2 Kings 5 2

2 Kings 5:2 kjv

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.

2 Kings 5:2 nkjv

And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman's wife.

2 Kings 5:2 niv

Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife.

2 Kings 5:2 esv

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 Naaman's wife.

2 Kings 5:2 nlt

At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman's wife as a maid.

2 Kings 5 verses

2 Kings 5 2 Meaning

2 Kings 5:2 reveals the catalyst for the miraculous healing of Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army. It introduces a young Israelite girl, taken captive during a raid by Aramean marauders, who now serves in Naaman's household. Her tragic circumstances paradoxically place her in a position to bring knowledge of the true God and His prophet Elisha to a prominent, yet afflicted, Aramean general, initiating the unfolding narrative of God's power transcending national boundaries. This verse highlights divine providence, where human suffering and evil intentions (raids, captivity) are interwoven into God's greater redemptive plan.

2 Kings 5 2 Context

2 Kings 5 begins by introducing Naaman, a high-ranking, valiant military commander from Aram (Syria), held in high esteem by his king. However, his life is shadowed by leprosy, an incurable and socially isolating disease. Verse 2 specifically describes the ordinary yet divinely ordained circumstance that provides the key to his potential healing: a young Israelite girl, seized from her home, now finds herself a domestic servant in Naaman’s private residence. This brief description sets the stage for an unlikely intersection of military might and divine power, where a captive, a vulnerable person with no status, becomes the bearer of a life-changing message for a powerful general of an enemy nation. The wider chapter explores themes of national conflict, the sovereignty of God over all nations, the true nature of God’s healing, and the contrast between human pride and humility.

2 Kings 5 2 Word analysis

• Now (וְ): Connects to the preceding verse, indicating a continuous narrative flow. It transitions from Naaman's high status to the crucial detail about the Aramean raids.
• the Arameans (אֲרַמִּים - ʾArammîm): Refers to the people of Aram (Syria), Israel's northern neighbors and frequent adversaries. This specifies the identity of Israel's oppressor in this context.
• had gone out (יָצְאוּ - yāṣəʾû): Implies a proactive movement or expedition, indicating deliberate actions of aggression rather than accidental encounters.
• in raids (גְּדוּדִים - gᵉdūdîm): This noun refers to "bands" or "troops" often specifically used in the context of "marauding bands" or "raiding parties." It denotes predatory incursions, not a formal war. Such raids were common to plunder resources and take captives.
• and had taken captive (וַיִּשְׁבּוּ - wayyišbû): Derived from the root שָׁבָה (šāḇâ), meaning "to take captive," "to make prisoner." It highlights the forced nature of her removal from her home and people, emphasizing her plight.
• a young girl (נַעֲרָה קְטַנָּה - naʿarāh qᵉṭannāh): Naʿarāh refers to a "young woman" or "maiden," while qᵉṭannāh means "small," "little," or "insignificant." This highlights her youth, vulnerability, and lack of social status – making her role in the narrative even more striking by contrast with Naaman.
• from the land of Israel (מֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל - mēʾereṣ Yiśrāʾēl): Clearly identifies her origin as a true Israelite, connecting her to the covenant people and the God of Israel. It emphasizes the transnational reach of God's saving power even among enemies.
• and she served (וַתְּשָׁרֵת - wattəšārēt): From the root שָׁרַת (šārat), meaning "to minister," "to serve." It denotes involuntary servitude, likely domestic slavery, due to her captive status. Her service is a direct consequence of her abduction.
• Naaman’s wife (אֵשֶׁת נַעֲמָן - ʾēšeṯ Naʿamān): Places her firmly within the private household of the key character. This strategic placement is crucial, as it provides her direct access to Naaman’s inner circle and intimate knowledge of his suffering.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Now the Arameans had gone out in raids and had taken captive": This phrase paints a clear picture of violent, premeditated hostile action. It sets the background of Israel-Aram conflict and the method by which the girl came to be enslaved. It underscores the chaos and cruelty of war that disrupts innocent lives.
• "a young girl from the land of Israel": This phrase juxtaposes the aggressors with their vulnerable victim. Her being "young" and "from Israel" emphasizes her vulnerability and the unjust nature of her captivity, but also points to the lineage of God's covenant people.
• "and she served Naaman’s wife": This final phrase places the captive directly into the intimate domestic sphere of her captor’s household, highlighting the ironic twist of providence: her lowest point becomes the highest potential for divine intervention. It demonstrates the profound humility required of her, now a servant to the very family whose nation had harmed her.

2 Kings 5 2 Bonus section

• The unnamed status of the girl emphasizes God's focus on character and purpose rather than human fame or social standing. She is a nameless, insignificant slave in the eyes of the world, but her faith and compassion are monumental in God's eyes.
• Her immediate position within Naaman's inner household highlights a strategic, divinely orchestrated proximity. She wasn't just a captive; she was placed exactly where her testimony could be heard and could have maximum impact. This is often seen as a display of God's intricate providence, utilizing even adverse situations for His glory and others' good.
• The profound irony lies in the fact that a great general of an enemy nation would come to find his healing through the humble word of a young, captive girl from the nation he fought against. This subtly undermines the arrogance of human power and nationalistic pride, paving the way for God's glory to be revealed through humility.

2 Kings 5 2 Commentary

2 Kings 5:2 serves as a pivotal bridge, demonstrating God's sovereign hand at work even in circumstances of human evil and national conflict. It illustrates how even the "insignificant" (a young, unnamed, enslaved girl) can be used by God for extraordinary purposes, serving as an instrument for the powerful general Naaman's encounter with the true God. Her forced relocation from her homeland to a foreign, hostile environment does not sever her connection to God or her capacity to bear witness. This verse sets the stage for God's redemptive work to manifest beyond Israel's borders, through the seemingly lowest of His people. It implicitly showcases that even amidst personal trauma and injustice, God weaves His purpose, allowing suffering to become the pathway for others' healing and revelation.