2 Kings 5:1-14
2 Kings 5:1-14 The Message (MSG)
Naaman was general of the army under the king of Aram. He was important to his master, who held him in the highest esteem because it was by him that GOD had given victory to Aram: a truly great man, but afflicted with a grievous skin disease. It so happened that Aram, on one of its raiding expeditions against Israel, captured a young girl who became a maid to Naamanâs wife. One day she said to her mistress, âOh, if only my master could meet the prophet of Samaria, he would be healed of his skin disease.â Naaman went straight to his master and reported what the girl from Israel had said. âWell then, go,â said the king of Aram. âAnd Iâll send a letter of introduction to the king of Israel.â So he went off, taking with him about 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothes. Naaman delivered the letter to the king of Israel. The letter read, âWhen you get this letter, youâll know that Iâve personally sent my servant Naaman to you; heal him of his skin disease.â When the king of Israel read the letter, he was terribly upset, ripping his robe to pieces. He said, âAm I a god with the power to bring death or life that I get orders to heal this man from his disease? Whatâs going on here? That kingâs trying to pick a fight, thatâs what!â Elisha the man of God heard what had happened, that the king of Israel was so distressed that heâd ripped his robe to shreds. He sent word to the king, âWhy are you so upset, ripping your robe like this? Send him to me so heâll learn that thereâs a prophet in Israel.â So Naaman with his horses and chariots arrived in style and stopped at Elishaâs door. Elisha sent out a servant to meet him with this message: âGo to the River Jordan and immerse yourself seven times. Your skin will be healed and youâll be as good as new.â Naaman lost his temper. He spun around saying, âI thought heâd personally come out and meet me, call on the name of GOD, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease. The Damascus rivers, Abana and Pharpar, are cleaner by far than any of the rivers in Israel. Why not bathe in them? Iâd at least get clean.â He stomped off, mad as a hornet. But his servants caught up with him and said, âFather, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldnât you have done it? So why not this simple âwash and be cleanâ?â So he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He was as good as new.
2 Kings 5:1-14 King James Version (KJV)
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.
2 Kings 5:1-14 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper. Now the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naamanâs wife. She said to her mistress, âI wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.â Naaman went in and told his master, saying, âThus and thus spoke the girl who is from the land of Israel.â Then the king of Aram said, âGo now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.â He departed and took with him ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold and ten changes of clothes. He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, âAnd now as this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.â When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, âAm I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me.â It happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, âWhy have you torn your clothes? Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.â So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, âGo and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.â But Naaman was furious and went away and said, âBehold, I thought, âHe will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.â Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?â So he turned and went away in a rage. Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, âMy father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, âWash, and be cleanâ?â So 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.
2 Kings 5:1-14 New Century Version (NCV)
Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was honored by his master, and he had much respect because the LORD used him to give victory to Aram. He was a mighty and brave man, but he had a skin disease. The Arameans had gone out to raid the Israelites and had taken a little girl as a captive. This little girl served Naamanâs wife. She said to her mistress, âI wish my master would meet the prophet who lives in Samaria. He would cure him of his disease.â Naaman went to the king and told him what the girl from Israel had said. The king of Aram said, âGo ahead, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.â So Naaman left and took with him about seven hundred fifty pounds of silver, as well as one hundred fifty pounds of gold and ten changes of clothes. He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, âI am sending my servant Naaman to you so you can heal him of his skin disease.â When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes to show how upset he was. He said, âIâm not God! I canât kill and make alive again! Why does this man send someone with a skin disease for me to heal? You can see that the king of Aram is trying to start trouble with me.â When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent the king this message: âWhy have you torn your clothes? Let Naaman come to me. Then he will know there is a prophet in Israel.â So Naaman went with his horses and chariots to Elishaâs house and stood outside the door. Elisha sent Naaman a messenger who said, âGo and wash in the Jordan River seven times. Then your skin will be healed, and you will be clean.â Naaman became angry and left. He said, âI thought Elisha would surely come out and stand before me and call on the name of the LORD his God. I thought he would wave his hand over the place and heal the disease. The Abana and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, are better than all the waters of Israel. Why canât I wash in them and become clean?â So Naaman went away very angry. Naamanâs servants came near and said to him, âMy father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldnât you have done it? Doesnât it make more sense just to do it? After all, he only told you, âWash, and you will be clean.â â So Naaman went down and dipped in the Jordan seven times, just as Elisha had said. Then his skin became new again, like the skin of a child. And he was clean.
2 Kings 5:1-14 American Standard Version (ASV)
Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Jehovah had given victory unto Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. And the Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naamanâs wife. And she said unto her mistress, Would that my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! then would he recover him of his leprosy. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maiden that is of the land of Israel. And the king of Syria said, Go now, 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, And now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have 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? but consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me. And it was so, when Elisha the man of God 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 chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the 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 Jehovah his God, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the 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 the 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.
2 Kings 5:1-14 New International Version (NIV)
Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naamanâs wife. She said to her mistress, âIf only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.â Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. âBy all means, go,â the king of Aram replied. âI will send a letter to the king of Israel.â So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: âWith this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.â As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, âAm I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!â When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: âWhy have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.â So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elishaâs house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, âGo, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.â But Naaman went away angry and said, âI thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldnât I wash in them and be cleansed?â So he turned and went off in a rage. Naamanâs servants went to him and said, âMy father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, âWash and be cleansedâ!â So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
2 Kings 5:1-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naamanâs wife. Then she said to her mistress, âIf only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.â And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, âThus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel.â Then the king of Syria said, âGo now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.â So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy. And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, âAm I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me.â So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, âWhy have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.â Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elishaâs house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, âGo and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.â But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, âIndeed, I said to myself, âHe will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.â Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?â So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, âMy father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, âWash, and be cleanâ?â So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
2 Kings 5:1-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria), was considered a great man by his king, and was highly respected because through Naaman the LORD had given victory to Aram (Syria). He was also a man of courage, but he was a leper. The Arameans (Syrians) had gone out in bands [as raiders] and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naamanâs wife [as a servant]. She said to her mistress, âI wish that my master [Naaman] were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.â Naaman went in and told his master [the king], âThe girl who is from the land of Israel said such and such.â Then the king of Aram (Syria) said, âGo now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel (Jehoram the son of Ahab).â So he left and took with him ten talents of silver and 6,000 shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. And he brought the letter to the king of Israel. It said, âAnd now when this letter comes to you, I will have sent my servant Naaman to you, so that you may heal him of his leprosy.â When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes [in shock and outrage at the request] and said, âAm I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me [a request] to heal a man of his leprosy? Just consider [what he is asking] and see how he is seeking an opportunity [for a battle] with me.â Now when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent word to the king, asking, âWhy have you torn your clothes? Just let Naaman come to me, and he shall know that there is a [true] prophet in Israel.â So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance of Elishaâs house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, âGo and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.â But Naaman was furious and went away and said, âIndeed! I thought âHe would at least come out to [see] me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place [of leprosy] and heal the leper.â Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus [in Aram], better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?â So he turned and went away in a rage. Then his servants approached and said to him, âMy father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he has said to you, âWash, and be clean?âââ So he went down and plunged himself into the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said; and his flesh was restored like that of a little child and he was clean.
2 Kings 5:1-14 New Living Translation (NLT)
The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the LORD had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy. At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naamanâs wife as a maid. One day the girl said to her mistress, âI wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.â So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Israel had said. âGo and visit the prophet,â the king of Aram told him. âI will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.â So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing. The letter to the king of Israel said: âWith this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.â When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, âAm I God, that I can give life and take it away? Why is this man asking me to heal someone with leprosy? I can see that heâs just trying to pick a fight with me.â But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: âWhy are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.â So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elishaâs house. But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: âGo and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.â But Naaman became angry and stalked away. âI thought he would certainly come out to meet me!â he said. âI expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the LORD his God and heal me! Arenât the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldnât I wash in them and be healed?â So Naaman turned and went away in a rage. But his officers tried to reason with him and said, âSir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldnât you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, âGo and wash and be cured!ââ So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!
2 Kings 5:1-14 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naamanâs wife. She said to her mistress, âWould that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.â So Naaman went in and told his lord, âThus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.â And the king of Syria said, âGo now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.â So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, âWhen this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.â And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, âAm I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.â But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, âWhy have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.â So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elishaâs house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, âGo and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.â But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, âBehold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?â So he turned and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, âMy father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, âWash, and be cleanâ?â So 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.