2 Kings 5:9 kjv
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
2 Kings 5:9 nkjv
Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house.
2 Kings 5:9 niv
So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house.
2 Kings 5:9 esv
So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house.
2 Kings 5:9 nlt
So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha's house.
2 Kings 5 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 13:45-46 | "The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes..." | Law regarding leprosy: a state of defilement. |
| Num 12:10-15 | Miriam's leprosy and Moses' intercession for her healing. | Divine judgment and the power of prayer. |
| Deut 17:16 | "Only he must not acquire many horses for himself..." | Kings warned against relying on military might. |
| Ps 20:7 | "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name..." | Human reliance vs. trust in God. |
| Ps 33:17 | "A horse is a vain hope for victory; despite its great strength..." | Earthly power's inadequacy for salvation. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." | A core warning relevant to Naaman's initial state. |
| Isa 31:1 | "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses..." | Rebuke for trusting in worldly strength. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways..." | God's unexpected methods transcend human logic. |
| Jer 17:5 | "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength..." | Warning against trusting in human ability. |
| Zeph 3:11-12 | "I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones... humiliate..." | God opposes the proud, lifts the humble. |
| Mt 8:1-4 | Jesus cleanses a leper through direct touch and word. | Christ's authority over sickness and sin. |
| Lk 5:12-16 | Another account of Jesus healing a leper. | Divine compassion and miraculous healing. |
| Lk 17:11-19 | Jesus heals ten lepers; only the Samaritan returns. | Healing beyond Israel; a foreigner's gratitude. |
| Rom 1:21-23 | "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him..." | Human pride leading to spiritual blindness. |
| Phil 2:6-8 | Christ humbling Himself, taking the form of a servant. | Ultimate example of divine humility. |
| Col 2:8 | "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit..." | Warning against human systems over divine truth. |
| Jas 4:6 | "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." | Foundational principle of God's character. |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | "Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes...'" | Exhortation to humility and reliance on God. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance..." | God values the heart over outward display. |
| Job 40:9-14 | God's challenge to Job on his own power vs. God's glory. | Humbling human pride before divine majesty. |
| Ps 147:10 | "His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor His pleasure..." | God delights not in physical might, but true piety. |
| Lk 18:14 | "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." | Summary of the principle Naaman experienced. |
| Mk 10:15 | "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God..." | The need for child-like humility for salvation. |
2 Kings 5 verses
2 Kings 5 9 Meaning
Naaman, a distinguished Aramean military general afflicted with leprosy, arrived at the humble dwelling of Elisha, the prophet of God, accompanied by an elaborate display of his personal wealth and national military power in the form of horses and chariots. Despite his immense status, he was compelled to wait outside, at the very door of Elisha's house. This scene dramatically contrasts human pride and earthly grandeur with the unassuming nature of divine power, initiating Naaman's journey towards humility and salvation through God's appointed prophet.
2 Kings 5 9 Context
Chapter 5 of 2 Kings introduces Naaman, a prominent Aramean commander, celebrated for his victories but plagued by leprosy. His Israelite captive servant girl suggests seeking out Elisha, the prophet in Samaria, to be cured. Empowered by the King of Aram and bearing lavish gifts and a royal letter, Naaman first presents himself to the King of Israel, who, feeling helpless, misinterprets the visit as a hostile provocation. Elisha intervenes, instructing the king to send Naaman to him, declaring, "that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel." This sets the immediate stage for verse 9, where Naaman's impressive entourage arrives, emphasizing the sharp contrast between his worldly power and Elisha's spiritual authority. Naaman's grand arrival at the door of the humble prophet's house immediately highlights the cultural clash and his need for divine intervention on God's terms.
2 Kings 5 9 Word analysis
- "So Naaman came" (וַיָּבֹא נַעֲמָן - vayyavo' Na'aman):
- וַיָּבֹא (vayyavo'): "And he came," a simple verb contrasting sharply with the immense fanfare accompanying Naaman. It describes a mere physical arrival, rather than a triumphant entrance, foreshadowing Naaman's later humbling.
- נַעֲמָן (Na'aman): Meaning "pleasantness" or "agreeableness," ironic given his repulsive disease of leprosy. His arrival signifies a desperate quest for healing, initiated not by political decree, but by a humble Israelite slave girl's testimony.
- "with his horses and chariots" (בְּסוּסוֹ וּבְרִכְבּוֹ - b'suso uv'rikbo):
- סוּסוֹ (suso): "His horse/horses," denoting cavalry, an essential component of ancient armies and a significant indicator of wealth and military strength. In a time before mechanized warfare, warhorses were symbols of prestige, speed, and royal authority.
- רִכְבּוֹ (rikbo): "His chariot/chariots," representing advanced military technology, strategic mobility, and elite status. For a general to travel with such a retinue was a demonstration of immense power and state-level backing. This ostentatious display underscores Naaman's worldly perspective, relying on visible grandeur and expected ceremonial protocol. It implicitly sets up a polemic against reliance on human power (Ps 20:7, Isa 31:1), which God consistently devalues.
- "and stood" (וַיַּעֲמֹד - vayya'amod):
- This verb implies stopping and taking a posture of waiting. It's a critical detail because, despite his high status and grand display, Naaman is not immediately welcomed in or served. He is forced to pause, literally standing still, in a position of humble anticipation and dependence, rather than command. This act signifies the beginning of his required humbling process.
- "at the door of Elisha's house" (פֶּתַח בֵּית אֱלִישָׁע - petach Beit Elisha'):
- פֶּתַח (petach): "Opening, door, entrance." Being at the door signifies external presence, not immediate internal access or acceptance. It's a liminal space, indicating a boundary that Naaman cannot simply cross with his worldly authority. He is outside the domain of divine working, awaiting entry and instruction.
- בֵּית אֱלִישָׁע (Beit Elisha'): "House of Elisha." This implies a relatively humble, unadorned dwelling, typical of a prophet in Israel. It stands in stark contrast to Naaman's opulent military procession, highlighting the disjunction between the powerful world leader and the seemingly inconspicuous prophet of God. This disparity underscores that God's power is manifest not through human pomp, but through His humble chosen vessels and His own sovereign will.
2 Kings 5 9 Bonus section
- Symbolic Contrast: The imagery of Naaman's "horses and chariots" standing at the simple "door of Elisha's house" is a powerful symbolic contrast. It highlights the biblical theme of God's preference for humility and spirit over worldly might and physical display.
- The Power of Proximity: Being "at the door" indicates proximity to potential healing but also a barrier. Naaman is close but not yet embraced; he must yield to God's terms to truly enter and receive.
- Divine Sovereignty: The narrative subtly reinforces God's sovereignty even over a powerful pagan nation like Aram and its high-ranking general. Naaman's journey begins not from a direct command from God but from the unlikely testimony of an unnamed, captive servant girl (2 Kgs 5:2-3), demonstrating God's ability to use humble means to achieve His purposes.
2 Kings 5 9 Commentary
2 Kings 5:9 encapsulates the central tension of the Naaman narrative: the confrontation between the overwhelming display of human wealth and military power embodied by Naaman's grand arrival, and the unpretentious, singular authority of God residing within the simple house of His prophet Elisha. Naaman, a commander accustomed to command and deference, finds himself compelled to wait, exposed at the threshold, an act that subtly yet profoundly initiates his journey from pride to humility. His expectations of a grand, perhaps ritualistic, healing performed by Elisha himself, would soon be shattered. This scene establishes Naaman’s need to shed his reliance on status and human conventions, setting the stage for God's demonstration that divine power works not through outward show but through simple, often unexpected, obedience.