2 Kings 5:23 kjv
And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
2 Kings 5:23 nkjv
So Naaman said, "Please, take two talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and handed them to two of his servants; and they carried them on ahead of him.
2 Kings 5:23 niv
"By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi.
2 Kings 5:23 esv
And Naaman said, "Be pleased to accept two talents." And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi.
2 Kings 5:23 nlt
"By all means, take twice as much silver," Naaman insisted. He gave him two sets of clothing, tied up the money in two bags, and sent two of his servants to carry the gifts for Gehazi.
2 Kings 5 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 20:17 | “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; ... his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” | Against covetousness, the sin Gehazi committed. |
| Num 12:10 | “...Miriam was leprous, like snow...” | Leprosy as a divine judgment, mirrored in Gehazi's fate. |
| Deut 23:4 | "...they did not meet you with bread and water on the way..." | Importance of hospitality and providing for needs. |
| Prov 12:22 | “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are his delight.” | Gehazi's lie to obtain the gift. |
| Prov 28:22 | “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.” | Greed's potential consequence. |
| Jer 6:13 | “For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain...” | Prophetic condemnation of greed among God's people. |
| Micah 3:11 | "Her heads give judgment for a bribe; her priests teach for money..." | Warning against religious leaders performing service for payment. |
| Matt 6:24 | “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” | Conflict between serving God and materialism, applicable to Gehazi. |
| Matt 10:8 | “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without paying.” | Christ's command for disciples to offer services freely, contrasting Gehazi. |
| Luke 6:38 | “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap...” | Naaman's generous act, though motivated by personal gain for Gehazi. |
| Luke 12:15 | “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” | Direct warning against covetousness. |
| Acts 5:1-11 | "But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds..." | Divine judgment for deception related to money, paralleling Gehazi's outcome. |
| Acts 8:18-24 | “...Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money...” | The sin of simony—attempting to buy spiritual gifts or power. |
| 1 Tim 6:10 | “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” | Directly condemns the love of money which drove Gehazi. |
| Heb 13:5 | “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have...” | Encouragement to be free from covetousness. |
| James 1:15 | “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” | The progression of sin from desire (Gehazi's covetousness). |
| 1 John 2:16 | “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” | Gehazi's "desire of the eyes" (money). |
| Rev 21:8 | “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” | The fate of liars, as Gehazi was. |
| Gen 14:23 | "...not even a thread or a sandal strap, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.'" | Abram's refusal of payment to maintain God's glory, contrasting Gehazi. |
| Phil 4:18 | “I have received full payment, and more; I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.” | Examples of generous giving, acceptable to God. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” | Naaman's cheerfulness in giving, though Gehazi's receipt was ill-gotten. |
2 Kings 5 verses
2 Kings 5 23 Meaning
This verse describes the abundant generosity of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, after his miraculous healing from leprosy. Out of immense gratitude, he insisted on giving Elisha's servant, Gehazi, a gift of two talents of silver and two sets of garments. He doubled what Gehazi, by deception, had requested, personally ensuring the valuables were securely packed in two bags and carried by two of his own servants, emphasizing the substantial nature and secure delivery of the gift. This act highlights Naaman's deep appreciation and perhaps his cultural expectation of paying for such a profound spiritual and physical benefit.
2 Kings 5 23 Context
This verse is pivotal in the narrative of Naaman's healing. Following his miraculous cleansing in the Jordan, Naaman, a high-ranking Syrian, returned to Elisha to offer a substantial gift in gratitude (2 Kings 5:15-16). Elisha adamantly refused any recompense, wishing to demonstrate that God's grace and healing are freely given, not earned or purchased. This refusal, intended to magnify God alone, contrasts sharply with the culture of pagan deity worship which often involved costly offerings. However, Gehazi, Elisha's servant, coveted the rejected wealth. Immediately after Naaman departed, Gehazi pursued him, falsely claiming that Elisha had changed his mind and now needed a talent of silver and two changes of garments for two young prophets who had supposedly just arrived (2 Kings 5:21-22). Verse 23 details Naaman's enthusiastic and trusting response to this deception, demonstrating his overflowing generosity and genuine desire to honor the prophet, completely unaware of Gehazi's deceit. This sets the stage for Gehazi's subsequent concealment of the ill-gotten gains and his confrontation with Elisha, leading to divine judgment in the form of Naaman's leprosy being transferred to him (2 Kings 5:24-27).
2 Kings 5 23 Word analysis
- And Naaman said: Implies immediate and eager response from Naaman, affirming his strong desire to give.
- Be pleased to take: Hebrew: הִוָּאֶל (hivva'el), meaning "be persuaded," "be pleased," or "consent." It's a respectful and earnest plea from Naaman, demonstrating his heartfelt desire to insist upon giving the gift. This is stronger than a simple offer, showing Naaman's urgency and his honor toward Elisha (through his supposed representative, Gehazi).
- two talents: Hebrew: שְׁנֵי כִּכְּרַיִם (shĕney kikkarayim). A "kikkar" (talent) was a massive unit of weight, approximately 75 pounds (34 kg) for silver. Therefore, "two talents of silver" would weigh around 150 pounds (68 kg), an enormous sum of wealth. This detail signifies the extreme generosity of Naaman, far exceeding Gehazi's fabricated request of one talent. It also highlights the weight and bulk of the treasure.
- And he urged him: Hebrew: וַיִּפְרַץ בּוֹ (vayyiphratz bo), meaning "he broke in upon him," "he pressed him hard," or "he strongly insisted." This emphasizes Naaman's zealous desire to give. He was not just giving passively but was persistent, indicating his deep gratitude and possibly cultural obligation to reciprocate for the great benefit received. This intensity also makes Gehazi's deception more cunning, as Naaman genuinely wanted to give.
- and bound: Hebrew: וַיַּצַּר (vayyitsor), meaning "he tied up," "he wrapped up securely," or "he fastened." This action highlights Naaman's care and diligence in preparing the gift, ensuring its security and proper delivery, treating it as precious cargo.
- two talents of silver: Reinforces the specific, valuable nature and the sheer quantity of the gift.
- in two bags: Hebrew: בִּשְׁנֵי חֲרִיטִים (bishney khariytim). Practicality of packing, emphasizing the amount of silver required multiple containers for transport, making the gift tangible and considerable.
- with two changes of garments: Hebrew: וּשְׁתֵּי חֲלִיפוֹת בְּגָדִים (ushetey khaliyphowt begadim), meaning "two fresh sets of clothes." Garments were highly valued in ancient times, often used as currency or signs of status and honor. This also indicates Naaman's going above and beyond Gehazi's request, doubling the amount asked for garments as well.
- and laid them upon two of his servants: Hebrew: וַיָּשֶׂם עַל שְׁנֵי מִנְּעָרָיו (vayyasem 'al shney minne'arav). Demonstrates the weight and bulk of the gifts (requiring two strong men), and also Naaman's commitment to ensuring the gifts reached their destination. Using his own trusted servants also implied security and respectful delivery.
- and they bare them before him: Meaning the servants carried the gifts in Naaman's sight, or ahead of his entourage, ensuring their proper handling until Naaman dismissed them, a sign of oversight and meticulousness on Naaman's part until the very end.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And Naaman said, Be pleased to take two talents.": This initial phrase immediately sets the tone of Naaman's genuine and overwhelming gratitude. His offer to "take two talents" signifies a doubling of Gehazi's fabricated request (one talent), underscoring Naaman's exceptional generosity and the profound impact of his healing, not simply compliance with a request.
- "And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments,": This section emphasizes Naaman's determination and carefulness. "Urged him" ("vayyiphratz bo") conveys forceful persuasion, highlighting his eagerness. The meticulous binding "in two bags" demonstrates the great value placed on the items and Naaman's diligence in securing them. The exact doubling of silver and garments reveals Naaman's desire to give an exceedingly ample gift, far exceeding what Gehazi had deceitfully asked for, making Naaman appear exceedingly grateful and the scale of Gehazi's subsequent theft even larger.
- "and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.": These phrases illustrate the practical execution of the transfer. The need for "two servants" points to the sheer weight and bulk of the precious metals and garments, further highlighting the magnitude of the gift. The fact that Naaman's own trusted servants carried them "before him" (under his direct supervision) ensures the integrity of the delivery, underscoring Naaman's honorable intent and careful management, which sharply contrasts with the deceptive purpose of Gehazi's request.
2 Kings 5 23 Bonus section
- Contrast with Elisha: The narrative pointedly highlights Naaman's fervent desire to give even more than was 'asked,' starkly contrasting with Elisha's principled refusal of any payment, emphasizing that divine healing and power are given by grace, not for profit or material gain.
- Cultural Expectations: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a great service or healing often implied a reciprocal gift or payment. Naaman's actions reflect this expectation, which makes his insistence understandable from his worldview, even as Elisha (and later Gehazi's master) operates from a different spiritual paradigm.
- Ironic Generosity: Naaman, the former idolater, shows himself to be remarkably more generous and honorable in this interaction than Gehazi, the servant of God's prophet. This irony foreshadows Gehazi's judgment, as Naaman’s gift, meant for honor, becomes the instrument of his downfall.
- Gehazi's Exploitation: The "two" of everything in Naaman's doubled gift makes Gehazi's deception even more significant. He initially asked for "a talent of silver and two changes of garments" (5:22), but Naaman's overwhelming desire to show appreciation resulted in Naaman insisting Gehazi take "two talents" and binding "two talents... with two changes of garments." Gehazi exploited this generosity to obtain an even greater ill-gotten gain.
2 Kings 5 23 Commentary
This verse captures Naaman's unrestrained gratitude and adherence to cultural norms of reciprocal giving. Despite Elisha's earlier steadfast refusal to accept anything for God's free healing (2 Ki 5:16), Naaman's generous impulse to honor what he perceived as a divine act (and the prophet behind it) was so strong that he willingly doubled Gehazi's fabricated request. The details—the "two talents of silver" (a princely sum), the "two changes of garments" (items of luxury and status), the binding in "two bags," and requiring "two servants" for transport—all underscore the exceptional value and the gravity with which Naaman extended this offering. This overwhelming generosity, while seemingly virtuous, unwittingly facilitates Gehazi's act of covetousness and deception. The verse, therefore, serves as a poignant setup for Gehazi's sin, highlighting his moral failing against a backdrop of a foreigner's genuine gratitude and generosity, implicitly contrasting Elisha's selfless devotion with Gehazi's greed-driven betrayal of trust. It subtly reminds us that external circumstances or temptations (like Naaman's readiness to give) reveal the internal disposition (Gehazi's covetousness), rather than causing it.