2 Kings 5:16

KJV

But he said, [As] the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take [it]; but he refused.

KJV (with Strong's)

But he said {H559}, As the LORD {H3068} liveth {H2416}, before {H6440} whom I stand {H5975}, I will receive {H3947} none. And he urged {H6484} him to take {H3947} it; but he refused {H3985}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But Elisha answered, "As ADONAI lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it." And despite his urging him to take it, he refused.

Berean Standard Bible

But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused.

American Standard Version

But he said, As Jehovah liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 2 Kings 5:16, the prophet Elisha unequivocally declines the substantial gifts offered by Naaman, the Syrian commander, immediately following his miraculous healing from leprosy. This pivotal refusal profoundly underscores Elisha's unwavering integrity and his singular commitment to ensuring that God alone receives all glory for the divine intervention, powerfully demonstrating that God's blessings are not commodities to be bought or sold, but rather expressions of His sovereign, unmerited grace.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the narrative of Naaman's healing, following the dramatic climax of his restoration. Naaman, initially resistant to Elisha's seemingly simplistic instruction to wash seven times in the Jordan, finally obeyed and experienced a complete transformation, his flesh becoming "like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean" ([2 Kings 5:14](/2_kings/5-14 "2 Kings 5:14 - Naaman's Healing")). Overwhelmed by this undeniable miracle, Naaman, accompanied by his entire retinue, returned to Elisha, not only to express profound gratitude but also to declare his newfound faith, acknowledging that "there is no God in all the earth but in Israel" ([2 Kings 5:15](/2_kings/5-15 "2 Kings 5:15 - Naaman's Confession")). His subsequent offer of lavish gifts—silver, gold, and fine clothing—was a customary and deeply ingrained practice in the ancient Near East, serving as an honorarium or expression of profound respect and gratitude for such a life-altering service, especially to one perceived as a powerful intermediary with the divine. Elisha's resolute refusal, therefore, directly challenges this deeply embedded cultural expectation and Naaman's sincere, yet misdirected, gesture of appreciation, setting the stage for a profound theological statement.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient world, it was a widespread custom for individuals receiving significant services, particularly from healers, diviners, or spiritual figures, to offer substantial gifts or payment. This practice was not necessarily viewed as "buying" a miracle, but rather as a respectful honorarium, a demonstration of gratitude, and a means of supporting those who served in a spiritual capacity. Prophets and priests in Israel often received sustenance through offerings and tithes, as outlined in various Old Testament laws and narratives. Naaman, a wealthy and powerful Syrian general, would have brought gifts commensurate with his high status and the immense magnitude of the miracle he had received. Elisha's refusal thus stands in stark contrast to both prevailing cultural norms and even some accepted practices within Israelite society, highlighting a distinctive aspect of his prophetic ministry. Furthermore, this act serves to sharply differentiate the God of Israel from the pagan deities of surrounding nations, whose favor often necessitated elaborate sacrifices, costly rituals, or direct payments to their priests and temples.

* **Key Themes:** Elisha's steadfast refusal illuminates several profound themes. Primarily, it underscores the **sovereignty and absolute freeness of God's grace**. Naaman's healing was an unmerited act of divine power, extended even to a Gentile enemy, unequivocally demonstrating that divine blessings are neither earned nor purchased. Elisha's actions further emphasize the **integrity and selfless nature of authentic prophetic ministry**, asserting that God's servants are merely instruments, not proprietors, of divine power. This stands in stark opposition to the actions of false prophets or those who might exploit spiritual gifts for personal gain, a dangerous temptation warned against in other biblical accounts, such as Simon Magus's attempt to buy spiritual power in [Acts 8:18-20](/acts/8-18 "Acts 8:18-20 - Simon Magus's Attempt to Buy the Holy Spirit"). Moreover, Elisha's refusal serves as a powerful **witness to God's exclusive glory**, ensuring that Naaman's nascent faith is directed solely to the LORD, the true and unpurchasable source of healing, rather than to Elisha himself or to the material gifts. This reinforces Naaman's earlier confession in [2 Kings 5:15](/2_kings/5-15 "2 Kings 5:15 - Naaman's Confession") that "there is no God in all the earth but in Israel."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Yᵉhôvâh (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the sacred, covenantal name of God (H3068), often translated as "LORD" in English Bibles. By swearing "As the LORD liveth," Elisha invokes the very essence of God's self-existence and eternal nature. This oath is not merely a strong affirmation but a profound declaration of Elisha's absolute conviction and the divine authority behind his refusal, placing his decision under the direct witness and sanction of the living God Himself. It emphasizes that his actions are rooted in his relationship with the one true God.
* **ʻâmad (Hebrew, _ʿâmad'_):** Meaning "to stand" (H5975), this word in the phrase "before whom I stand" signifies Elisha's posture as a devoted servant and messenger of the LORD. It implies a constant, conscious awareness of God's immediate presence and supreme authority. This standing is one of service, accountability, and readiness to obey. Elisha's refusal to accept gifts is thus presented not as a personal preference, but as an act of faithful obedience performed in the direct service of the Almighty, ensuring his ministry remains uncompromised and solely focused on God's glory.
* **lâqach (Hebrew, _lâqach'_):** This primitive root verb (H3947) means "to take" or "to receive." In Elisha's emphatic declaration, "I will receive none" (Hebrew: לֹא אֶקָּח, _lōʾ ʾeqqāḥ'_), the strong negative particle (`lōʾ`) preceding `lâqach` conveys an absolute and unyielding refusal. Despite Naaman's persistence and the cultural expectation, Elisha's resolve is firm. This highlights the prophet's unwavering commitment to the principle that God's grace and power are not transactional and cannot be commodified or earned through material offerings, thereby preserving the purity and freeness of the divine miracle.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But he said, [As] the LORD liveth, before whom I stand":** Elisha prefaces his refusal with a solemn, divinely-attested oath. By invoking the living God as his witness and the ultimate authority, he establishes his position as a faithful servant directly accountable to the LORD, not to any human benefactor or earthly reward. This declaration grounds his integrity and the purity of his motives in his divine commission, emphasizing that his actions are a direct outflow of his service to God.
* **"I will receive none.":** This is Elisha's direct, unequivocal, and absolute refusal of Naaman's generous and culturally expected offer. It serves as a powerful statement that decisively separates God's miraculous work from any human attempt to pay for or earn it. The healing was a free gift of divine grace, and Elisha, as God's instrument, would not personally profit from it, thereby safeguarding the integrity and purity of the miracle's divine source.
* **"And he urged him to take [it]; but he refused.":** This concluding clause vividly portrays the dynamic interaction between Naaman's persistent generosity, driven by profound gratitude and cultural custom, and Elisha's steadfast resolve. The repetition of "he refused" (the second instance reinforcing the first) powerfully underscores the prophet's unyielding commitment to his principle, reinforcing the profound theological message that the divine blessing was entirely gratuitous and not subject to any human transaction or recompense.

#### Literary Devices
The passage powerfully employs **Contrast** to highlight Elisha's extraordinary integrity. Naaman, a powerful and wealthy general, offers lavish gifts in accordance with prevailing ancient Near Eastern custom, expecting to appropriately compensate Elisha for the profound miracle. However, Elisha's resolute and repeated refusal stands in stark opposition to this deeply ingrained cultural norm, creating a dramatic tension that powerfully underscores the divine and unpurchasable nature of the healing. The use of a solemn **Oath** ("As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand") lends immense weight, authority, and divine sanction to Elisha's words, elevating his personal decision to a divinely mandated principle. The **Repetition** of Elisha's refusal ("I will receive none... but he refused") serves to emphatically emphasize his unwavering resolve and the absolute nature of his commitment to God's honor. This narrative choice ensures that the reader fully grasps the profound theological implications of Elisha's selfless and principled act.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Elisha's unwavering refusal to accept gifts from Naaman is a profound theological statement, emphasizing that God's grace and miraculous power are utterly free, unmerited, and cannot be earned, bought, or manipulated by human effort or material offerings. This act meticulously safeguards the purity of God's glory, ensuring that Naaman's focus remains solely on the LORD as the true and exclusive source of his healing, rather than on Elisha as an intermediary or on the material transaction. It stands as a powerful testament to the integrity, selflessness, and pure motives required of those who minister on God's behalf, demonstrating that genuine service is motivated by devotion to God and love for others, rather than by personal gain or earthly reward. This principle profoundly foreshadows the New Testament understanding of salvation as a gift of grace, freely given through faith, and sets a timeless precedent for selfless spiritual leadership that prioritizes God's honor above all else.

* [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith")
* [Acts 8:18-20](/acts/8-18-20 "Acts 8:18-20 - Simon Magus's Attempt to Buy the Holy Spirit")
* [1 Peter 5:2](/1_peter/5-2 "1 Peter 5:2 - Shepherd the Flock of God Willingly")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Elisha's radical integrity in 2 Kings 5:16 offers a timeless blueprint for believers in every generation, calling us to a higher standard of selfless service in a world often driven by transactions, personal gain, and the commodification of services. His refusal challenges us to deeply examine our own motives in ministry, work, and relationships: are we seeking personal benefit, recognition, or financial reward, or are we genuinely seeking to glorify God and serve others without expectation of return? Elisha's profound trust in God's provision, rather than Naaman's immense wealth, serves as a powerful reminder to prioritize God's kingdom and righteousness, believing wholeheartedly that He will faithfully supply all our needs. When our actions are clearly and consistently motivated by pure devotion to God and not by the pursuit of earthly riches, our lives become a more authentic, compelling, and unhindered witness to the transformative power of God's grace, effectively drawing others to Him rather than to ourselves.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or ministry might I be tempted to seek personal gain or recognition, rather than prioritizing God's glory alone?**
* **How does Elisha's refusal challenge my understanding of "payment" or "reward" for spiritual service or acts of kindness?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure my actions and motivations consistently point others to God, rather than drawing attention to myself?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper, more consistent trust in God's provision, freeing myself from the need to rely on earthly incentives or human approval?**

### FAQ
**Why did Elisha refuse the gifts when prophets sometimes accepted offerings?**

Answer: Elisha's refusal was a deliberate, highly symbolic act designed to emphasize the absolute freeness of God's grace and to ensure that Naaman's focus remained solely on the LORD as the true source of his miraculous healing. While Old Testament prophets and priests often received offerings for their sustenance (e.g., [Deuteronomy 18:1-5](/deuteronomy/18-1-5 "Deuteronomy 18:1-5 - Portions of the Priests and Levites")), Elisha recognized the unique and critical context here. Naaman was a Gentile commander, and accepting payment could have implied that God's power was for sale, or that Elisha was merely a mercenary healer, akin to pagan diviners. By refusing, Elisha powerfully underscored that the miracle was an act of pure, unmerited grace from the God of Israel, extended freely even to an enemy, thereby maximizing God's glory and Naaman's understanding of true divine power, which cannot be bought or sold.

**What does Elisha's refusal teach us about ministry today?**

Answer: Elisha's refusal teaches us profound and enduring lessons about the purity of motive essential in Christian ministry. It highlights that true service to God should be driven by genuine love, unwavering obedience, and an unyielding desire for God's glory, rather than by personal gain, fame, or material reward. It unequivocally underscores that spiritual blessings, particularly salvation, healing, and the Holy Spirit, are gifts of God's grace and can never be bought or sold. This principle calls ministers and all believers to conduct their service with utmost integrity, radical selflessness, and a clear, unwavering focus on pointing people solely to Christ. It ensures that God alone receives all praise and honor, and it encourages a deep reliance on God's provision as the ultimate source of sustenance, rather than on human generosity, as Jesus taught in [Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Matthew 6:33 - Seek First the Kingdom of God").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Elisha's steadfast refusal of Naaman's gifts in [2 Kings 5:16](/2_kings/5-16 "2 Kings 5:16 - Elisha Refuses Gifts") powerfully foreshadows the ultimate, free, and unmerited gift of salvation offered through Jesus Christ. Just as Naaman's healing was a demonstration of God's gratuitous grace, extended even to a foreign enemy, so too is the redemption of humanity a divine act of love that cannot be earned, purchased, or merited by any human effort. Elisha, as a faithful servant, refused to profit from God's miracle, thereby preserving the purity of God's glory and ensuring the focus remained on the divine giver. In an infinitely greater way, Jesus Christ, the ultimate Prophet, High Priest, and Son of God, gave Himself entirely, not for personal gain, but as the perfect and final sacrifice for sin. His entire ministry was characterized by radical self-emptying and selfless service, as He "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Self-Impoverishment")). The "gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Gift of God is Eternal Life")), freely offered to all who believe, "without money and without price," echoing the prophetic call in [Isaiah 55:1](/isaiah/55-1 "Isaiah 55:1 - Come, Buy Wine and Milk Without Money"). Elisha's integrity and selfless act point to the perfect integrity of Christ, who perfectly embodied selfless service and ensured that all glory for salvation belongs to God alone, humbling Himself even to death on a cross ([Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")).

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

2 Kings 5:26

And he said unto him, Went not mine heart [with thee], when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [Is it] a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

2 Kings 3:14

And Elisha said, [As] the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

2 Kings 5:20

¶ But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, [as] the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

Genesis 14:22

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

Genesis 14:23

That I will not [take] from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that [is] thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

1 Kings 17:1

¶ And Elijah the Tishbite, [who was] of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, [As] the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

Daniel 5:17

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.