2 Kings 5 12

2 Kings 5:12 kjv

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.

2 Kings 5:12 nkjv

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?" So he turned and went away in a rage.

2 Kings 5:12 niv

Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.

2 Kings 5:12 esv

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?" So he turned and went away in a rage.

2 Kings 5:12 nlt

Aren't the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn't I wash in them and be healed?" So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.

2 Kings 5 verses

2 Kings 5 12 Meaning

Second Kings 5:12 expresses Naaman's indignant refusal to follow the prophet Elisha's seemingly simplistic instruction to wash seven times in the Jordan River. He compares the grand, life-giving rivers of Damascus, Abana and Pharpar, to the apparently inferior "waters of Israel," specifically the muddy Jordan. Naaman, expecting a more elaborate and impressive act of healing from the prophet, questions why he cannot simply wash in his superior homeland rivers to achieve the same cleanliness or healing. His statement reveals a prideful and nationalistic bias, a human desire for a grand spectacle, and a misunderstanding of divine power and chosen methods.

2 Kings 5 12 Context

The preceding verses describe Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria), as a great and honorable man but a leper (2 Ki 5:1). A captive Israelite girl tells Naaman's wife that a prophet in Samaria could heal him. Naaman's king writes a letter to the king of Israel, who, fearing a trap, tears his clothes. Elisha, the man of God, hears of this and sends a message for Naaman to come to him (2 Ki 5:7-8). Naaman arrives with a grand entourage of horses and chariots and stands at Elisha's door (2 Ki 5:9). Instead of coming out, Elisha sends a messenger with a simple command: "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean" (2 Ki 5:10). This verse, 2 Kings 5:12, records Naaman's immediate, indignant reaction to this unceremonious and seemingly insultingly simple instruction, revealing his expectations of a more elaborate healing ritual befitting his status.

2 Kings 5 12 Word analysis

• Are not: This is a rhetorical question (הֲלֹא - hălōʼ) in Hebrew, conveying a strong sense of indignation, disbelief, and a "surely... aren't they?" implying a self-evident truth in Naaman's mind. It reflects his assumption that his logical conclusion is irrefutable.
• Abana: (אֲבָנָה - ʼĂbānâ, possibly meaning "stony" or "perennial"). One of the two primary rivers that nourished Damascus. It flowed from Mount Hermon, providing a crucial water supply for the city's lush gardens and prosperity. Naaman identifies with his homeland's vital resources.
• and Pharpar: (פַּרְפַּר - Parpar, possibly meaning "swift" or "sparkling"). The other significant river of Damascus. These rivers represented the lifeblood, wealth, and grandeur of Naaman's powerful kingdom, Syria. Their names would evoke feelings of national pride and superior resources for Naaman.
• the rivers of Damascus: Highlights their importance to the great Syrian capital. For Naaman, these rivers were a source of national pride, representing power, wealth, and a technologically advanced civilization (through aqueducts and irrigation systems) that put the small Jordan to shame.
• better than all the waters of Israel?: Naaman's contemptuous comparison. "Waters of Israel" refers primarily to the Jordan River (מַיִם יִשְׂרָאֵל - mayim Yiśrāʼēl), which was known for its muddiness and relatively unimpressive flow compared to the clear, well-managed rivers of Damascus. This highlights Naaman's external, superficial judgment based on appearance and worldly significance, overlooking the spiritual significance.
• Could I not wash in them: Expresses Naaman's logical conclusion from his flawed premise. He believed that the physical quality and grandeur of the water source, not the divine instruction, determined its efficacy for cleansing. He expected a "therapeutic" wash, not an act of obedience.
• and be clean?: (וְטָהַרְתִּי - wetâhartiy, "and I shall be clean"). This refers to ritual and physical purity, specifically in relation to leprosy. Naaman sought cleansing from his leprosy. His question implies that his rivers should naturally accomplish this, making the journey to Israel and the instruction to use the Jordan unnecessary.
  • "Abana and Pharpar... better than all the waters of Israel?": This phrase directly juxtaposes Naaman's worldly perspective against the divine economy. Naaman's perception is purely utilitarian and nationalistic, believing the best physical resources should naturally yield the best results. It's a statement born of pride and preconceived notions, setting his human logic against God's simple command.
  • "Could I not wash in them and be clean?": This entire rhetorical question reveals Naaman's assumption of human autonomy and self-sufficiency. He believed he could achieve "cleanliness" (healing) on his own terms, using his own superior resources, rather than submitting to an external, humble, and divinely mandated method. It shows a lack of understanding that spiritual healing often comes through simple acts of faith and obedience, not impressive displays or human logic.

2 Kings 5 12 Bonus section

Naaman's rejection of the Jordan River holds a deeper symbolic significance. In biblical history, the Jordan River was often associated with new beginnings, crossing over, and significant spiritual events (e.g., Israel's entry into the Promised Land, Jesus' baptism). By contrast, the rivers of Damascus represent human-made grandeur and the power of this world, meticulously managed and serving the ends of a powerful empire. Naaman’s initial preference reflects the common spiritual struggle to abandon reliance on one's own perceived strength, intelligence, or wealth, and to humbly embrace the simple path that God ordains, however illogical or unimpressive it may appear to the worldly mind. This story also serves as an indirect polemic against the grandeur and perceived self-sufficiency of powerful nations and their deities, asserting that true power and cleansing reside with the God of Israel, who works through means often overlooked by human wisdom. His servants and methods may appear weak, but the power behind them is supreme.

2 Kings 5 12 Commentary

Naaman's outburst in 2 Kings 5:12 is a powerful illustration of the human tendency to resist God's simple and often unglamorous methods. As a highly esteemed general, he expected a cure commensurate with his status – a personal encounter with the prophet, perhaps an elaborate incantation, or a grand gesture. Instead, Elisha’s command was disturbingly simple and came via a messenger, demanding a journey to the "dirty" Jordan. This bruised Naaman's pride and nationalistic ego; how could the insignificant Jordan be superior to the glorious rivers of Damascus? His reaction underscores a core theological truth: God’s ways are not man’s ways, and divine power often works through humility and obedience rather than outward show or human logic. Naaman desired healing, but on his terms. This verse serves as a cautionary tale against judging divine solutions by human standards of grandeur or efficacy. It highlights the resistance that pride generates when confronted with the call to simple faith and humble submission to God's will.