And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

2 KINGS 5:6KJV
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2 Kings 5:6 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 5:6 mean?

2 Kings 5:6 describes how a letter from the king of Aram (Syria) was delivered to the king of Israel, asking him to heal Naaman, a valued servant, from his leprosy. The verse shows the king of Aram’s expectation that the king of Israel could somehow cure Naaman’s disease.

The setting is a diplomatic exchange: Naaman, a commander from Aram who suffers from leprosy, is sent to Israel with an official letter. The letter’s wording assumes the king of Israel has the authority or power to heal, which sets up the tension and misunderstanding that follows in the story.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 5:6

  • "Letter" (סֵפֶר, sefer): This word means a written document or scroll. Its use here highlights the formality and seriousness of the request, showing this was an official diplomatic action, not just a personal plea.
  • "Recover" (אָסַף, asaf): This word often means "to gather" or "to take away." In this context, it is used for "recover" or "heal," suggesting the idea of removing or taking away Naaman’s leprosy, not just treating symptoms.

Why 2 Kings 5:6 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the king of Aram misunderstood the spiritual and political realities in Israel, assuming the king could command healing, which only God could do.
  • This sets up the following verses, where the king of Israel reacts with distress, and the prophet Elisha becomes involved, shifting the focus from political power to God’s power.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness of Naaman’s condition and the lengths to which his king would go to seek a cure, showing the high value placed on Naaman and the desperation for healing.

Where else these words appear

“Naaman” Hebrew H5283 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 46:21 And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.
  • 2 Kings 5:9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
  • 2 Kings 5:21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

“leprosy” Hebrew H6883 · used in 33 verses

  • Leviticus 13:2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:
  • Leviticus 13:27 And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
  • Leviticus 14:32 This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing.