2 Kings 5:11

KJV

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

KJV (with Strong's)

But Naaman {H5283} was wroth {H7107}, and went away {H3212}, and said {H559}, Behold, I thought {H559}, He will surely {H3318} come out {H3318} to me, and stand {H5975}, and call {H7121} on the name {H8034} of the LORD {H3068} his God {H430}, and strike {H5130} his hand {H3027} over the place {H4725}, and recover {H622} the leper {H6879}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But Na'aman became angry and left, saying, "Here now! I thought for certain that he would come out personally, that he would stand, call on the name of ADONAI his God and wave his hand over the diseased place and thus heal the person with tzara'at.

Berean Standard Bible

But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the spot to cure my leprosy.

American Standard Version

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Jehovah his God, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 5:11 vividly portrays the indignant reaction of Naaman, the esteemed Syrian general, to the prophet Elisha's seemingly simplistic instructions for healing. Afflicted with a severe skin disease, Naaman had arrived in Israel with grand expectations of a dramatic, personalized healing ritual from the prophet of the God of Israel. His deep-seated pride and preconceived notions clashed sharply with Elisha's indirect and humble directive to wash seven times in the Jordan River, leading to a furious outburst that reveals the tension between human logic and divine methodology.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the pivot point in the narrative of Naaman's healing, immediately following Elisha's instruction delivered via messenger in [2 Kings 5:10](/2_kings/5-10 "2 Kings 5:10 - Elisha's Instructions to Naaman"). The preceding verses establish Naaman as a powerful, respected, yet afflicted figure, brought to Israel by the testimony of a young Israelite servant girl ([2 Kings 5:1-3](/2_kings/5-1 "2 Kings 5:1-3 - Naaman's Condition and the Servant Girl's Counsel")). His arrival at Elisha's door was accompanied by a royal letter and a significant retinue, underscoring his status and the gravity of his mission. Elisha's refusal to meet Naaman personally, instead sending a messenger with a mundane command, directly precipitates Naaman's rage in [2 Kings 5:11](/2_kings/5-11 "2 Kings 5:11 - Naaman's Indignant Reaction"), setting the stage for the crucial lesson in humility that follows.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Naaman was a commander of the army of Aram (Syria), a powerful kingdom often at odds with Israel. His high status in a pagan society meant he was accustomed to honor, deference, and perhaps elaborate religious rituals for healing. In the ancient Near East, healing was often associated with direct divine intervention, frequently mediated through prophets or priests who might employ dramatic gestures, incantations, or specific physical actions. Naaman's expectation of Elisha "striking his hand over the place" reflects common practices of the time, where a prophet's personal touch was believed to transfer divine power. The Jordan River, while significant to Israelite history, was geographically modest and culturally less impressive than the grand rivers of Damascus (Abana and Pharpar), further fueling Naaman's disdain as expressed in [2 Kings 5:12](/2_kings/5-12 "2 Kings 5:12 - Naaman's Comparison of Rivers").
* **Key Themes:** The narrative of Naaman profoundly explores several core themes. Foremost is the theme of **Pride vs. Humility**, as Naaman's initial reaction is a direct consequence of his wounded pride and refusal to submit to a seemingly undignified method of healing. This contrasts sharply with the humility required for true faith and obedience. Another key theme is **God's Sovereignty and Unconventional Methods**, demonstrating that God's power is not bound by human expectations, status, or elaborate rituals. He often chooses simple, even counter-intuitive, means to achieve His purposes, challenging human wisdom and self-reliance. Finally, the story highlights the theme of **Obedience as the Path to Blessing**, as Naaman's eventual healing is contingent upon his humble submission to Elisha's instruction, as seen in [2 Kings 5:14](/2_kings/5-14 "2 Kings 5:14 - Naaman's Obedience and Healing"), illustrating that God's grace is received through faith expressed in obedience.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wroth (Hebrew, _ḥārāh'_):** This word signifies intense anger, burning indignation, or fury. It describes a deep-seated emotional response, indicating Naaman's pride was severely wounded. His anger was not merely annoyance but a passionate outburst stemming from shattered expectations and perceived insult.
* **Thought (Hebrew, _ʼāmar'_):** While often translated "said," here it carries the nuance of "I said to myself" or "I reasoned." It reveals Naaman's internal monologue and his preconceived, self-formulated plan for how the healing *should* occur. This highlights his reliance on human logic and custom rather than openness to divine instruction.
* **Strike his hand (Hebrew, _nûp̱_):** This verb, often translated "wave" or "brandish," implies a sweeping or shaking motion. In ancient healing contexts, it could refer to a ritualistic gesture, perhaps a laying on of hands or a dramatic invocation, believed to transfer power or ward off evil. Naaman expected a visible, potent, and personal demonstration of Elisha's prophetic authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But Naaman was wroth, and went away":** This clause immediately establishes Naaman's intense emotional state and his decisive, angry departure. His fury was so great that he turned away from the very solution he had traveled so far to find, indicating a profound offense to his dignity.
* **"and said, Behold, I thought":** Naaman vocalizes his internal reasoning, revealing the precise nature of his disappointment. The interjection "Behold!" emphasizes the certainty and conviction with which he held his expectations, making their shattering all the more impactful.
* **"He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God":** Naaman expected a personal audience with Elisha, acknowledging his high status. He anticipated Elisha would stand reverently, invoking the name of Yahweh with solemnity and power, a public demonstration of divine authority befitting the gravity of the situation.
* **"and strike his hand over the place":** This details the specific ritualistic action Naaman envisioned. He expected a direct, physical intervention from Elisha, a dramatic gesture over his afflicted skin, signifying a direct transfer of healing power.
* **"and recover the leper":** This final phrase expresses the desired outcome, framed within Naaman's prescribed method. He believed this grand, personal, and ritualistic approach was the *only* proper way for his healing to occur, underscoring his controlling and prideful perspective.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as Naaman, a powerful general, expects a grand display, yet God's chosen method is simple and humble, directly contrasting human expectation with divine simplicity. There is a strong **Contrast** between Naaman's pride and the humility required for healing, and between the "great things" Naaman was willing to do versus the "small thing" God required ([2 Kings 5:13](/2_kings/5-13 "2 Kings 5:13 - Naaman's Servants Counsel")). The narrative also uses **Foreshadowing**, as Naaman's initial resistance to God's unconventional methods sets up the dramatic reversal in [2 Kings 5:14](/2_kings/5-14 "2 Kings 5:14 - Naaman's Obedience and Healing"), where his eventual humble obedience leads to miraculous cleansing, preparing the reader for the profound theological lessons that follow.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Naaman's indignant reaction in 2 Kings 5:11 serves as a powerful theological statement about the nature of God and the human response to His grace. It underscores that God's ways are fundamentally distinct from human logic and expectations. He is not beholden to our preferred methods, grand displays, or social hierarchies. Instead, God often chooses to work through simple, humble, and even seemingly foolish means to highlight that salvation and healing are by His power alone, not by human merit or ritualistic performance. This narrative challenges the human tendency to dictate terms to God, emphasizing that true faith requires humble submission to His will, even when it appears counter-intuitive or undignified.

* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways")
* [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Foolish")
* [James 4:6](/james/4-6 "James 4:6 - God Resists the Proud")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Naaman's initial fury in 2 Kings 5:11 offers a timeless mirror for our own hearts. How often do we, like Naaman, approach God with preconceived notions of how He *should* work in our lives, in our churches, or in the world? We might expect dramatic interventions, grand revelations, or methods that align with our intellect, status, or cultural preferences. Yet, God frequently calls us to simple, humble obedience, to trust His wisdom even when His path seems ordinary, undignified, or even illogical. This passage challenges us to examine our pride, our tendency to control, and our resistance to God's often unconventional ways. True spiritual growth and the reception of God's blessings often begin when we lay down our expectations and humbly submit to His instructions, recognizing that His power is made perfect in weakness and His grace flows most freely to the humble heart.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What preconceived notions or expectations do I sometimes bring to my relationship with God or my understanding of how He should work?**
* **In what areas of my life might pride or a desire for control be hindering me from humbly obeying God's simple instructions?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater openness to God's unconventional methods, even when they seem counter-intuitive or undignified to my human logic?**

### FAQ
**Why was Naaman so angry about washing in the Jordan River?**

Answer: Naaman's anger stemmed primarily from wounded pride and shattered expectations. As a powerful and respected general, he anticipated a grand, personalized, and dramatic healing ritual from Elisha, befitting his status. Elisha's refusal to meet him personally, instead sending a messenger with a simple instruction to wash in the Jordan, was perceived as a grave insult. Naaman likely viewed the Jordan as an inferior, muddy river compared to the cleaner, more impressive rivers of his homeland, Damascus ([2 Kings 5:12](/2_kings/5-12 "2 Kings 5:12 - Naaman's Comparison of Rivers")). He expected a display of power and reverence, not a mundane, seemingly undignified dip in a common river. His anger was a reaction to God's chosen method contradicting his human logic and sense of entitlement.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Naaman's story in 2 Kings 5:11, with its emphasis on pride clashing with God's humble methods, profoundly foreshadows the ultimate revelation of God's redemptive plan in Jesus Christ. Just as Naaman expected a grand display but was called to simple obedience, humanity often seeks salvation through elaborate rituals, good works, or impressive self-effort. Yet, God's ultimate healing for sin came through the seemingly scandalous and undignified means of the cross. The King of Glory, Jesus Christ, did not come in earthly splendor but in profound humility, taking on the form of a servant ([Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humility")). His healing ministry often involved simple commands or touches ([Matthew 8:1-4](/matthew/8-1 "Matthew 8:1-4 - Jesus Heals a Leper")), defying the expectations of the religious elite. The "foolishness" of the cross ([1 Corinthians 1:18-25](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18-25 - The Foolishness of the Cross")) is God's chosen method to save those who believe, challenging human pride and wisdom. Like Naaman, we are called not to dictate terms to God, but to humbly trust in the simple, yet infinitely powerful, act of faith in Christ's finished work on the cross, receiving cleansing and new life not by our works, but by His grace alone ([Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Proverbs 13:10

¶ Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised [is] wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:21

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:25

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Hebrews 12:25

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven:

1 Corinthians 3:18

¶ Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

1 Corinthians 3:20

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Proverbs 3:7

¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.