2 Kings 5:3

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord [were] with the prophet that [is] in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

And she said {H559} unto her mistress {H1404}, Would {H305} God my lord {H113} were with {H6440} the prophet {H5030} that is in Samaria {H8111}! for {H227} he would recover {H622} him of his leprosy {H6883}.

She said to her mistress, "I wish my lord could go to the prophet in Shomron! He could heal his tzara'at."

She said to her mistress, β€œIf only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”

And she said unto her mistress, Would that my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! then would he recover him of his leprosy.

Commentary

Context of 2 Kings 5:3

This pivotal verse introduces a significant turning point in the story of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, who was afflicted with leprosy, a devastating and incurable disease in ancient times. The speaker is a young Israelite girl, captured during a Syrian raid and now serving as a maid to Naaman's wife. Despite her traumatic circumstances as a captive, she demonstrates remarkable faith and compassion by suggesting a remedy for her master's dire condition. Her statement sets in motion a series of events that will lead Naaman to seek healing from the prophet Elisha in Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Faith in God's Power: The young girl, though a slave in a foreign land, held an unwavering conviction in the power of the God of Israel and His prophet, Elisha. Her simple yet profound declaration reveals a deep trust that transcends her personal suffering and dire circumstances.
  • God Works Through Unexpected Channels: This verse beautifully illustrates God's providence, showing how He can use the most humble and seemingly insignificant individuals to accomplish His divine purposes. A captive servant girl becomes the catalyst for a miracle that impacts a powerful Gentile general, demonstrating that God's reach and concern extend beyond Israel.
  • Divine Healing and Hope: The girl's words introduce the theme of divine healing, offering a glimmer of hope in a hopeless situation. Her confident assertion that the prophet "would recover him of his leprosy" foreshadows the miraculous healing of Naaman, highlighting God's ability to restore and make whole.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Would God" translates a Hebrew idiom expressing a strong, earnest wish or desire. It conveys the girl's heartfelt conviction and not just a casual suggestion. The word "recover" (Hebrew: אָבַף, 'asaph) implies a complete removal or gathering away of the disease, signifying a total cure rather than just an improvement of symptoms.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful lessons for believers today:

  • Witnessing in All Circumstances: The Israelite girl's example encourages us to share our faith and the hope we have in God, even when we are in difficult or uncomfortable environments. Her bold yet humble witness opened the door for a powerful encounter with God.
  • God Uses the Humble: We are reminded that God often chooses the weak, the overlooked, and the unexpected to display His glory, as articulated in 1 Corinthians 1:27. Our status or position does not limit God's ability to work through us.
  • Compassion and Boldness: The girl's compassion for her master, despite his being an enemy, led her to speak boldly about God's power. This challenges us to extend grace and truth to all, regardless of their background or our relationship with them.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 17:12

    And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

  • Luke 17:14

    And when he saw [them], he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

  • Acts 26:29

    And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

  • Numbers 11:29

    And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, [and] that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

  • 2 Kings 5:8

    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.

  • Matthew 8:2

    And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

  • Matthew 8:3

    And Jesus put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
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