God’s Word Translation
2 Kings 5:16
16Elisha said, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord whom I serve lives, I will not accept it.” Naaman 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of 2 Kings 5:16
14So he went to dip himself in the Jordan River seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. His skin became healthy again like a little child’s skin. 15Then he and all his men returned to the man of God. Naaman stood in front of Elisha and said, “Now I know that there’s no god in the whole world, except the God of Israel. So please accept a present from me.” Elisha said, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord whom I serve lives, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to take it, but he refused. 17So Naaman said, “If you won’t take it, please have someone give me as much dirt as a pair of mules can carry. From now on I will sacrifice to the Lord alone. I will not offer any burnt offering or sacrifice to any other gods. 18May the Lord forgive me when my master goes to the temple of Rimmon to worship, leans on my arm, and I have to bow down in the temple of Rimmon. When I do this, may the Lord forgive me for this one thing.”
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 3:14Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord of Armies whom I serve lives, I wouldn’t even bother to look at you or notice you if it weren’t for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah.
- 1 Kings 17:1Elijah, who was from Tishbe but had settled in Gilead, said to Ahab, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord God of Israel whom I serve lives, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I say so.”
- 1 Kings 18:15Elijah said, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord of Armies whom I serve lives, I will present myself to Ahab.”
- 2 Kings 5:20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha (the man of God), thought, “My master let this Aramean Naaman go without accepting what he had brought. As sure as the Lord lives, I’ll run after Naaman and get something from him.”
- Genesis 14:22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I now raise my hand and solemnly swear to the Lord God Most High, maker of heaven and earth,
- 1 Kings 13:8The man of God told the king, “Even if you gave me half of your palace, I would never go with you to eat or drink there.
- Daniel 5:17Daniel told the king, “Keep your gifts. Give your gifts and awards to someone else. I’ll still read the writing for you and tell you its meaning.
- Matthew 10:8Cure the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse those with skin diseases, and force demons out of people. Give these things without charging, since you received them without paying.
- Acts 8:18Simon saw that the Spirit was given to the Samaritans when the apostles placed their hands on them. So he offered Peter and John money
- Acts 20:33“I never wanted anyone’s silver, gold, or clothes.
- 1 Corinthians 6:12Someone may say, “I’m allowed to do anything,” but not everything is helpful. I’m allowed to do anything, but I won’t allow anything to gain control over my life.
- 1 Corinthians 10:32Don’t cause others to stumble, whether they are Jewish, Greek, or members of God’s church.
- 2 Corinthians 11:9When I was with you and needed something, I didn’t bother any of you for help. My friends from the province of Macedonia supplied everything I needed. I kept myself from being a financial burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do that.
- 2 Corinthians 12:14I’m ready to visit you for a third time, and I won’t bother you for help. I don’t want your possessions. Instead, I want you. Children shouldn’t have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide 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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