God’s Word Translation
2 Kings 5:20
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.”
2 Kings 5:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Gehazi, 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."
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.”
Context of 2 Kings 5:20
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.” 19Elisha told Naaman, “Go in peace.” After Elisha had left him and gone some distance, Gehazi, 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.” 21So Gehazi went after Naaman. When Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, he got down from his chariot to speak to him. “Is something wrong?” he asked. 22Gehazi answered, “No. My master has sent me. He says, ‘Just now two young men from the disciples of the prophets in the hills of Ephraim have arrived. Please give them 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing.’ ”
Read all of 2 Kings 52 Kings 5:20 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גֵּיחֲזִ֗י נַעַר֮ אֱלִישָׁ֣ע אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִים֒ הִנֵּ֣ה׀ חָשַׂ֣ךְ אֲדֹנִ֗י אֶֽת־נַעֲמָ֤ן הָֽאֲרַמִּי֙ הַזֶּ֔ה מִקַּ֥חַת מִיָּד֖וֹ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־הֵבִ֑יא חַי־יְהוָה֙ כִּֽי־אִם־רַ֣צְתִּי אַחֲרָ֔יו וְלָקַחְתִּ֥י מֵאִתּ֖וֹ מְאֽוּמָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But Gehaziגֵּיחֲזִיgêychăzîy gêchăzîy · GehaziH1522
- the servantנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- of Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
- the manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Behold, my masterאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
- hath sparedחָשַׂךְchâώak · to withholdH2820
- Naamanנַעֲמָןna‛ămân · NaamanH5283
- this Syrianאֲרַמִּי'ărammîy · SyrianH761
- in not receivingלָקַחlâqach · to take: recieveH3947
- at his handsיָדyâd · handH3027
- that which he broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- livethחַיchay · aliveH2416
- I will runרוּץrûts · to run: runH7323
- afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- somewhatמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
Cross-references for 2 Kings 5:20
- 2 Kings 4:12He told his servant Gehazi, “Call this Shunem woman.” Gehazi called her, and she stood in front of him.
- Matthew 10:4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.
- John 6:70Jesus replied, “I chose all twelve of you. Yet, one of you is a devil.”
- John 12:6(Judas didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and carried the contributions.)
- John 13:2While supper was taking place, the devil had already put the idea of betraying Jesus into the mind of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.
- 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
- Proverbs 26:16A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer.
- Luke 16:8“The master praised the dishonest manager for being so clever. Worldly people are more clever than spiritually-minded people when it comes to dealing with others.”
- John 12:5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for a high price and the money given to the poor?”
- Acts 5:2They agreed to hold back some of the money ⌞they had pledged⌟ and turned only part of it over to the apostles.
- 2 Kings 6:31He said, “May God strike me dead if the head of Elisha, son of Shaphat, stays on his ⌞body⌟ today.”
- Exodus 20:7“Never use the name of the Lord your God carelessly. The Lord will make sure that anyone who carelessly uses his name will be punished.
- 1 Samuel 14:39I solemnly swear, as the Lord and Savior of Israel lives, even if it is my son Jonathan ⌞who did it⌟, he must die.” But not one of the soldiers replied.
- Exodus 20:17“Never desire to take your neighbor’s household away from him. “Never desire to take your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey, or anything else that belongs to him.”
- Psalms 10:3The wicked person boasts about his selfish desires. He blesses robbers, but he curses the Lord.
- Jeremiah 22:17“But your eyes and your mind are set on nothing but dishonest profits. You kill innocent people and violently oppress your people.”
Commentaries on 2 Kings 5:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20My master hath spared - this Syrian - He has neither taken any thing from him for himself, nor permitted him to give any thing to me.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20This Syrian - The words are emphatic. Gehazi persuades himself that it is right to spoil a Syrian - that is, a Gentile, and an enemy of Israel. As the Lord liveth - These words are here a profane oath. Gehazi, anxious to make himself believe that he is acting in a proper, and, even, in a religions spirit, does not scruple to introduce one of the most solemn of religious phrases.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-27Verses 20-27 Naaman, a Syrian, a courtier, a soldier, had many servants, and we read how wise and good they were. Elisha, a holy prophet, a man of God, has but one servant, and he proves a base liar. The love of money, that root of all evil, was at the bottom of Gehazi's sin. He thought to impose upon the prophet, but soon found that the Spirit of prophecy could not be deceived, and that it was in vain to lie to the Holy Ghost. It is folly to presume upon…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2520-25. I will run after him, and take somewhat of him--The respectful courtesy to Elisha, shown in the person of his servant, and the open-handed liberality of his gifts, attest the fulness of Naaman's gratitude; while the lie--the artful management is dismissing the bearers of the treasure, and the deceitful appearance before his master, as if he had not left the house--give a most unfavorable impression of Gehazi's character.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 5:20
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries