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2 Kings 5:21

in 2 Kings 5

So Gehazi pursued Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right?”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw one running after him, he alighted from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

KJV

So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

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This verse in 2 Kings 5

Commentary

6 notes on this verse
So Gehazi followed after Naaman,.... As fast as he could: and when Naaman saw him running after him; which he might observe, looking back, or be informed of by some of his servants: he lighted down from the chariot to meet him; in honour to the prophet, whose servant he was: and said, is all well? fearing something ill had befallen Elisha; or he himself had done something wrong, which occasioned the servant to run after him.

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 Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Ephrem the Syrian

ON THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS 5:21 · Written before 373.

proposed

Gehazi was a covetous man to the bottom of his heart. He had pretended to reject his hidden greed but saw, through the betrayal of his mouth, what his soul was trying to hide.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

We hope that he understood afterwards that Elisha's hand was not in it, and that Gehazi was forced to restore what he had unjustly got, else it might have driven him to his idols again. His seeking to conceal what he had unjustly got added much to his sin.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

He lighted down from the chariot - He treats even the prophet’s servant with the profoundest respect, alights from his chariot, and goes to meet him. Is all well? - השלום hashalom; Is it peace, or prosperity?
He lighted down from the chariot - This was an act of quite uncalled-for courtesy. It indicates eagerness to honor the master in the person of his servant.

The words behind it

14 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.

  • וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ףand he pursued

    vaiyirdofH7291 →143 times

  • גֵּיחֲזִ֖יGehazi

    geichaziH1522 →12 times

  • אַחֲרֵ֣יafter

    ʾachareiH310 →715 times

  • נַֽעֲמָ֑ןNaaman

    naamanH5283 →16 times

  • וַיִּרְאֶ֤הand he saw

    vaiyirehH7200 →1300 times

  • נַֽעֲמָן֙Naaman

    naamanH5283 →16 times

  • רָ֣ץ[one who] ran

    ratzH7323 →103 times

  • אַחֲרָ֔יוafter him

    ʾacharavH310 →715 times

  • וַיִּפֹּ֞לand he fell

    vaiyipolH5307 →435 times

  • מֵעַ֧לfrom on

    mealH5921 →5755 times

  • הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֛הthe chariot

    hamerkavahH4818 →44 times

  • לִקְרָאת֖וֹto meet him

    likratoH7122 →139 times

  • וַיֹּ֥אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • הֲשָׁלֽוֹם׃¿ peace

    hashalomH7965 →236 times

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

Related verses

7 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 9:11When Jehu went out to the servants of his master, they asked, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?” “You know his kind and their babble,” he replied.3 works2 Kings 9:17–22Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!” “Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’”2 worksActs 8:31“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.2 worksLuke 7:6–7So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.2 works2 Kings 4:26Please run out now to meet her and ask, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’” And she answered, “Everything is all right.”2 worksActs 10:25–26As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.2 works
The other 1 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Kings 1:16And Elijah said to King Ahaziah, “This is what the LORD says: Is there really no God in Israel for you to inquire of His word? Is that why you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.”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

    Acts 8:31

    “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

    it leads to

    • Romans 10:14

      How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without…

    • Isaiah 29:18–19

      On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see.

    • Psalms 73:16–17

      When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight

    • Proverbs 30:2–3

      Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man.

    • Psalms 25:8–9

      Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.

  • Through

    2 Kings 4:26

    Please run out now to meet her and ask, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’” And she answered, “Everything is all right.”

    it leads to

    • Acts 15:36

      Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

    • 1 Samuel 17:18

      Take also these ten portions of cheese to the commander of their unit. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring back an assurance from them.

    • 2 Kings 4:23

      “Why would you go to him today?” he replied. “It is not a New Moon or a Sabbath.” “Everything is all right,” she said.

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); Ephrem the Syrian, ON THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS 5:21; 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 →