2 Kings 5

All 27 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Naaman was the commander of the Syrian army. He was highly respected and honored by his king, because through him the LORD had given Syria great victories. He was a powerful warrior — but he had leprosy.
2. 2During one of their raids, Syrian soldiers had captured a young girl from Israel. She became a servant to Naaman's wife.
3. 3And she said to her mistress, "If only my lord were with the prophet in Samaria! He would heal him of his leprosy."
4. 4And one went in and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid who is from the land of Israel.
5. 5The king of Syria said, "Go ahead — I'll send a letter to the king of Israel on your behalf." So Naaman set out, bringing with him 10 talents of silver, 6,000 pieces of gold, and 10 sets of clothing.
6. 6He delivered the letter to the king of Israel. It read: "With this letter, I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may heal him of his leprosy."
7. 7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, 'Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends me to cure someone of leprosy? Consider, I ask you, and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.'
8. 8When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent word to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me now, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel."
9. 9So Naaman arrived at Elisha's house with his horses and chariots and stood at the door.
10. 10Elisha sent a messenger out to him with instructions: "Go wash yourself in the Jordan River 7 times. Your skin will be restored, and you'll be clean."
11. 11Naaman was furious and stormed off. He said, "I expected him to come out to me, stand, call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper!"
12. 12"Aren't the Abana and Pharpar rivers back in Damascus better than any water in Israel? Couldn't I just wash in those and be clean?" He turned and left in a rage.
13. 13But his servants approached him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, wouldn't you have done it? How much more, then, when he simply says, 'Wash, and be clean'?"
14. 14Then he went down and dipped himself 7 times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God. His flesh came again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
15. 15Then Naaman and his entire entourage went back to the man of God and stood before him. "Now I know for certain," Naaman said, "that there is no God anywhere on earth except in Israel. Please, accept a gift from your servant."
16. 16But Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD lives, the one I serve, I will not accept anything." Naaman pressed him to take it, but Elisha refused.
17. 17Then Naaman said, "If you won't accept a gift, then please let me take home 2 mule-loads of Israelite soil. From now on, your servant will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god — only to the LORD.
18. 18But there is one thing I ask the LORD to forgive me for: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship and leans on my arm, I have to bow down there with him. May the LORD pardon your servant for this."
19. 19Elisha told him, "Go in peace." So Naaman left and traveled a short distance.
20. 20But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Look, my master has let Naaman the Syrian keep what he brought by not accepting it. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him."
21. 21So Gehazi ran after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running toward him, he climbed down from his chariot to meet him and asked, "Is everything all right?"
22. 22"Everything's fine," Gehazi said. "My master sent me to tell you, '2 young men from the company of prophets just arrived from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and 2 sets of clothing.'"
23. 23Naaman said, "Please, take 2 talents!" He insisted, then tied up 2 talents of silver in 2 bags along with 2 sets of clothing and handed them to 2 of his servants, who carried them ahead of Gehazi.
24. 24When he reached the tower, Gehazi took the items from their hands and stored them in the house. Then he sent the men away, and they left.
25. 25He went inside and stood before his master. Elisha asked him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" He answered, "Your servant didn't go anywhere."
26. 26But Elisha said, "Did not my heart go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money, clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, menservants, and maidservants?"
27. 27"Because of what you've done, Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and your descendants forever." Gehazi walked out of Elisha's presence covered in leprosy, his skin white as snow.