English Standard Version
2 Kings 5:16
16But he said, "As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused.
2 Kings 5:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.” And though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused.
Context of 2 Kings 5:16
14So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant." But he said, "As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17Then Naaman said, "If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. 18In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter."
Read all of 2 Kings 52 Kings 5:16 word by word
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר חַי־יְהוָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־עָמַ֥דְתִּי לְפָנָ֖יו אִם־אֶקָּ֑ח וַיִּפְצַר־בּ֥וֹ לָקַ֖חַת וַיְמָאֵֽן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- livethחַיchay · aliveH2416
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- whom I standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
- I will receiveלָקַחlâqach · to take: recieveH3947
- none. And he urgedפָּצַרpâtsar · to pressH6484
- but he refusedמָאֵןmâ'ên · to refuseH3985
Cross-references for 2 Kings 5:16
- 2 Kings 3:14And Elisha said, "As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you.
- 1 Kings 17:1Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."
- 1 Kings 18:15And Elijah said, "As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today."
- 2 Kings 5:20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him."
- Genesis 14:22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth,
- 1 Kings 13:8And the man of God said to the king, "If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place,
- Daniel 5:17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.
- Matthew 10:8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
- Acts 8:18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
- Acts 20:33I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
- 1 Corinthians 6:12"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything.
- 1 Corinthians 10:32Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,
- 2 Corinthians 11:9And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
- 2 Corinthians 12:14Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Commentaries on 2 Kings 5:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16I will receive none - It was very common to give presents to all great and official men; and among these, prophets were always included: but as it might have appeared to the Syrians that he had taken the offered presents as a remuneration for the cure performed, he refused; for as God alone did the work, he alone should have all the glory.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16I will receive none - The prophets were in the habit of receiving presents from those who consulted them 1 Samuel 9:7-8; 1 Kings 14:3, but Elisha refused. It was important that Naaman should not suppose that the prophets of the true God acted from motives of self-interest, much less imagine that “the gift of God might be purchased with money” Acts 8:20.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-19Verses 15-19 The mercy of the cure affected Naaman more than the miracle. Those are best able to speak of the power of Divine grace, who themselves experience it. He also shows himself grateful to Elisha the prophet. Elijah refused any recompence, not because he thought it unlawful, for he received presents from others, but to show this new convert that the servants of the God of Israel looked upon worldly wealth with a holy contempt. The whole work was…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-16No God … except in Israel: Naaman's physical healing led to his spiritual conversion. Like the Samaritan leper healed by Jesus, Naaman returned to thank his healer (Luke 17:15–16). Naaman offered a gift out of gratitude, but Elisha refused. God's grace and blessings cannot be bought with money, gifts, or favors (Isaiah 55:1–5; Romans 2:4; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Ephesians 4:8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1615-16. he returned to the man of God--After the miraculous cure, Naaman returned to Elisha, to whom he acknowledged his full belief in the sole supremacy of the God of Israel and offered him a liberal reward. But to show that he was not actuated by the mercenary motives of the heathen priests and prophets, Elisha, though he accepted presents on other occasions (2Ki 4:42), respectfully but firmly declined them on this, being desirous that the Syrians…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 5:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Kings 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries