2 Kings 5:8 kjv
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.
2 Kings 5:8 nkjv
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, "Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel."
2 Kings 5:8 niv
When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel."
2 Kings 5:8 esv
But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel."
2 Kings 5:8 nlt
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: "Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel."
2 Kings 5 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prophetic Authority & God's Servants: | ||
| Exo 7:1 | "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet." | God empowers His servants with authority. |
| 1 Sam 3:20 | "And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD." | Public recognition of a prophet's authenticity. |
| 1 Kgs 17:1 | "Now Elijah the Tishbite... said to Ahab, 'As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives...'" | Prophet speaks with God's authority. |
| Zech 7:12 | "...made their hearts like flint so that they would not hear the law or the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets." | God's word sent through prophets. |
| Mat 10:41 | "Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward..." | Recognition of prophetic ministry. |
| Luk 4:27 | "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed..." | Elisha's unique power. |
| Tearing Clothes (Distress/Despair): | ||
| Gen 37:34 | "Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth..." | Grieving perceived loss/death. |
| Josh 7:6 | "Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD..." | Grief and despair over defeat. |
| 2 Sam 1:11 | "Then David and all the men with him tore their clothes." | Grieving national loss/death. |
| Isa 37:1 | "When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth..." | Despair and repentance in face of crisis. |
| Acts 14:14 | "But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes..." | Deep distress and strong protest. |
| God's Power and Knowledge (over perceived impossibilities): | ||
| Jer 32:17 | "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." | God's limitless power. |
| Lk 1:37 | "For no word from God will ever fail." | God's word carries power and certainty. |
| Ps 77:19 | "Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters..." | God's sovereign way beyond human comprehension. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding..." | Trust over despair. |
| God Revealing Himself to Outsiders/Gentiles: | ||
| Isa 49:6 | "...I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." | God's universal plan of salvation. |
| Dan 2:47 | "The king said to Daniel, 'Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries...'" | Gentile king acknowledges Israel's God. |
| Jn 4:22 | "You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews." | God revealed through Israel. |
| Acts 10:34-35 | "Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right.'" | God's inclusivity, not limited to Israel. |
| Rom 15:8-12 | "...the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy..." | God's salvation extends to Gentiles. |
| Faith vs. Human Despair: | ||
| Mat 8:26 | "...He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?'" | Rebuke for lack of faith. |
| Mk 9:23 | "‘If you can?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’" | Power of belief. |
| 2 Cor 4:18 | "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen..." | Trust in the unseen reality of God's power. |
| Heb 11:1 | "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." | Definition of faith overcoming despair. |
2 Kings 5 verses
2 Kings 5 8 Meaning
This verse portrays Elisha the prophet, also called "the man of God," responding to King Jehoram of Israel's public display of despair. Upon hearing the king tore his clothes in anguish over Naaman's incurable leprosy, Elisha boldly sent a message asserting his authority derived from God. He challenged the king's despondency and instructed that Naaman be sent to him, not to the king, with the explicit purpose that Naaman – and implicitly, the king and all involved – would know that the God of Israel was still actively working through His prophet in their midst. This intervention showcased Elisha's unwavering faith in God's power to intervene beyond human capacity.
2 Kings 5 8 Context
This verse occurs within the fifth chapter of 2 Kings, which primarily narrates the miraculous healing of Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army. The immediate preceding verses (2 Kgs 5:1-7) establish Naaman as a mighty warrior afflicted with leprosy, who, at the suggestion of an Israelite servant girl, seeks healing from "the prophet in Samaria." He arrives in Israel with a letter from his king (Ben-Hadad of Aram) to the King of Israel (Jehoram), requesting a cure. The King of Israel misinterprets this request as an act of war or a trap, perceiving it as an impossible demand only God could fulfill. In a display of panic and despair, believing he is unable to grant life or death, he tears his clothes. It is at this precise moment of national crisis and the king's utter human helplessness that Elisha, who had been dwelling away from the court, intervenes, demonstrating God's sovereign presence and power over both Israel's king and Aram's general. Historically, this period saw ongoing conflicts between the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Aram, and prophets like Elisha served as key spiritual authorities, sometimes even superseding royal power.
2 Kings 5 8 Word analysis
- When Elisha (אֱלִישָׁע - 'Ělîšāʿ): Meaning "My God is salvation." His very name resonates with the message of this chapter. His swift action contrasts sharply with the king's inaction, highlighting divine intervention over human helplessness. His knowledge of the king's private act of despair indicates supernatural awareness or very prompt reporting.
- the man of God (אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים - 'Κ hā'Ělōhîm): This title signifies Elisha's direct commission and authority from God. It highlights that his words and actions are not his own, but God's. It underlines his spiritual power transcending earthly political power, emphasizing his role as God's representative.
- heard: Implies a precise understanding of the situation and the king's emotional state, possibly through divine revelation given his status as "man of God."
- that the king of Israel (מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל - Meleḵ Yiśrā'ēl): This refers to King Jehoram, son of Ahab. Though a descendant of a notoriously idolatrous line, he removes a Baal pillar but retains the sin of Jeroboam. His reaction reflects a lack of true faith in Yahweh's active power in his kingdom, despite Elisha's previous miracles during his reign. His despair underscores the difference between nominal adherence to God and reliance on His prophets.
- had torn his clothes (קָרַע אֶת-בְּגָדָיו - qāraʿ 'eṯ-bəḡāḏāyw): This was a powerful, commonly understood public gesture of extreme distress, grief, despair, horror, or self-humiliation in the ancient Near East. Here, it denotes the king's complete powerlessness and hopelessness in facing what he perceived as an impossible demand – curing leprosy, which only God could do. It's an expression of human limit reached.
- he sent this message to the king: Elisha initiated contact, demonstrating spiritual authority. The prophet, God's representative, commands the king. This reverses the usual power dynamic, establishing God's kingdom and spiritual authority as superior to the political realm when it comes to divine matters.
- “Why have you torn your clothes? (לָמָּה קָרַעְתָּ בְגָדֶיךָ - lammâ qāra‘tā bəḡāḏeyḵā?): This is a rhetorical question, carrying a mild rebuke. It challenges the king's despair and implied doubt concerning God's active presence in Israel. It points out the king's inappropriate reaction, suggesting that his distress stems from a misunderstanding or forgetting of God's available power through His prophet.
- Send the man to me (יָבֹא־נָא אֵלַי - yāḇō'-nā' ’êlay): A confident command, not a request. Elisha takes control of the situation, directly counteracting the king's despair by providing the divine solution. This statement bypasses the king's authority concerning healing, placing the solution squarely in God's hands through Elisha.
- so he may know (וְיֵדַע - wəyêḏaʿ): The ultimate purpose. This is not just about healing Naaman, but about revealing God's true nature and power. It's a didactic statement meant for Naaman, the king, Israel, and even Aram.
- there is a prophet (כִּי יֵשׁ נָבִיא - kî yēš nāḇî'): Refers to Elisha himself, the channel of God's power and presence. This phrase emphatically asserts that God has a spokesman and active agent in Israel.
- in Israel (בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל - bəyiśrā'ēl): A profound statement affirming God's continued presence and covenant relationship with His people, even when their king struggles with faith or strayed into idolatry. It serves as a spiritual testimony, even a polemic, against the prevalent pagan gods (like Baal in Israel or Aram's gods) by showcasing Yahweh's unmatched power through His servant. This aims to counter any foreign perception that Israel's God is weak or absent.
2 Kings 5 8 Bonus section
This verse subtly introduces a divine "calling card." Elisha's message serves as a spiritual re-orientation, pulling focus away from political negotiations and human capabilities and redirecting it towards God's ability to act in seemingly impossible situations. The phrasing "so he may know there is a prophet in Israel" is not just about Naaman's knowledge, but also about reinforcing the knowledge within Israel itself that Yahweh is indeed present and active among them, a crucial reminder during times of national apostasy and political vulnerability. The very fact that Elisha, the "man of God," is aware of the king's private distress without being physically present underscores God's omniscience and care, even when human leaders doubt Him. It implicitly critiques the king's spiritual understanding and positions God's prophetic representative as the true authority in matters concerning the divine.
2 Kings 5 8 Commentary
2 Kings 5:8 is a pivotal verse in the Naaman narrative, highlighting the dramatic contrast between human impotence and divine potency. King Jehoram's frantic response of tearing his clothes indicates profound despair and a spiritual blindness to God's presence, despite Elisha's well-established prophetic ministry in Israel. Elisha's decisive and calm intervention instantly shifts the narrative from royal helplessness to divine solution. His rebuke, "Why have you torn your clothes?", questions the king's lack of faith and misplaced anxiety, suggesting an availability of power that the king failed to recognize. The command, "Send the man to me," firmly establishes Elisha's authority as God's representative over that of the earthly king. The ultimate aim—"so he may know there is a prophet in Israel"—underscores the verse's polemical purpose: to demonstrate the living God of Israel's supremacy not just to the foreign dignitary Naaman, but also to the faithless king and potentially all of Israel. It serves as a bold affirmation of Yahweh's active presence and power in His chosen land through His chosen servant, even when Israel's leadership flounders. It's a lesson that God's power is always accessible through faith, overriding human limits and political fears.