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
truelightbible.com

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.