Naaman Is Healed
"Wash and be cleansed"
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Story
What happened?
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The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
Naaman, a powerful army commander from Aram, had leprosy, and a captive Israelite girl told his wife about a prophet in Israel who could heal him. The prophet Elisha sent word for him to wash seven times in the Jordan River, and Naaman went away angry, but his servants persuaded him to try. He dipped himself seven times, his skin became like a little child's, and he declared that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.
Where it is in the Bible: 2 Kings 5:1-19
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Naaman: A powerful army commander from Aram, a country north of Israel. He has a skin disease called leprosy.
- A young girl: An Israelite girl taken captive by Aram's soldiers. She serves Naaman's wife.
- The king of Aram and the king of Israel: Rulers of two countries that are often enemies.
- Elisha: The LORD's prophet in Israel, who took Elijah's place.
- Naaman's servants: His helpers on the journey.
- The LORD: God. LORD in capital letters stands for God's personal name. Jewish readers traditionally don't say it aloud, out of respect.
Setting
- Aram (today's Syria), the palace of Israel's king, Elisha's house, and the Jordan River.
When
- About 2,850 years ago.
Before the Story
Elijah had been taken up to heaven. His spirit rested on Elisha, who did many miracles (2:11, 2:15).
Aram and Israel were enemies. Aram's soldiers sometimes raided Israelite towns and took captives.
Leprosy was dreaded. In the Bible, leprosy means several kinds of serious skin disease. It could spread, and there was no cure.
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A great man with a problem | 5:1-4 | A captive girl tells of a prophet in Israel |
| 2. A letter to the king | 5:5-8 | Israel's king panics, and Elisha sends for Naaman |
| 3. "Wash seven times" | 5:9-12 | Naaman storms off in anger |
| 4. Like a little child | 5:13-14 | Naaman washes and is healed |
| 5. "No God except in Israel" | 5:15-19 | Naaman comes back to praise God |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 5A Great Man With a Problem
Naaman was the commander of the army of Aram. He was a great man, honored by his king, and a mighty warrior.
"But he was a leper" (5:1).
Soldiers from Aram had captured a young girl from Israel. Now she was a servant for Naaman's wife.
She said to her mistress, "If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy" (5:3).
Scene 2 of 5A Letter to the King
The king of Aram sent Naaman to Israel with a letter and a huge gift of silver, gold, and fine clothes.
The letter said, "Cure my servant Naaman of his leprosy."
When Israel's king read it, he tore his clothes in panic. "Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a leper?" (5:7). He thought Aram was trying to start a fight.
The prophet Elisha heard about it. He sent the king a message: let Naaman come to me, "and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel" (5:8).
Scene 3 of 5"Wash Seven Times"
So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at Elisha's door.
Elisha didn't even come out. He sent a messenger.
"Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean" (5:10).
Naaman was furious. He expected the prophet to come out, call on God, and wave his hand over the spot.
And the Jordan? The rivers back home were better than that muddy river!
"So he turned and went away in a rage" (5:12).
Scene 4 of 5Like a Little Child
Naaman's servants came to him.
"My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'?" (5:13).
So Naaman went down to the Jordan. He dipped himself in the water seven times, just as the man of God said.
"And his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean" (5:14).
Scene 5 of 5"No God Except in Israel"
Naaman went back to Elisha.
"Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel" (5:15).
He offered Elisha a gift. But Elisha refused. God's healing was free.
Naaman promised he would never again worship any god but the LORD.
"Go in peace," said Elisha (5:19).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "But he was a leper" (5:1) | Even a great man had a problem he couldn't fix. |
| "If only my master would go to the prophet" (5:3) | A captive girl cared about her master and knew where help was. |
| "Am I God, killing and giving life" (5:7) | Only God can heal. |
| "He turned and went away in a rage" (5:12) | Naaman's pride almost stopped him from being healed. |
| "Wash and be cleansed" (5:13) | God's cure was simple. Naaman just had to trust it. |
| "Like that of a little child" (5:14) | God gave Naaman a brand-new start. |
| "There is no God in all the earth except in Israel" (5:15) | A foreign general came to know the true God. |
Back Then
Naaman's gift was enormous. Ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold was a fortune, enough to buy a city.
Naaman took home Israelite soil. He wanted to worship the LORD on it back in Aram (5:17). People then often thought gods belonged to the land.
Jesus mentioned Naaman. He said there were many lepers in Israel, but only Naaman the Syrian was healed (Luke 4:27).
Literal Reader Alert
Was the Jordan River magic? No. It was God's promise, attached to the washing, that healed Naaman. He had to trust God's word.
Why didn't Elisha come out? Maybe to show that the healing came from God, not from the prophet. Naaman needed to trust God's word, not a show.
What about the girl? She had been taken from her home. Still, she wanted her master to be healed. Her kindness started everything.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The girl | Hopeful | She knew God's prophet could help (5:3) |
| Israel's king | Panicked | He couldn't heal anyone (5:7) |
| Naaman | Furious | Elisha didn't do it his way (5:11-12) |
| Naaman | Amazed | His skin was like a child's (5:14-15) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What does this story say to you? Tap one.
Pride
Naaman almost walked away. Sometimes we need to let God do it his way.
Feeling small
A servant girl and some servants made all the difference.
A fresh start
God made Naaman's skin like a child's. He makes people new.
I'm an outsider
Naaman was a foreigner and an enemy. God healed him.
You Might Have Heard
"Something that simple can't really make a difference."
What's true: Some things in life take hard work.
What the story is mainly about: Naaman expected something impressive. God told him to wash in a river. The healing came through a simple washing, joined to God's word. Naaman just had to trust.
Where Jesus is: In baptism, God uses simple water joined to his word. Like Naaman, we come out washed clean and made new. Jesus also healed lepers with a touch and a word (Mark 1:41).
Good News
Naaman couldn't heal himself. God healed him for free, through simple water and a promise.
"His flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean" (5:14).
God still washes people clean. In baptism, water and God's word give forgiveness and a new start, as a free gift.
God healed proud Naaman through a simple washing in the Jordan. God's gifts are free, and he makes people new.
Big Idea
A captive girl pointed proud Naaman to God's prophet. He washed in the Jordan, as God said, and was made clean. God's gifts are free.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
In the Small Catechism, Luther wrote that baptism is not just plain water. It is water joined with God's word. He often pointed to Naaman: the Jordan's water healed because God's word was with it.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year B, it reads 2 Kings 5:1-14 on the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, next to Jesus healing a man with leprosy. In Year C, it reads part of 2 Kings 5 in October (Lectionary 28), next to Jesus healing ten lepers.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany Year BFirst reading, 2 Kings 5:1–14
- Lectionary 28 Year CFirst reading, 2 Kings 5:1–3, 7–15c
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Naaman Is Healed, explained in plain words. A proud general is told to wash in a muddy river. He almost walks away. About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/naaman-is-healed/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church