Bible Encyclopedia: Gehazi

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

GEHAZI

ge-ha'-zi (gechazi, except in 2 Kings 4:31; 2 Kings 5:25; 2 Kings 8:4, 5, where it is gechazi, perhaps "valley of vision"): The confidential servant of Elisha. Various words are used to denote his relation to his master. He is generally called Elisha's "boy" (na`ar), servant or personal attendant; he calls himself (5:25) his master's servant or slave (`ebhedh), and if the reference be to him in 4:43 the Revised Version, margin, he receives the designation "minister" (meshareth), or chief servant of Elisha.

1. His Ready Service:

Mention is made of him on three different occasions. He is first brought under notice in the story of the wealthy Shunammite (2 Kings 4:8-37) who provided in her house special accommodation for Elisha, which suited his simple tastes, and of which he availed himself as often as he passed that way. By command of his master, Gehazi called the Shunammite, that she might be rewarded by the prophet for her liberal hospitality. Failing to elicit from the lady a desire for any particular favor, and being himself at a loss to know how to repay her kindness, Elisha consulted with his servant, whose quick perception enabled him to indicate to his master the gift that would satisfy the great woman's heart. When on the death of her child the Shunammite sought out the man of God at Carmel, and in the intensity of her grief laid hold of the prophet's feet, "Gehazi came near to thrust her away" (2 Kings 4:27)-perhaps not so much from want of sympathy with the woman as from a desire to protect his master from what he considered a rude importunity. Then Elisha, who had discovered of himself (2 Kings 4:27), from what the woman had said (2 Kings 4:28), the cause of her sorrow, directed Gehazi, as a preliminary measure, to go at once to Shunem and lay his staff upon the face of the dead child. Gehazi did so, but the child was "not awaked."

In this narrative Gehazi appears in a favorable light, as a willing, efficient servant, jealous of his master's honor; a man of quick observation, whose advice was worth asking in practical affairs.

2. His Grievous Sin:

Gehazi, however, reveals himself in a different character in connection with the healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:20-27). As soon as the Syrian general had taken his departure with his retinue from the house of Elisha, the covetous spirit of Gehazi, which had been awakened by the sight of the costly presents the prophet had refused, was no longer able to restrain itself. Running after Naaman, Gehazi begged in the prophet's name a talent of silver (400 pounds = USD2,000) and two changes of raiment, alleging, as a specious reason for Elisha's change of mind, the arrival at his master's house of two poor scholars of the prophet, who would require help and maintenance. Naaman, glad to have the opportunity he desired of showing his gratitude to Elisha, urged Gehazi to take two talents and sent two servants with him to carry the money and the garments. When they came to the hill in the neighborhood of the prophet's house, Gehazi dismissed the men and concealed the treasure. Thereafter, with a bold front, as if he had been attending to his ordinary duties, he appeared before his master who at once inquired, "Whence, Gehazi?" (Hebrew). On receiving the ready answer that he had not been anywhere, Elisha, who felt sure that the suspicion he entertained regarding his beloved servant, his very "heart" (2 Kings 5:26), was well grounded, sternly rebuked him for the dishonor he had brought upon God's cause, and called down upon him and his family forever the loathsome disease of the man whose treasures he had obtained by his shameful lie. "And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow."

By this narrative confidence in Gehazi is somewhat unexpectedly and rudely shaken. The active, zealous servant stands confessed a liar and a thief. Gehazi's sin branched out in different directions. By his falsehood he deceived Naaman and misrepresented Elisha; he not only told a lie, but told a lie about another man, and that man his master and friend. Further, he brought true religion into disrepute; for it was not a time (2 Kings 5:26) for a servant of God to allow any commercial idea to be associated with the prophet's work in the mind of the Syrian general to whom God's power had been so strikingly manifested and when many for worldly gain pretended to be prophets. But while Gehazi's sin had ats various ramifications, its one root was covetousness, "the love of money (which) is a root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10).

3. His Probable Repentance:

Once more Gehazi is mentioned (2 Kings 8:1-6) as having been summoned, leper though he was, by King Jehoram to give him an account of all the great things Elisha had done. And when he came to the story of the restoration of the Shunammite's child to life, the woman herself appeared before the king along with her son, craving to be reinstated in her house and land of which she had been dispossessed during her seven years' absence from her native country in a time of famine. Gehazi testified to the identity of both mother and son, with the result that the king at once ordered the restoration not only of all her former possessions, but also of all the profits her land had yielded during her sojourn in Philistia.

The appearance and conduct of Gehazi on this occasion give some ground for the hope that he had repented of his sin and could now be trusted to speak the truth; and the pleasure he seemed to take in rehearsing the wonderful deeds of a master who, though kind and indulgent to a stranger, was hard upon him, may even warrant the belief that in his earlier days there was some good thing in him toward his master's God. If also, as has been indicated above, the word used in 2 Kings 4:43 (meshareth) applies to him-the same as is applied to Elisha (1 Kings 19:21)-we may be the more readily inclined to see in the history of Gehazi how one besetting sin may prevent a man from taking his natural place in the succession of God's prophets. Let us hope, however, that though Gehazi became a "lost leader," "just for a handful of silver," he was yet saved by a true repentance from becoming a lost soul.

James Crichton

Strong's Hebrew

1522. Gechazi -- perhaps "valley of vision," servant of Elisha
... perhaps "valley of vision," servant of Elisha. Transliteration: Gechazi or Gechazi
Phonetic Spelling: (gay-khah-zee') Short Definition: Gehazi. ... Gehazi. ...
/hebrew/1522.htm - 6k

Library

Gehazi
... GEHAZI. BY REV. J. MORGAN GIBBON. ... And he went out from his presence a leper as white
as snow.""2 Kings 5:27. Elisha and Gehazi were master and man. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/gehazi.htm

Elisha Healing the Sick Boy
... Then he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunamite." So he called
her, and she stood before him. Elisha said to Gehazi, "Say ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/elisha healing the sick boy.htm

A Slave Girl who Helped Her Master
... But when he had gone from him a short distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the
man of God, thought to himself, "My master has let this Naaman the Aramean go ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a slave girl who helped.htm

The Shunammite's Boy.
... from his ass, he went up the outside stair to a little chamber on the wall, which
was always ready to receive him, and there he and his servant Gehazi lay down ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/the shunammites boy.htm

Naaman
... Gehazi, Elisha's servant, had had opportunity during the years to develop the
spirit of self-denial characterizing his master's lifework. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 20 naaman.htm

A Miracle Needing Effort
... And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to
Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 26. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a miracle needing effort.htm

Naaman's Imperfect Faith
... 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 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/naamans imperfect faith.htm

A Prophet of Peace
... "And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi
his servant, Behold ... Calling Gehazi, Elisha bade him send the mother to him. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 19 a prophet of.htm

The Shunammite's Son.
... Next we see the mother leaving her dead son, and journeying to find the prophet.
Elisha sees her coming, and sends Gehazi to inquire if all is well. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/the shunammites son.htm

John who was a Torch, Laid Bare and Rebuked the Wanton Ones: they ...
... 6. In thy poverty be brought to nought, the hateful custom of the house of Gehazi;
in thy sanctity be abolished, the abominable custom of the house of Eli; in ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xxi john who was.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Gehazi

valley of sight

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Gehazi

(valley of vision), the servant or boy of Elisha. He was sent as the prophet's messenger on two occasions to the good Shunammite, (2 Kings 4:1) ... (B.C. 889-887); obtained fraudulently money and garments from Naaman, was miraculously smitten with incurable leprosy, and was dismissed from the prophet's service. (2 Kings 5:1) ... Later in the history he is mentioned as being engaged in relating to King Joram all the great things which Elisha had done. (2 Kings 8:4,5)

ATS Bible Dictionary

Gehazi

A confidential attendant of Elisha. He appears in the story of the Shunammite woman, 2 Kings 4:14-37, and in that of Naaman the Syrian, form whom he fraudulently obtained a portion of the present his master had refused. His covetousness and falsehoods were punished by a perpetual leprosy, 2 Kings 5:20-27, B. C. 894. We afterwards find him recounting to king Jehoram the wonderful deeds of Elisha, at the moment when the providence of god brought the woman of Shunem before the king, to claim the restoration of her lands, 2 Kings 8:1-6.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Valley of vision, Elisha's trusted servant (2 Kings 4:31; 5:25; 8:4, 5). He appears in connection with the history of the Shunammite (2 Kings 4:14, 31) and of Naaman the Syrian. On this latter occasion he was guilty of duplicity and dishonesty of conduct, causing Elisha to denounce his crime with righteous sternness, and pass on him the terrible doom that the leprosy of Naaman would cleave to him and his for ever (5:20-27).

He afterwards appeared before king Joram, to whom he recounted the great deeds of his master (2 Kings 8:1-6).

Thesaurus

Gehazi (14 Occurrences)
...GEHAZI. ... By command of his master, Gehazi called the Shunammite, that she might
be rewarded by the prophet for her liberal hospitality. ...
/g/gehazi.htm - 19k

Geha'zi (11 Occurrences)
Geha'zi. Gehazi, Geha'zi. Gehenna . ... 2 Kings 4:12 And he said to Gehazi his servant:
'Call this Shunammite.' And when he had called her, she stood before him ...
/g/geha'zi.htm - 9k

Shunamite (8 Occurrences)
... (WBS). 2 Kings 4:12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunamite. ... 2 Kings
4:36 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunamite. So he called her. ...
/s/shunamite.htm - 8k

Shunammite (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 4:12 He said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite." When he had
called her, she stood before him. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV). ...
/s/shunammite.htm - 10k

Shu'nammite (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 4:12 And he said to Gehazi his servant: 'Call this Shunammite.' And
when he had called her, she stood before him. (See RSV). ...
/s/shu'nammite.htm - 8k

Eli'sha (52 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 5:20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said: 'Behold, my
master hath spared this Naaman the Aramean, in not receiving at his hands that ...
/e/eli'sha.htm - 22k

Na'aman (15 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 5:20 But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Behold, my
master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that ...
/n/na'aman.htm - 10k

Boy's (10 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). 2 Kings 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi, "Tuck your cloak into your
belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If ...
/b/boy's.htm - 9k

Leprosy (51 Occurrences)
... This disease was regarded as an awful punishment from the Lord (2 Kings
5:7; 2 Chronicles 26:20). (see MIRIAM; GEHAZI; UZZIAH.). ...
/l/leprosy.htm - 37k

Naaman (19 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 5:20 But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Behold, my
master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that ...
/n/naaman.htm - 15k

Bible Concordance

Gehazi (14 Occurrences)

2 Kings 4:12 He said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite." When he had called her, she stood before him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 4:14 He said, "What then is to be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Most certainly she has no son, and her husband is old."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 4:25 So she went, and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. It happened, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, "Behold, there is the Shunammite.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 4:27 When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, "Leave her alone; for her soul is troubled within her; and Yahweh has hid it from me, and has not told me."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi, "Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don't greet him; and if anyone greets you, don't answer him again. Then lay my staff on the face of the child."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 4:31 Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Therefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, "The child has not awakened."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 4:36 He called Gehazi, and said, "Call this Shunammite!" So he called her. When she had come in to him, he said, "Take up your son."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 5:20 But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As Yahweh lives, I will run after him, and take something from him."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 5:21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is all well?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 5:23 Naaman said, "Be pleased to take two talents." He urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants; and they carried them before him.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 5:25 But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, "Where did you come from, Gehazi?" He said, "Your servant went nowhere."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 5:27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and to your seed forever." He went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 8:4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, "Please tell me all the great things that Elisha has done."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 8:5 It happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored to life him who was dead, that behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. Gehazi said, "My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Gehazi

Gehazi: Covetousness of, and the Judgment of Leprosy Upon

Gehazi: Mentions to King Jehoram the Miracles of Elisha, his Master

Gehazi: Servant of Elisha

Related Terms

Geha'zi (11 Occurrences)

Shunamite (8 Occurrences)

Shunammite (8 Occurrences)

Shu'nammite (8 Occurrences)

Eli'sha (52 Occurrences)

Na'aman (15 Occurrences)