What happens when Naaman dips seven times in the Jordan River?

Naaman, a Syrian commander with leprosy, finally obeys the word given through Elisha and goes down into the Jordan River. He dips himself seven times, just as he was told. When he comes up the seventh time, his skin is completely changed. The text says his flesh becomes like that of a little child, and he is clean. This shows that the healing comes from God, not from the river itself, and that God honors simple, trusting obedience, even when the command seems small or strange.

Why does Naaman say there is no God in all the earth but in Israel?

After he is healed, Naaman returns to Elisha and stands before him, very different from how proud he was at first. His healing convinces him that the God who healed him is the only true God. He says, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel.” He had come from a land with other gods, but this miracle shows him that they are nothing. His words are a clear confession that the Lord alone is God and that the healing was God’s work, not magic or human power.

Why does Elisha refuse to take any gifts from Naaman?

Naaman offers a generous gift to Elisha after he is healed, calling it a “blessing” from a grateful servant. Elisha firmly refuses, saying he will receive nothing and swearing by the Lord before whom he stands. By doing this, he shows that God’s grace cannot be bought and that the healing was not a business deal. Elisha wants Naaman to understand that the Lord gives freely, and that the prophet is not using God’s power to enrich himself. It protects God’s honor and Naaman’s new faith.

Who is Gehazi and why does he run after Naaman?

Gehazi is Elisha’s servant. He has seen the healing of Naaman and hears Elisha refuse any gift. In his heart he thinks his master has “spared” Naaman by not taking what he brought. He looks down on Naaman as “this Syrian” and decides to get something for himself. He even uses an oath, saying, “as the Lord lives, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.” His running after Naaman shows a greedy heart that is not content with God’s way and does not share Elisha’s concern for God’s honor.

What lies does Gehazi tell Naaman to get money and clothes?

When Gehazi reaches Naaman, he first lies about why he has come. He says that Elisha has just received two young men from the sons of the prophets and now needs a talent of silver and two sets of clothes for them. None of this is true. Elisha did not send him, no visitors had arrived, and there was no need. Naaman, eager to show thanks, goes beyond the request and gives two talents and two changes of garments. Gehazi uses a made-up story and pretended charity to cover his greed.

How does Elisha know what Gehazi has done in secret?

After hiding the goods, Gehazi comes and stands before Elisha as if nothing has happened. When Elisha asks where he has been, Gehazi lies again and says he went nowhere. Elisha then reveals that his heart went with him when Naaman turned from his chariot to meet him. In other words, God has shown Elisha what happened. Elisha knows not only that Gehazi took money and garments, but also what Gehazi plans to do with them, like buying land, animals, and servants. Nothing is hidden from God.

Why does Elisha say it is not the time to receive money and gifts?

Elisha asks Gehazi, “Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments,” and then lists things that money could buy, like oliveyards, vineyards, sheep, oxen, and servants. Naaman has just come to know the Lord and has seen that God’s gift is free. To take payment now would confuse that lesson and damage the witness to this new believer. It would make it look as if God’s mercy can be bought. Elisha shows that there are moments when taking gifts, even for good use, would dishonor God’s work.

Why is Gehazi punished with Naaman’s leprosy and what does that show?

Elisha tells Gehazi that Naaman’s leprosy will cling to him and to his descendants forever. Immediately Gehazi goes out from Elisha’s presence a leper, white as snow. This is a severe judgment, but it fits what he did. He tried to profit from God’s grace, lied using his master’s name, and risked confusing a new believer about God’s character. The punishment shows that God takes greed, deceit, and misuse of spiritual work very seriously. It is a warning that serving God is not a path for getting rich.

What does this passage teach about God’s grace and human greed?

In this passage, God freely heals a foreign commander who cannot earn or buy his cure. Naaman is cleansed when he humbly obeys, and he responds with faith in the God of Israel. Elisha’s refusal of any reward makes it clear that grace is a gift. Gehazi’s actions show the opposite spirit. He uses God’s work to try to gain wealth, lies repeatedly, and ends up with the very disease from which Naaman was freed. Together, these stories show that God gives freely, and greed can turn a servant into one under judgment.

2Kgs.5.14

2 Kings 5:14

KJV

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Naaman Cured of Leprosy

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

¶ And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

¶ And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

But he said, As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord.

In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing.

And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.

¶ 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.

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?

And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.

And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.

But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

Cross References

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