King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Except this, and may ADONAI forgive your servant for it: 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, may ADONAI forgive your servant for this."
Berean Standard Bible:
Yet may the LORD forgive your servant this one thing: When my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my arm, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant in this matter.”
American Standard Version:
In this thing Jehovah pardon thy servant: 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 myself in the house of Rimmon, Jehovah pardon thy servant in this thing.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
In this thing{H1697} the LORD{H3068} pardon{H5545} thy servant{H5650}, that when my master{H113} goeth{H935} into the house{H1004} of Rimmon{H7417} to worship{H7812} there, and he leaneth{H8172} on my hand{H3027}, and I bow{H7812} myself in the house{H1004} of Rimmon{H7417}: when I bow down{H7812} myself in the house{H1004} of Rimmon{H7417}, the LORD{H3068} pardon{H5545} thy servant{H5650} in this thing{H1697}.
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Kings 7:2
- Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, [if] the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see [it] with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
2 Kings 7:17
- And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
2 Kings 17:35
- With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:
1 Kings 19:18
- Yet I have left [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
Exodus 20:5
- Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;
Jeremiah 50:20
- In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and [there shall be] none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.
2 Chronicles 30:18
- For a multitude of the people, [even] many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Kings 5:18
2 Kings 5:18 is part of the narrative concerning Naaman, a Syrian military commander who is healed of leprosy through the prophet Elisha. Naaman, after initially being offended by the simplicity of Elisha's instructions for his healing, obeys and is miraculously cured. Upon his healing, Naaman acknowledges the power of the God of Israel and expresses his intent to worship only Him. However, Naaman also faces a practical dilemma: as an attendant to the King of Syria, he will have to accompany his master into the temple of Rimmon, a pagan god, and participate in acts of worship there.
In this verse, Naaman is asking for forgiveness in advance for an action that he feels is inevitable due to his position. He is aware that bowing in the house of Rimmon could be seen as an act of idolatry, something contrary to the worship of the one true God of Israel who healed him. The historical context reflects the complexities of living out one's faith in a polytheistic society where political allegiances and religious practices are intertwined.
The themes present in this verse include the struggle with idolatry, the tension between personal faith and professional duty, and the grace and understanding that God extends to those who sincerely seek Him. Naaman's request for pardon underscores the universal accessibility of God's mercy, as well as the challenges of maintaining religious integrity in a pluralistic environment. It also highlights the understanding that one's heart and intention are crucial in worship, more so than the outward appearance of bowing down in a pagan temple. Elisha's response in the following verse (2 Kings 5:19) grants Naaman this permission, illustrating the grace extended to those navigating the complexities of serving two masters—their earthly rulers and the divine.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1697
There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּבָר
Transliteration: dâbâr
Pronunciation: daw-baw'
Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H5545
There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָלַח
Transliteration: çâlach
Pronunciation: saw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; to forgive; forgive, pardon, spare. - Strong's Number: H5650
There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶבֶד
Transliteration: ʻebed
Pronunciation: eh'-bed
Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. - Strong's Number: H113
There are 337 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדוֹן
Transliteration: ʼâdôwn
Pronunciation: aw-done'
Description: or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - Strong's Number: H7417
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רִמּוֹן
Transliteration: Rimmôwn
Pronunciation: rim-mone'
Description: or (shorter) (רִמֹּן; or רִמּוֹנוֹ; (1 Chronicles 6:62 (אֶבֶץ)), the same as רִמּוֹן; in Joshua 19:13: הַמְּתֹאָר is mistaken for part of a name; article with the passive participle of תָּאַר; the (one) marked off, i.e. which pertains).; Rimmon, the name of a Syrian deity, also of five places in Palestine; Remmon, Rimmon. - Strong's Number: H7812
There are 166 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁחָה
Transliteration: shâchâh
Pronunciation: shaw-khaw'
Description: a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God); bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. - Strong's Number: H8172
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁעַן
Transliteration: shâʻan
Pronunciation: shaw-an'
Description: a primitive root; to support one's self; lean, lie, rely, rest (on, self), stay. - Strong's Number: H3027
There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָד
Transliteration: yâd
Pronunciation: yawd
Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.