant girl tells of a prophet in Samaria who could heal him, and Naaman sets out with lavish gifts and a royal letter. When the king of Israel panics, Elisha sends word to let Naaman come. But Naaman is offended when Elisha does not even come out, sending only a message to wash seven times in the Jordan; he expected a grand ceremony and despises the muddy river. His servants gently reason with him, and he humbles himself, dips seven times, and his flesh is restored like that of a little child. Returning, Naaman confesses that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel and seeks to give a gift, which Elisha refuses, pointing all glory to God. But Gehazi, Elisha's servant, runs after Naaman, lies to obtain silver and clothing, and hides his greed. Elisha confronts him: his heart went with him, and now Naaman's leprosy will cling to Gehazi and his descendants forever. Gehazi leaves the prophet's presence white as snow with the disease the Gentile had just lost.

Main Characters

  • Naaman — The proud, leprous commander of Syria's army who is healed only when he humbles himself to wash in the Jordan, and comes to confess Israel's God.
  • The Israelite servant girl — A young captive who, though enslaved, points her master to the prophet in Israel, setting the whole miracle in motion.
  • Elisha — The prophet who refuses to perform for Naaman or accept payment, directing the Syrian's healing and worship toward the LORD alone.
  • Gehazi — Elisha's servant whose greed drives him to lie for Naaman's silver and clothing, and who inherits the leprosy as judgment.

Key Verse

2 Kings 5:14 (WEB)

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.

Lessons Learned

  • God's grace reaches beyond Israel to outsiders and enemies who will humble themselves before him.
  • Pride resists God's simple ways; healing and salvation come through lowly obedience, not grand gestures.
  • God is to be sought for himself, not for gifts; his servants must guard against making grace a commodity.
  • Greed corrupts the heart and brings its own ruin, as Gehazi's grasping cost him everything.
  • Grace reaches the outsider. Naaman, a Gentile enemy commander, is healed and confesses, “there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel” (2 Kings 5:15, WEB). God's mercy is wider than national boundaries.
  • Healing comes through humble obedience. Only when Naaman swallows his pride and dips “seven times in the Jordan” (2 Kings 5:14, WEB) is he cleansed. God's way is plain, and pride must bow to receive it.
  • God's grace cannot be bought. Elisha refuses every gift, saying, “I will receive none” (2 Kings 5:16, WEB). Salvation is free, and those who minister it must keep it free of greed.
  • Greed reaps its own judgment. Gehazi grasps for silver and garments, and “the leprosy of Naaman” clings to him (2 Kings 5:27, WEB). Coveting what God gives freely turns blessing into curse.
  1. How does the unnamed servant girl's small act of faith set the entire chapter in motion?
  2. Why is Naaman offended by Elisha's instructions, and what finally moves him to obey?
  3. Why does Elisha refuse to accept any gift from Naaman, even though the healing was real?
  4. What does Gehazi's deception reveal about the danger of greed, and how does Jesus point to this story (Luke 4:27)?
  5. Where is pride or a desire for grand experiences keeping you from simple obedience to God?
  1. A captive girl, with every reason for bitterness, instead tells of the prophet who could heal her master. Her quiet witness launches Naaman's journey. God often works through the lowly and overlooked to bring great mercy to others.
  2. Naaman expected a dramatic ceremony befitting his rank and scorned the humble Jordan. His servants gently appeal to his reason, and he relents. Healing required him to lay down pride and simply trust the plain word of God.
  3. Elisha refuses payment so that all glory goes to God and Naaman understands the healing as grace, not a transaction. Salvation cannot be purchased. Elisha's refusal also throws Gehazi's later greed into sharp relief.
  4. Gehazi lies and grasps for wealth, treating God's grace as a chance for personal gain, and reaps the very leprosy Naaman lost. Jesus cites Naaman as proof that God's mercy reaches Gentiles who believe (Luke 4:27), highlighting grace to outsiders.
  5. This is a personal-application question. Invite members to consider whether they, like Naaman, despise God's simple, ordinary means—Scripture, prayer, the church—while craving spectacular experiences. Encourage humble obedience as the path to blessing.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.