Bible Encyclopedia: Naaman

Jump to: Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

NAAMAN

na'-a-man (na`aman, "pleasantness"; Septuagint; Codices Vaticanus and Alexandrinus Naiman; so Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek in the New Testament; Textus Receptus of the New Testament, Neeman):

(1) A successful Syrian general, high in the confidence and esteem of the king of Syria, and honored by his fellow-countrymen as their deliverer (2 Kings 5:1-27). Afflicted with leprosy, he heard from a Hebrew slave-maid in his household of the wonder-working powers of an Israelite prophet. Sent by his master with a letter couched in somewhat peremptory terms to the king of Israel, he came to Samaria for healing. The king of Israel was filled with suspicion and alarm by the demands of the letter, and rent his clothes; but Elisha the prophet intervened, and sent word to Naaman that he must bathe himself seven times in the Jordan. He at first haughtily resented the humiliation and declined the cure; but on the remonstrance of his attendants he yielded and obtained cleansing. At once he returned to Samaria, testified his gratitude by the offer of large gifts to the prophet, confessed his faith in Elisha's God, and sought leave to take home with him enough of the soil of Canaan for the erection of an altar to Yahweh.

The narrative is throughout consistent and natural, admirably and accurately depicting the condition of the two kingdoms at the time. The character of Naaman is at once attractive and manly. His impulsive patriotic preference for the streams of his own land does not lessen the reader's esteem for him, and the favorable impression is deepened by his hearty gratitude and kindness.

The Israelite king is most probably Jehoram, son of Ahab, and the Syrian monarch Ben-hadad II. Josephus (Ant., VIII, xv, 5) identifies Naaman with the man who drew his bow at a venture, and gave Ahab his death wound (1 Kings 22:34). There is one reference to Naaman in the New Testament. In Luke 4:27, Jesus, rebuking Jewish exclusiveness, mentions "Naaman the Syrian."

(2) A son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21, 6). Fuller and more precise is the description of Numbers 26:38, 40, where he is said to be a son of Bela and grandson of Benjamin (see also 1 Chronicles 8:3).

John A. Lees

Greek

3497. Neeman -- Naaman.
... Naaman. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Neeman Phonetic
Spelling: (neh-eh-man') Short Definition: Naaman Definition: Naaman. ... Naaman. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3497.htm - 6k

3483b. Naiman -- Naaman, a Syrian
... Naaman, a Syrian. Transliteration: Naiman Short Definition: Naaman. Word Origin
of Hebrew origin Naaman Definition Naaman, a Syrian NASB Word Usage Naaman (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3483b.htm - 5k

Strong's Hebrew

5283. Naaman -- a descendant of Benjamin, also an Aramean (Syrian) ...
... Naaman. 5284 . a descendant of Benjamin, also an Aramean (Syrian) general.
Transliteration: Naaman Phonetic Spelling: (nah-am-awn') Short Definition: Naaman. ...
/hebrew/5283.htm - 6k

5282. naaman -- pleasantness
... 5281, 5282. naaman. 5283 . pleasantness. Transliteration: naaman Phonetic Spelling:
(nah-am-awn') Short Definition: delightful. ... 5281, 5282. naaman. 5283 ...
/hebrew/5282.htm - 6k

5280. Naami -- descendant of Naaman
... Naami. 5281 . descendant of Naaman. Transliteration: Naami Phonetic Spelling:
(nah-am-ee') Short Definition: Naamites. Word Origin from Naaman Definition desc ...
/hebrew/5280.htm - 6k

Library

Naaman
... Prophets of the Northern Kingdom Chapter 20 Naaman. [This chapter is based
on 2 Kings ] "Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 20 naaman.htm

Naaman's Wrath
... THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS NAAMAN'S WRATH. ... But Naaman was wroth, and went away.'"2 Kings
5:10,11. These two figures are significant of much beyond themselves. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/naamans wrath.htm

Naaman's Imperfect Faith
... THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS NAAMAN'S IMPERFECT FAITH. ... And Naaman said, Shall there not
then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/naamans imperfect faith.htm

Naaman the Syrian and the Jordan. No Other Stream Has the Same ...
... 28. Naaman the Syrian and the Jordan. ... It is recorded of Naaman [4943] that he came
with horse and chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/28 naaman the syrian and.htm

Naaman. 2Ki 5:14
... II KINGS Hymn 38 NAAMAN. 2Ki 5:14. John Newton 6,6,6,6,8,8. NAAMAN. 2Ki 5:14. Before
Elisha's gate. The Syrian leper stood; But could not brook to wait,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 38 naaman 2ki 5 14.htm

Naaman Cured.
... NAAMAN CURED. There is no Scripture story better known than that of Naaman,
the Syrian. It is memorable not only because artistically ...
//christianbookshelf.org/dods/how to become like christ/naaman cured.htm

Naaman the Syrian
... III NAAMAN THE SYRIAN. I wish to call your attention ... skins with him." Now you
cannot have a better type of a sinner than Naaman was. I don't ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/iii naaman the syrian.htm

A Slave Girl who Helped Her Master
... Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a man who was beloved
by his master and was held in high honor, for through him Jehovah had given ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a slave girl who helped.htm

The Little Captive Maid.
... Naaman was a great general in the army of the King of Syria, who esteemed him highly,
because it was Naaman that led the Syrians when God gave them victory ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/the little captive maid.htm

A Little Maid of Israel.
... One little girl who was carried off by the Syrians became a slave in the house of
a Syrian general called Naaman, and was a maid to Naaman's wife. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxix a little maid.htm

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Naaman

(pleasantness).

"Naaman the Syrian." (Luke 4:27) Naaman was commander-in-chief of the army of Syria, and was nearest to the person of the king, Ben-hadad II., whom he accompanied officially and supported when he went to worship in the temple of Rimmon, (2 Kings 5:18) at Damascus, the capital. (B.C. 885.) A Jewish tradition at least as old as the time of Josephus, and which may very well be a genuine one identifies him with the archer whose arrow, whether at random or not, struck Ahab with his mortal wound, and thus "gave deliverance to Syria." The expression in (2 Kings 5:1) is remarkable --"because that by him Jehovah had given deliverance to Syria." The most natural explanation perhaps is that Naaman in delivering his country, had killed one who was the enemy of Jehovah not less than he was of Syria. Whatever the particular exploit referred to was, it had given Naaman a great position at the court of Ben-hadad. Naaman was afflicted with a leprosy of the white kind which had hitherto defied cure. A little Israelitish captive maiden tells him of the fame and skill of Elisha, and he is cured by him by following his simple directions to bathe in the Jordan seven times. See (2 Kings 5:14) His first business after his cure is to thank his benefactor and gratefully acknowledge the power of the God of Israel, and promise "henceforth to offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord." How long Naaman lived to continue a worshipper of Jehovah while assisting officially at the worship of Rimmon we are not told; ("but his memory is perpetuated by a leper hospital which occupies the traditional site of his house in Damascus, on the banks of the Abana." --Schaff.)
One of the family of Benjamin who came down to Egypt with Jacob as read in (Genesis 46:21) He was the son of Bela, and head of the family of the Naamites. (Numbers 26:40; 1 Chronicles 8:3,4) (B.C. 1706.)

ATS Bible Dictionary

Naaman

The highly esteemed general of Ben-hadad, king of Damascene Syria in the time of Joram king of Israel. He was afflicted with the leprosy; but was miraculously cured, on washing seven times in the Jordam, Le 14:7, according to the direction of Elisha, 2 Kings 5:1 27; Luke 4:27. He had found all his honor and power valueless, and all physicians of no avail for his cure; was led to renounce his pride, and avail himself of the simple remedy prescribed; and being cured, was grateful not only to the prophet, but to the prophet's God. He frankly yielded other evidence which probed that Jehovah was the living and true God; and took home with him two mule-loads of earth, for an altar to the Lord, Exodus 20:24. With respect to his attending Ben-hadad while in the temple of Rimmon, the prophet gave him no precise rule; discerning, we may suppose, a growing fear and love of God which would preserve him from all even outward homage to the idol.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Pleasantness, a Syrian, the commander of the armies of Benhadad II. in the time of Joram, king of Israel. He was afflicted with leprosy; and when the little Hebrew slave-girl that waited on his wife told her of a prophet in Samaria who could cure her master, he obtained a letter from Benhadad and proceeded with it to Joram. The king of Israel suspected in this some evil design against him, and rent his clothes. Elisha the prophet hearing of this, sent for Naaman, and the strange interview which took place is recorded in 2 Kings 5. The narrative contains all that is known of the Syrian commander. He was cured of his leprosy by dipping himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of Elisha. His cure is alluded to by our Lord (Luke 4:27).

Thesaurus

Naaman (19 Occurrences)
... Elisha the prophet hearing of this, sent for Naaman, and the strange interview which
took place is recorded in 2 Kings 5. The narrative contains all that is ...
/n/naaman.htm - 15k

Naaman's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Naaman's (1 Occurrence). 2 Kings 5:2 The Syrians
had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out ...
/n/naaman's.htm - 6k

Na'aman (15 Occurrences)
Na'aman. Naaman, Na'aman. Naaman's . ... Genesis 46:21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela,
Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. (See RSV). ...
/n/na'aman.htm - 10k

Ard (2 Occurrences)
... Numbers 26:38-40 mentions five sons of Benjamin, together with Ard and Naaman, the
sons of Bela, Benjamin's oldest son, counting all seven as ancestors of ...
/a/ard.htm - 8k

Gehazi (14 Occurrences)
... 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. ...
/g/gehazi.htm - 19k

Bela (14 Occurrences)
... 8:1). He was the head of the family of the Belaites (Numbers 26:38), the father
of Addar (called Ard, Numbers 26:40), Gera, Abihud, Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, Gera ...
/b/bela.htm - 13k

Naamite (1 Occurrence)
... NAAMITE. na'-a-mit (ha-na`ami, "the Naamite"): A family which traced its descent
from Naaman (Numbers 26:40). See NAAMAN, (2). Multi-Version Concordance ...
/n/naamite.htm - 7k

Geha'zi (11 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 ...
/g/geha'zi.htm - 9k

Leper (34 Occurrences)
... or remedy; and Jehoram's ejaculation implies the belief that its cure could be
accomplished only by miracle (2 Kings 5:7). The case of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1 ...
/l/leper.htm - 28k

Na'aman's (1 Occurrence)
Na'aman's. Naaman's, Na'aman's. Naamathite . Multi-Version Concordance Na'aman's
(1 Occurrence). ... (See RSV). Naaman's, Na'aman's. Naamathite . Reference ...
/n/na'aman's.htm - 6k

Bible Concordance

Naaman (19 Occurrences)

Luke 4:27 There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Genesis 46:21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Numbers 26:40 The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 5:2 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman's wife.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 5:4 Someone went in, and told his lord, saying, "The maiden who is from the land of Israel said this."
(See NAS NIV)

2 Kings 5:5 The king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 5:6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, "Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 5:9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 5:11 But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, "Behold, I thought,'He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.'
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 5:16 But he said, "As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." He urged him to take it; but he refused.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 5:17 Naaman said, "If not, then, please let there be given to your servant two mules' burden of earth; for your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Kings 5:19 He said to him, "Go in peace." So he departed from him a little way.
(See 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.
(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.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 8:4 and Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 8:7 and Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera, he carried them captive: and he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Naaman

Naaman: A Syrian General, Healed of Leprosy by Elisha

Naaman: Son of Bela

Naaman: Son of Benjamin

Naaman: Son of Ehud

Select Readings: Naaman the Leper

Related Terms

Naaman's (1 Occurrence)

Na'aman (15 Occurrences)

Ard (2 Occurrences)

Gehazi (14 Occurrences)