And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

2 KINGS 5:22KJV
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2 Kings 5:22 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 5:22 mean?

2 Kings 5:22 shows Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, lying to Naaman by saying that Elisha has sent him to request a gift of silver and clothing for two visiting prophets. Gehazi invents this story to get valuables from Naaman under false pretenses.

In this verse, Gehazi approaches Naaman after Naaman has been healed of leprosy by Elisha. Gehazi claims that two young men from the group of prophets have just arrived from Mount Ephraim and asks for a talent of silver and two sets of clothes for them. Gehazi’s words are a deception; Elisha did not send him, and there are no visitors. This sets up the following verses, where Gehazi’s dishonesty is exposed.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 5:22

  • The word "well" is שָׁלוֹם (shalom), which means peace, well-being, or all is well. Gehazi uses this word to reassure Naaman that everything is fine, setting up his lie.
  • "Talent" is כִּכָּר (kikkar), a large unit of weight for silver, showing that Gehazi is asking for a significant amount, not a small favor.
  • "Changes of garments" is חֲלִפָּה (chalifah), meaning sets of clothes. In ancient times, clothing was valuable, so Gehazi’s request is for something costly, not just practical.

Why 2 Kings 5:22 matters

  • This verse reveals Gehazi’s willingness to lie and misuse Elisha’s name for personal gain, which is a key turning point in the story.
  • The details about the "sons of the prophets" and the specific request for silver and clothing show how carefully Gehazi crafts his lie to sound believable.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain the seriousness of Gehazi’s actions and why his punishment in the following verses is so severe.

Where else these words appear

“changes” Hebrew H2487 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 45:22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.
  • Judges 14:19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.
  • 2 Kings 5:23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.

“talent” Hebrew H3603 · used in 55 verses

  • Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
  • 2 Samuel 12:30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:4 Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: