And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

2 KINGS 5:26KJV
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2 Kings 5:26 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 5:26 mean?

2 Kings 5:26 records Elisha confronting his servant Gehazi, revealing that he knew Gehazi had secretly taken gifts from Naaman. Elisha questions whether it was appropriate to accept money, clothes, and other goods at that moment, implying that Gehazi’s actions were wrong and done in secret.

Elisha is speaking to Gehazi after Naaman, a foreign commander, had been healed of leprosy and had offered gifts, which Elisha refused. Gehazi went after Naaman to take gifts for himself, thinking Elisha would not know. Elisha’s words show that he was aware of Gehazi’s actions, even though Gehazi tried to hide them, and he lists the types of wealth Gehazi hoped to gain, emphasizing the seriousness of Gehazi’s greed.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 5:26

  • לֵב (lev; H3820) — "heart": Here, Elisha says his "heart" went with Gehazi, which is often understood as Elisha having spiritual insight or awareness of Gehazi’s actions, not just emotional concern.
  • עֵת (et; H6256) — "time": Elisha asks if "this is a time" to receive gifts, highlighting that there is an appropriate context for accepting such things, and this was not it.
  • לָקַח (laqach; H3947) — "receive": This word is used twice, stressing the act of taking or accepting something, which in this case was done improperly by Gehazi.

Why 2 Kings 5:26 matters

  • This verse shows that Elisha was not just a prophet in word but had real spiritual perception, making it clear that nothing could be hidden from him.
  • The list of goods (money, garments, oliveyards, vineyards, sheep, oxen, servants) underlines the temptation of material wealth and how Gehazi’s greed contrasted with Elisha’s integrity.
  • The verse sets up the consequence that follows: Gehazi’s punishment for his dishonesty, which is central to the lesson of the wider passage.

Where else these words appear

“oliveyards” Hebrew H2132 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 8:11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
  • Judges 9:9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
  • Isaiah 17:6 Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.

“chariot” Hebrew H4818 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 41:43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
  • 1 Kings 20:33 Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
  • Song of Solomon 6:12 Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.

“maidservants” Hebrew H8198 · used in 58 verses

  • Genesis 12:16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
  • Genesis 32:5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
  • 2 Samuel 14:12 Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.

“vineyards” Hebrew H3754 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 9:20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
  • 1 Kings 21:1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
  • Isaiah 1:8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.