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2 Kings 5:20

in 2 Kings 5

Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, while not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: as Jehovah liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

KJV

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

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This verse in 2 Kings 5

Commentary

6 notes on this verse

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

This Syrian - A stranger, and one of that nation who are the implacable enemies of God's people. As the Lord - He swears, that he might have some pretense for the action to which he had bound himself by his oath; not considering, that to swear to do any wicked action, is so far from excusing it, that it makes it much worse.

This site's exposition

as the Lord liveth, I will run after him

on 2 Kings 5:20-24

Gehazi watches his master refuse Syrian silver and decides the house has let Naaman off too cheaply, swearing by the same name Elisha had just sworn by to justify taking what his master would not. Naaman presses two talents on him rather than one, doubling the very gift Gehazi invented a pretext to request, then Gehazi hides the silver in his own house before returning to stand before Elisha as if nothing had happened. The servant who once reasoned Naaman into obedience has a counterpart now in Elisha's own servant, reasoning himself into theft.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

His heart (says bishop Hall) was packed up in Naaman's chests, and he must run after him to fetch it. Multitudes, by coveting worldly wealth, have erred from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God said,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

My master hath spared - this Syrian - He has neither taken any thing from him for himself, nor permitted him to give any thing to me.
This Syrian - The words are emphatic. Gehazi persuades himself that it is right to spoil a Syrian - that is, a Gentile, and an enemy of Israel. As the Lord liveth - These words are here a profane oath. Gehazi, anxious to make himself believe that he is acting in a proper, and, even, in a religions spirit, does not scruple to introduce one of the most solemn of religious phrases.

The words behind it

27 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • גֵּיחֲזִ֗יGehazi

    geichaziH1522 →12 times

  • נַעַר֮[the] servant of

    naarH5288 →239 times

  • אֱלִישָׁ֣עElisha

    ʾelisha'H477 →58 times

  • אִישׁ־[the] man of

    ʾish-H376 →1663 times

  • הָאֱלֹהִים֒<the> God

    haelohimH430 →2601 times

  • הִנֵּ֣ה׀here!

    hinehH2009 →843 times

  • חָשַׂ֣ךְhe has restrained

    chasakhH2820 →

  • אֲדֹנִ֗יmaster my

    ʾadoniH113 →333 times

  • אֶֽת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • נַעֲמָ֤ןNaaman

    naamanH5283 →16 times

  • הָֽאֲרַמִּי֙the Aramean

    haaramiH761 →11 times

  • הַזֶּ֔ה<the> this

    hazehH2088 →1180 times

  • מִקַּ֥חַתfrom accepting

    mikachatH3947 →966 times

  • מִיָּד֖וֹfrom hand his

    miyadoH3027 →1618 times

  • אֵ֣ת<obj.>

    ʾetH853 →10935 times

  • אֲשֶׁר־[that] which

    ʾasher-H834 →5497 times

  • הֵבִ֑יאhe brought

    hevi'H935 →2568 times

  • חַי־[by] [the] life

    chai-H2416 →498 times

  • יְהוָה֙of Yahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • כִּֽי־that

    ki-H3588 →4482 times

  • אִם־except

    ʾim-H518 →1069 times

  • רַ֣צְתִּיI run

    ratztiH7323 →103 times

  • אַחֲרָ֔יוafter him

    ʾacharavH310 →715 times

  • וְלָקַחְתִּ֥יand I will accept

    velakachtiH3947 →966 times

  • מֵאִתּ֖וֹfrom with <the> him

    meitoH854 →929 times

  • מְאֽוּמָה׃anything

    meumahH3972 →

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Kings 4:12And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call the Shunammite woman.” And when he had called her, she stood before him,5 works1 Timothy 6:11But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.5 works2 Peter 2:14–15Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.4 works2 Kings 6:31He announced, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders through this day!”4 works2 Kings 4:31Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”4 works2 Kings 4:36Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” So he called her and she came. Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.”4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Titus 1:7As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.4 works2 Kings 5:16But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused.4 worksActs 8:18–19When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.3 works2 Timothy 4:10because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.3 worksExodus 20:7You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.3 works1 Timothy 6:9–11Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.3 worksActs 5:2With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet.2 worksPsalms 10:3For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.2 worksLuke 12:15And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”2 worksExodus 20:17You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”2 worksJeremiah 22:17“But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.”2 worksJohn 6:70Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    2 Kings 4:12

    And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call the Shunammite woman.” And when he had called her, she stood before him,

    it leads to

    • 2 Kings 8:4–5

      Now the king had been speaking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Please relate to me all the great things Elisha has done.”

    • 2 Kings 5:20–27

      Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, while not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after…

    • 2 Kings 4:29–31

      So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him.…

    • 1 Kings 19:3

      And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,

    • 2 Kings 3:11

      But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here? Let us inquire of the LORD through him.” And one of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat…

  • Through

    2 Kings 6:31

    He announced, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders through this day!”

    it leads to

    • Ruth 1:17

      Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

  • Through

    2 Kings 4:31

    Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has…

    it leads to

    • John 11:11

      After He had said this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.”

  • Through

    2 Kings 4:36

    Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” So he called her and she came. Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.”

    it leads to

    • Hebrews 11:35

      Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

Where this verse is studied

About 2 Kings

Elijah Ascends to Heaven in a Chariot of Fire, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Elijah Ascends to Heaven in a Chariot of Fire, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
2 Kings: the study guide →Read 2 Kings 5 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 2 Kings 5 →