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.

And it was so, when Elisha {H477} the man {H376} of God {H430} had heard {H8085} that the king {H4428} of Israel {H3478} had rent {H7167} his clothes {H899}, that he sent {H7971} to the king {H4428}, saying {H559}, Wherefore hast thou rent {H7167} thy clothes {H899}? let him come {H935} now to me, and he shall know {H3045} that there is {H3426} a prophet {H5030} in Israel {H3478}.

But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Isra'el had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: "Why did you tear your clothes? Just have him come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Isra'el."

Now when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: โ€œWhy have you torn your clothes? Please let the man come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.โ€

And it was so, when Elisha the man of God 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.

Commentary

Context of 2 Kings 5:8

Second Kings chapter 5 introduces Naaman, a powerful Syrian army commander afflicted with leprosy. A young Israelite captive girl suggests to Naaman's wife that a prophet in Samaria could heal him. Naaman travels to Israel with a letter from the King of Syria to the King of Israel. Upon reading the letter, the King of Israel (likely Joram) tears his clothes in despair, believing the Syrian king is trying to provoke a conflict, as he sees himself powerless to cure leprosy (2 Kings 5:7). It is at this moment of royal helplessness and public distress that Elisha, the man of God, intervenes.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Authority Over Human Helplessness: The verse sharply contrasts the king's utter despair and perceived inability to help Naaman with Elisha's calm confidence. The king's tearing of clothes signifies profound distress, a common ancient Near Eastern custom. Elisha's message, "Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel," powerfully asserts God's active presence and ability to work through His chosen servant, even when human solutions fail.
  • Revelation of God's Presence: Elisha's primary concern isn't just Naaman's healing, but that both Naaman and the King of Israel understand that the true God is at work in Israel through His prophet. This event serves as a demonstration of God's sovereign power and His distinction from the false gods of Syria.
  • Faith and Obedience: While the healing itself occurs later in the chapter (2 Kings 5:14), Elisha's invitation sets the stage for Naaman's journey of faith and obedience, which ultimately leads to his physical and spiritual restoration.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "rent his clothes" (Hebrew: qara' et-begadav - ืงึธืจึทืข ืึถืชึพื‘ึฐึผื’ึธื“ึธื™ื•) is a significant biblical gesture. It symbolizes extreme grief, distress, horror, or indignation. In this context, it highlights the king's profound sense of powerlessness and fear when confronted with a problem beyond his human capability, especially given the political implications of the Syrian king's request. Elisha's response directly addresses this despair, pointing to a divine solution. The term "prophet" (Hebrew: navi - ื ึธื‘ึดื™ื) signifies one who speaks for God, emphasizing that Elisha's authority derived directly from the Lord.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for contemporary life. When faced with seemingly insurmountable problems or moments of despair, like the King of Israel, our natural inclination might be to feel helpless. However, Elisha's response reminds us that God is still active and capable of intervening in our situations. It encourages us to:

  • Turn to God in Crisis: Instead of succumbing to despair, seek God's divine intervention, recognizing that His power far exceeds human limitations.
  • Trust God's Messengers: God often works through His appointed servants or through the wisdom found in His Word (2 Timothy 3:16).
  • Acknowledge God's Presence: Our challenges can be opportunities for God to reveal Himself, not just to us, but to those around us, demonstrating that "there is a prophet in Israel"โ€”that God is indeed present and active in the world.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.

  • Romans 11:13

    For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

  • Hosea 12:13

    And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

  • 2 Kings 5:15

    ยถ And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that [there is] no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

  • 1 Kings 18:36

    And it came to pass at [the time of] the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou [art] God in Israel, and [that] I [am] thy servant, and [that] I have done all these things at thy word.

  • 1 Kings 18:37

    Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou [art] the LORD God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart back again.

  • 2 Samuel 3:31

    And David said to Joab, and to all the people that [were] with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David [himself] followed the bier.
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