2 Kings 5:18 kjv
In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
2 Kings 5:18 nkjv
Yet in this thing may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon?when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD please pardon your servant in this thing."
2 Kings 5:18 niv
But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also?when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this."
2 Kings 5:18 esv
In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter."
2 Kings 5:18 nlt
However, may the LORD pardon me in this one thing: When my master the king goes into the temple of the god Rimmon to worship there and leans on my arm, may the LORD pardon me when I bow, too."
2 Kings 5 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 20:3-5 | “You shall have no other gods before me... You shall not bow down to them..." | First Commandment forbids idolatry. |
| Deut 6:13 | "You shall fear the LORD your God and serve him and swear by his name." | Command to worship and serve only the LORD. |
| Josh 24:15 | "...choose this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” | Call for exclusive devotion to the LORD. |
| 1 Ki 18:21 | "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him..." | Challenge against divided loyalties. |
| 2 Ki 17:35-39 | "You shall not fear other gods or bow yourselves to them..." | Reminder of the covenant not to worship other gods. |
| Is 44:9-20 | "...who fashions a god or casts an idol... his own hands made it." | Ridicule of idol worship, emphasizing their futility. |
| Jer 10:1-16 | "Do not learn the way of the nations... the customs of the peoples are worthless.” | Warning against adopting pagan practices. |
| Matt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters..." | Emphasizes the impossibility of dual loyalties (God and anything else). |
| Lk 16:13 | "No servant can serve two masters..." | Reinforces the impossibility of divided allegiance. |
| Acts 15:28-29 | "...to abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols..." | Apostolic decree for Gentiles, including avoidance of idolatry. |
| 1 Cor 8:4-6 | "...an idol has no real existence... there is one God..." | Explains the nothingness of idols while affirming one true God. |
| 1 Cor 10:14 | "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." | Direct command to avoid all forms of idolatry. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-16 | "What agreement has the temple of God with idols?" | Call for separation from pagan practices and false gods. |
| 1 Jn 5:21 | "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." | Simple, clear instruction to avoid idolatry. |
| Ps 32:5 | "I acknowledged my sin to you... and you forgave the iniquity of my sin." | Example of confession leading to forgiveness. |
| Prov 28:13 | "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." | Principle of confession and forsaking sin for mercy. |
| Is 55:7 | "let him return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on him..." | God's willingness to abundantly pardon those who return to Him. |
| 1 Jn 1:9 | "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins..." | Promise of forgiveness for confessed sins. |
| Rom 14:22-23 | "...whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." | Principle that actions performed against conscience or without faith are sin. |
| 1 Cor 9:19-23 | "I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” | Paul's principle of adaptability, without compromising core faith. |
| Gal 1:10 | "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?" | Challenges motives – whether seeking human or divine approval. |
| Dan 3:16-18 | Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to worship the golden image. | Illustrates refusal to compromise on direct idolatry, facing severe consequence. |
| Dan 6:10 | Daniel prays to God despite the decree forbidding it. | Illustrates fidelity to God despite a law forbidding private religious practice. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities." | Instruction to obey earthly rulers, which forms part of Naaman's dilemma. |
| Acts 10:34-35 | "God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." | God's acceptance of sincere worship from all nations. |
2 Kings 5 verses
2 Kings 5 18 Meaning
This verse records Naaman, the Syrian commander, asking the LORD's pardon, through the prophet Elisha, for a specific dilemma he anticipates. As an attendant to the king of Aram, Naaman would be required to accompany his master into the temple of Rimmon, a pagan deity, and physically support him as the king bowed down to worship. This would entail Naaman himself bowing as the king leaned on him. Naaman, having just been healed and acknowledging the God of Israel as the only true God, is concerned about this future action, seeking forgiveness for what he perceives as a necessary but compromising duty, distinct from genuine worship.
2 Kings 5 18 Context
Chapter 5 of 2 Kings narrates the miraculous healing of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, from leprosy. At the suggestion of a young Israelite servant girl, Naaman travels to Elisha, the prophet of Israel. Initially angered by Elisha's instruction to dip seven times in the Jordan River, Naaman eventually obeys and is healed, experiencing the powerful intervention of the God of Israel. His healing leads to his declaration in verse 17: "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel." He commits to no longer offering burnt offerings or sacrifices to any god but the LORD. Verse 18 immediately follows this declaration of exclusive allegiance, presenting the complex practical reality of Naaman's conversion as he must navigate his duties in a pagan court. This historical context illuminates the profound tension between Naaman's newfound faith and his societal role.
2 Kings 5 18 Word analysis
- In this matter (עַל־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה - al-ha-davār ha-zzeh): Refers specifically to the request for pardon concerning his anticipated action in the house of Rimmon. It highlights a very particular situation rather than a general or hypothetical one.
- LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal and covenant name of God, explicitly recognized by Naaman. This signifies a profound shift from polytheism to an acknowledgment of Israel's God as supreme and deserving of worship.
- pardon (יִסְלַח - yis'lakh): From the verb סָלַח (salakh), meaning "to forgive," "to pardon." Naaman acknowledges that his anticipated actions might be seen as an offense against YHWH and requests divine forgiveness. This is a crucial indication of his new, sensitive conscience towards the God of Israel.
- your servant (לְעַבְדֶּךָ - l'avd'ekha): A humble self-designation, expressing his new devotion and subservience to the LORD, rather than only to the king of Aram. It also underscores his dependence and submission to divine will.
- master (אֲדֹנִי - adoní): Refers to the king of Aram, emphasizing Naaman's inescapable civil duty and loyalty within his secular hierarchy.
- goes into (בֹּאוֹ - bo'o): Literally "his coming/entering." Describes the king's act of entering the temple of Rimmon for worship.
- house of Rimmon (בֵית־רִמּוֹן - beit-Rimmon): The temple dedicated to Rimmon, a Syrian deity. Rimmon (meaning "pomegranate") was often associated with Hadad, the Aramaic storm and fertility god. This setting directly confronts Naaman with a locus of pagan worship.
- worship there (לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת שָׁמָּה - l'hishtakhavot shāmāh): The verb הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה (hishtakhaveh) means "to bow down" or "to prostrate oneself," often used in the context of worship. This indicates the primary purpose of the king's entry into the temple.
- leans on my arm (וְנִשְׁעָן עַל־יָדִי - v'nisch'an al-yadí): This specific physical action describes Naaman's direct duty as the king's senior attendant, indicating support due to age or infirmity. It explains the unavoidable physical proximity and involvement.
- I bow myself (וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֵיתִי - v'hishtakhaveiti): This is the crux of Naaman's ethical dilemma. The same verb used for the king's worship (hishtakhaveh) is used here for Naaman's act. While Naaman's heart may not be worshipping Rimmon, his physical posture would mirror the act of pagan worship. He seeks pardon for this outwardly ambiguous action required by his secular duty.
- when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon (וּבְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָיָתִי בֵּית רִמּוֹן - u-v'hishtakhavayatí beit Rimmon): The repetition emphasizes the specific point of conflict and Naaman's sincere concern. This doubling underscores the weight and difficulty of his situation.
- "when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my arm": This phrase details the context and direct requirement of Naaman's service. It shows that his "bowing" is a direct result of his proximity to and duty towards the king, not a personal religious inclination towards Rimmon. This distinguishes his action from active, volitional pagan worship.
- "I bow myself in the house of Rimmon—when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon": The deliberate repetition highlights Naaman's distress and ethical sensitivity. He is aware that his action could be misconstrued or could compromise his new faith, even if done out of duty rather than devotion. It also signifies his earnest request for pardon for this specific recurring action.
- "may the LORD pardon your servant in this matter": This phrase encapsulates Naaman's appeal for divine understanding and forgiveness for navigating a practical compromise that challenges his monotheistic conviction. It demonstrates a genuine, yet nascent, understanding of God's holy requirements.
2 Kings 5 18 Bonus section
Naaman's dilemma underscores the challenges of practicing a distinct faith in a culture permeated by other religious customs, especially for those in positions of authority or public service. His open and sincere plea for pardon reveals a transformed heart, a true convert concerned with God's honor. It implicitly teaches that a nascent faith, while genuinely placed in God, may still struggle with fully aligning practical actions with theological conviction, and that divine grace extends to these complicated transitional phases. This situation highlights the importance of not just external actions, but also the internal disposition of the heart when facing ethical decisions concerning worship and loyalty to God. It shows God's mercy to a Gentile who sincerely seeks to follow Him, acknowledging human limitations and unique circumstances.
2 Kings 5 18 Commentary
This verse offers a nuanced glimpse into Naaman's spiritual journey after his miraculous healing and conversion. His immediate concern reflects a newfound sensitivity to the demands of the one true God, the LORD, contrasting sharply with his prior life as a pagan. He articulates a profound ethical dilemma: how to maintain his crucial courtly duty while affirming his new exclusive allegiance to YHWH. The act of "bowing" (hishtakhaveh) is at the core of the problem, as it carries strong connotations of worship. However, Naaman is clear that his bowing is a mechanical response to supporting his king, not a personal veneration of Rimmon. This distinguishes his situation from that of individuals like Daniel or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whose refusal to bow was a direct and personal defiance of idolatry.
Elisha's simple response, "Go in peace," is pregnant with interpretive possibilities. It is generally not seen as a carte blanche endorsement of Naaman's proposed actions but rather a gracious acknowledgment of his sincerity, genuine conversion (demonstrated by his earlier pledge in 2 Ki 5:17), and the practical difficulties of living out monotheistic faith within a pagan court. It leaves the specific resolution to Naaman and his developing walk with God, implying divine mercy for someone newly come to faith, facing unavoidable social obligations. The verse underlines that genuine faith leads to a conscience attuned to God's holiness, even amidst life's complexities, and invites us to consider the fine line between unavoidable compliance and spiritual compromise.