Divided kingdom · around 850 BC
Naaman in the Bible
The Syrian general healed of leprosy. Name meaning: “Pleasant” (the meaning of the Hebrew name); Jesus calls him “Naaman the Syrian”
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, is a mighty man of valor, showered with honors, but a leper. On the word of a little Israelite captive girl, he goes to the prophet Elisha, bristles at the command to wash seven times in the Jordan, then obeys and is cleansed. He then confesses, “Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel” (2 Kgs 5:15). Jesus will cite him to show that God’s grace reaches beyond the borders of Israel (Luke 4:27).
Key moments
- The little captive speaks of the prophet in Samaria 2 Kings 5:3
- The king of Israel tears his clothes at the letter 2 Kings 5:7
- Naaman is angry at Elisha’s command 2 Kings 5:11
- He dips himself seven times in the Jordan and is cleansed 2 Kings 5:14
- He confesses the LORD as the only God 2 Kings 5:15
- He asks for earth from Israel to sacrifice to the LORD 2 Kings 5:17
- His leprosy passes to Gehazi 2 Kings 5:27
- Jesus cites him at Nazareth Luke 4:27
Strengths
- Valor
- Wounded pride
- Teachability
- Gratitude
Weaknesses
Naaman’s pride is wounded at first: he expected a spectacular gesture from the prophet and goes away “in a rage” at the command to wash in the Jordan (2 Kgs 5:11-12). Even after coming to faith, he keeps his duties at his master’s side: he will have to bow in the house of Rimmon, and he asks the LORD’s pardon for it (5:18).
Lessons for today
- God can use the witness of an unnamed captive child to lead a powerful man to healing (2 Kgs 5:2-3).
- Grace is received through simple obedience to God’s word, even when it bruises our pride (2 Kgs 5:10-14).
- A healed heart confesses the LORD and wants to serve no other gods (2 Kgs 5:15-17).
- God’s grace is for foreigners too, and no one can trade on it, as Gehazi tried (Luke 4:27; 2 Kgs 5:20-27).
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.
And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
People around Naaman
- Elisha — The prophet of Israel at whose word he is cleansed
- The little Israelite captive — His wife’s servant, who points him to the prophet in Samaria
- The king of Syria — His master, who sends him to Samaria with a letter
- Gehazi — Elisha’s servant, who receives his leprosy for taking his gifts
- Jesus — Cites him at Nazareth as the only leper cleansed in the time of Elisha
Stories with Naaman
Quiz: how well do you know Naaman?
What disease did Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, have?
“He was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper”: despite his military glory and his master’s favor, Naaman carried a disease no man could cure. 2 Kings 5:1
Who told Naaman’s wife about the prophet in Samaria?
A little girl from the land of Israel, carried off captive and serving Naaman’s wife, said the prophet in Samaria would recover him of his leprosy. 2 Kings 5:2–3
How many times did Naaman dip himself in the Jordan?
At Elisha’s command, he “dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God,” and his flesh came again like the flesh of a little child. 2 Kings 5:14
There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.