Advanced Commentary

(ex.: John 3:14-18)

Table of Contents Bible Dictionary
Arts
Questions
Resources/Books

Context
5:16 But Elisha replied <0559>, “As certainly as the Lord <03068> lives <02416> (whom <0834> I serve <05975>), I will take <03947> nothing <0518> from you.” Naaman insisted <06484> that he take <03947> it, but he refused <03985>. 5:17 Naaman <05283> said <0559>, “If not <03808>, then please <04994> give <05414> your servant <05650> a load <04853> of dirt <0127>, enough for a pair <06776> of mules <06505> to carry, for <03588> your servant <05650> will never <03808> again <05750> offer <06213> a burnt offering <05930> or sacrifice <02077> to a god <0430> other <0312> than the Lord <03068>. 5:18 May the Lord <03068> forgive <05545> your servant <05650> for this <02088> one thing <01697>: When my master <0113> enters <0935> the temple <01004> of Rimmon <07417> to worship <07812>, and he <01931> leans <08172> on <05921> my arm <03027> and I bow down <07812> in the temple <01004> of Rimmon <07417>, may <04994> the Lord <03068> forgive <05545> your servant <05650> for this <02088>.” 5:19 Elisha said <0559> to him, “Go <01980> in peace <07965>.” When he had gone <01980> a short distance <03530>, 5:20 Gehazi <01522>, the prophet <0430> <0376> Elisha’s <0477> servant <05288>, thought <0559>, “Look <02009>, my master <0113> did not accept <03947> what this <02088> Syrian <0761> Naaman <05283> offered <0935> him. As certainly as <0834> the Lord <03068> lives <02416>, I will run <07323> after <0310> him and accept <03947> something <03972> from him.” 5:21 So Gehazi <01522> ran <07291> after <0310> Naaman <05283>. When Naaman <05283> saw <07200> someone running <07323> after <0310> him, he got down <05307> from <05921> his chariot <04818> to meet <07125> him and asked <0559>, “Is everything all right <07965>?” 5:22 He answered <0559>, “Everything is fine <07965>. My master <0113> sent <07971> me with this <02088> message, ‘Look <02009>, two <08147> servants <05288> of the prophets <05030> just <06258> arrived <0935> from <0413> the Ephraimite <0669> hill country <02022>. Please <04994> give <05414> them a talent <03603> of silver <03701> and two <08147> suits <02487> of clothes <0899>.’” 5:23 Naaman <05283> said <0559>, “Please <02974> accept <03947> two talents <03603> of silver. He insisted <06555>, and tied up <06887> two talents <03603> of silver <03701> in two <08147> bags <02754>, along with two <08147> suits <02487> of clothes <0899>. He gave <05414> them to <0413> two <08147> of his servants <05288> and they carried <05375> them for Gehazi <06440>. 5:24 When he arrived <0935> at <0413> the hill <06076>, he took <03947> them from the servants and put <06485> them in <06485> the house <01004>. Then he sent <07971> the men <0582> on their way <01980>. 5:25 When he <01931> came <0935> and stood <05975> before <0413> his master <0113>, Elisha <0477> asked <0559> him, “Where <0575> have you been, Gehazi <01522>?” He answered <0559>, “Your servant <05650> hasn’t <0575> <0575> <03808> been <01980> anywhere <0575> <0575>.” 5:26 Elisha replied <0559>, “I was there in spirit when <0834> a man <0376> turned <02015> and got down <01980> from <05921> his chariot <04818> to meet <07125> you. This is not <03808> the proper time <06256> to accept <03947> silver <03701> or to accept <03947> clothes <0899>, olive groves <02132>, vineyards <03754>, sheep <06629>, cattle <01241>, and male <05650> and female <08198> servants <08198> <05650>. 5:27 Therefore Naaman’s <05283> skin disease <06883> will afflict <01692> you and your descendants <02233> forever <05769>!” When Gehazi went out <03318> from his presence <06440>, his skin <06879> was as white as snow <07950>.

• 2Ki 5:1-27 -- Elisha Heals a Syrian General

• Elisha

  [ebd] God his salvation, the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, who became the attendant and disciple of Elijah (1 Kings 19:16-19). His name first occurs in the command given to Elijah to anoint him as his successor (1 Kings 19:16). ...
  [isbe] ELISHA - e-li'-sha 'elisha`, "God is salvalion"; Septuagint Eleisaie; New Testament Elisaios, Eliseus, (Lk 4:27 the King James Version)): I. HIS CALL AND PREPARATION 1. His Call 2. His Preparation 3. The Parting Gift of Elij...
  [smith] (God his salvation), son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah; the attendant and disciple of Elijan, and subsequently his successor as prophet of the kingdom of Israel. The earliest mention of his name is in the command to Elijah in th...
  [nave] ELISHA, successor to the prophet Elijah. Elijah instructed to anoint, 1 Kin. 19:16. Called by Elijah, 1 Kin. 19:19. Ministers to Elijah, 1 Kin. 19:21. Witnesses Elijah's translation, receives a double portion of his spirit...
  

• Naaman

  [ebd] pleasantness, a Syrian, the commander of the armies of Benhadad II. in the time of Joram, king of Israel. He was afflicted with leprosy; and when the little Hebrew slave-girl that waited on his wife told her of a prophet in ...
  [isbe] NAAMAN - na'-a-man (na`aman, "pleasantness"; Septuagint: Codices Vaticanus and Alexandrinus Naiman; so Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek in the New Testament; Textus Receptus of the New Testament, Neeman) : (1) A...
  [smith] (pleasantness). "Naaman the Syrian." (Luke 4:27) Naaman was commander-in-chief of the army of Syria, and was nearest to the person of the king, Ben-hadad II., whom he accompanied officially and supported when he went to wors...
  [nave] NAAMAN 1. Son of Benjamin, Gen. 46:21. 2. Son of Bela, Num. 26:40; 1 Chr. 8:4. 3. Son of Ehud, 1 Chr. 8:7. 4. A Syrian general, healed of leprosy by Elisha, 2 Kin. 5:1-23; Luke 4:27.
  

• Gehazi

  [ebd] valley of vision, Elisha's trusted servant (2 Kings 4:31; 5:25; 8:4, 5). He appears in connection with the history of the Shunammite (2 Kings 4:14, 31) and of Naaman the Syrian. On this latter occasion he was guilty of dupli...
  [isbe] GEHAZI - ge-ha'-zi (gechazi, except in 2 Ki 4:31; 5:25; 8:4,5, where it is gechazi, perhaps "valley of vision"): The confidential servant of Elisha. Various words are used to denote his relation to his master. He is generall...
  [nave] GEHAZI Servant of Elisha, 2 Kin. 4:12, 29, 31. Greed of, and the judgment of leprosy upon, 2 Kin. 5:20-27. Mentions to King Jehoram the miracles of Elisha, his master, 2 Kin. 8:4, 5.
  

• Ben-hadad

  [nave] BEN-HADAD 1. King of Syria, 1 Kin. 15:18-20; 2 Chr. 16:2-4. 2. A king of Syria, who reigned in the time of Ahab, son of Ben-hadad I, 1 Kin. 20; 2 Kin. 5; 6; 7; 8:7-15. 3. Son of Hazael and king of Syria, 2 Kin. 13:3, 24, 2...
  

• Joram

  [nave] JORAM 1. A son of Toi, 2 Sam. 8:9, 10. Called Hadoram, 1 Chr. 18:10. 2. Called also Jehoram. King of Israel, 2 Kin. 1:17; 3:1. King of Syria sends Naaman to, that he may be healed of his leprosy, 2 Kin. 5:1-27. Has war w...
  

• Servant

  [nave] SERVANT Distinguished as bond servant, who was a slave, and hired servant. Bond Laws of Moses concerning, Ex. 21:1-11, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32; Lev. 19:20-22; 25:6, 10, 35-55; Deut. 15:12, 14, 18; 24:7. Kidnapping forbidden, D...
  

• Greed

  [nave] GREED. Ex. 18:21; Ex. 20:17 Deut. 5:21. Neh. 5:7; Job 20:15; Job 31:24, 25, 28; Psa. 10:3; Psa. 119:36; Prov. 1:19; Prov. 11:24, 26; Prov. 15:27; Prov. 21:25, 26; Prov. 22:16; Prov. 23:4, 5; Prov. 30:8, 9; Eccl. 1:8 vs. 2-8...
  

• Worldliness

  [nave] WORLDLINESS. 1 Sam. 8:19, 20; Job 20:4-29; Job 21:11-15; Psa. 49:16-18; Psa. 73:2-22; Prov. 14:12, 13; Prov. 15:21; Prov. 21:17; Prov. 23:20, 21; Prov. 27:1, 7; Eccl. 1:8; Eccl. 2:1-12; Eccl. 6:11, 12; Eccl. 8:15-17; Eccl. ...
  

• LIE; LYING

  [isbe] LIE; LYING - li, (sheqer (usually, e.g. Isa 9:15; Zec 13:3), or kazabh verb (Job 34:6; Mic 2:11); pseudos (Jn 8:44; Rev 21:27), "to speak falsely," "to fabricate," "to make a false statement"; pseudomai, in Acts 5:3,1): 1. L...
  

• Miracles

  [nave] MIRACLES. Index of Sub-topics Catalog of, and Supernatural Events, Of Jesus, in Chronological Order, Of the Disciples of Jesus; Convincing Effect of; Design of; Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit; Miscellany of Minor Sub-...
  

• Lies and Deceits

  [nave] LIES AND DECEITS Ex. 23:1; Lev. 6:2-7; Lev. 19:11, 12, 16 Ex. 20:16. Job 13:4; Job 21:34; Job 27:4; Job 31:5, 6, 33; Job 36:4; Psa. 5:6, 9; Psa. 10:7; Psa. 12:2, 3; Psa. 28:3; Psa. 31:18; Psa. 34:13 1 Pet. 3:10. Psa. 36:3; P...
  

• COVETOUSNESS

  [isbe] COVETOUSNESS - kuv'-et-us-nes: Has a variety of shades of meaning determined largely by the nature of the particular word used, or the context, or both. Following are some of the uses: (1) To gain dishonestly (batsa`), e.g. ...
  

• BAG

  [ebd] (1.) A pocket of a cone-like shape in which Naaman bound two pieces of silver for Gehazi (2 Kings 5:23). The same Hebrew word occurs elsewhere only in Isa. 3:22, where it is rendered "crisping-pins," but denotes the reticule...
  [isbe] BAG - Bags of various kinds are mentioned in the English Bible, but often in a way to obscure rather than tr the original. (1) "Bag" is used for a Hebrew word which means a shepherd's "bag," rendered "wallet" in the Revised ...
  [smith] is the rendering of several words in the Old and New Testaments. Charitim , the "bags" in which Naaman bound up the two talents of silver for Gehazi. (2 Kings 5:23) They were long cone-like bags of the size to hold a prec...
  

• Mule

  [ebd] (Heb. pered), so called from the quick step of the animal or its power of carrying loads. It is not probable that the Hebrews bred mules, as this was strictly forbidden in the law (Lev. 19:19), although their use was not for...
  [isbe] MULE - mul (peredh (1 Ki 10:25; 18:5; Ezr 2:66; Isa 66:20; Zec 14:15), the feminine pirdah (1 Ki 1:33,38,44), rekhesh, "swift steeds," the King James Version "mules" (Est 8:10,14), 'achashteranim, "used in the king's service...
  [nave] MULE Uses of: For royal riders, 2 Sam. 13:29; 18:9; 1 Kin. 1:33, 38; ridden by posts, Esth. 8:10, 14; by saints in Isaiah's prophetic vision of the kingdom of Christ, Isa. 66:20; as pack animals, 2 Kin. 5:17; 1 Chr. 12:40. ...
  

• Rimmon

  [ebd] pomegranate. (1.) A man of Beeroth (2 Sam. 4:2), one of the four Gibeonite cities. (See Josh. 9:17.) (2.) A Syrian idol, mentioned only in 2 Kings 5:18. (3.) One of the "uttermost cities" of Judah, afterwards given to Simeon...
  [smith] a deity worshipped by the Syrians of Damascus, where there was a temple or house of Rimmon. (2 Kings 5:18) Rimmon is perhaps the abbreviated form of Hadad-rimmon, Hadad being the sun-god of the Syrians. Combining this with...
  [nave] RIMMON 1. Father of the murderers of Ish-bosheth, 2 Sam. 4:2, 5, 9. 2. A city S. of Jerusalem, Zech. 14:10. Allotted to Judah, Josh. 15:32; Neh. 11:29; afterward to Simeon, Josh. 19:7; 1 Chr. 4:32. Called Remmon, Josh. 19...
  

• OPHEL

  [ebd] hill; mound, the long, narrow, rounded promontory on the southern slope of the temple hill, between the Tyropoeon and the Kedron valley (2 Chr. 27:3; 33:14; Neh. 3:26, 27). It was surrounded by a separate wall, and was occup...
  [isbe] OPHEL - o'-fel (ha-`ophel (2 Ch 27:3; 33:14; Neh 3:26 f; 11:21; and without article, Isa 32:14 and Mic 4:8; also 2 Ki 5:24)): 1. Meaning of Name: There has been considerable divergence of opinion with regard to the meaning o...
  

• Changes of raiment

  [ebd] were reckoned among the treasures of rich men (Gen. 45:22; Judg. 14:12, 13; 2 Kings 5:22, 23).
  

• Decision

  [nave] DECISION. Deut. 30:19; Josh. 23:8. Josh. 24:15; 1 Sam. 12:20; 1 Kin. 18:21; Psa. 37:34; Psa. 69:13; Prov. 4:25-27; Isa. 50:7; Matt. 24:13 Mark 13:13; Matt. 10:22. Matt. 25:23; Luke 7:23 Matt. 11:6. John 8:31; John 15:4, 5, ...
  

• Vicegerency

  [nave] VICEGERENCY Of Elisha, in miraculously rewarding the Shunammite, 2 Kin. 4:16, 17; in cursing Gehazi, 2 Kin. 5:27. Of the apostles, Matt. 16:19; 18:18; John 20:23.
  

• Deception

  [nave] DECEPTION. Instances of By Satan, Gen. 3:4. Abraham, in stating that Sarah was his sister, Gen. 12:13; 20:2. Isaac, in stating that his wife was his sister, Gen. 26:7. Jacob and Rebekah, in imposing Jacob on his father,...
  

• Elisha and Naaman

  

Back to Commentary Page