2 Kings 5:26
New International Version
But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves?

New Living Translation
But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants?

English Standard Version
But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?

Berean Standard Bible
But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants?

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants?

New American Standard Bible
Then he said to him, “Did my heart not go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept money and to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, and male and female slaves?

NASB 1995
Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants?

NASB 1977
Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants?

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female slaves?

Amplified Bible
Elisha said to him, “Did my heart not go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a [proper] time to accept money and clothing and olive orchards and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants?

Christian Standard Bible
“And my heart didn’t go when the man got down from his chariot to meet you,” Elisha said. “Is this a time to accept silver and clothing, olive orchards and vineyards, flocks and herds, and male and female slaves?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Elisha questioned him, “Wasn’t my spirit there when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept money and clothes, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves?

American Standard Version
And he said unto him, Went not my heart with thee, when the man turned 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 men-servants and maid-servants?

Contemporary English Version
Elisha asked, "Don't you know that my spirit was there when Naaman got out of his chariot to talk with you? Gehazi, you have no right to accept money or clothes, olive orchards or vineyards, sheep or cattle, or servants.

English Revised Version
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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Elisha said to him, "I went with you in spirit when the man turned around in his chariot to speak to you. How could you accept silver, clothes, olive orchards, vineyards, sheep, cattle, or slaves?

Good News Translation
But Elisha said, "Wasn't I there in spirit when the man got out of his chariot to meet you? This is no time to accept money and clothes, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, or servants!

International Standard Version
But Elisha responded, "Didn't my heart break as the man was turning from his chariot to greet you? Is now the time to receive money? To receive clothes? And olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, servants, or female attendants?

Majority Standard Bible
But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants?

NET Bible
Elisha replied, "I was there in spirit when a man turned and got down from his chariot to meet you. This is not the proper time to accept silver or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, cattle, and male and female servants.

New Heart English Bible
He said to him, "Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and cattle, and male servants and female servants?

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to him, Went not my 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 olive-yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and men-servants, and maid-servants?

World English Bible
He said to him, “Didn’t my heart go with you when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and cattle, and male servants and female servants?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he says to him, “My heart did not go when the man turned from off his chariot to meet you; is it a time to take silver, and to take garments, and olives, and vines, and flock, and herd, and menservants, and maidservants?

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith unto him, 'My heart went not when the man turned from off his chariot to meet thee; is it a time to take silver, and to take garments, and olives, and vines, and flock, and herd, and men-servants, and maid-servants?

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to him, Went not my heart when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to take silver, and to take garments, and olive trees, and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, and servants and maids?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But he said: Was not my heart present, when the man turned back from his chariot to meet thee? So now thou hast received money, and received garments, to buy oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But he said: “Was my heart not present, when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? And now you have received money, and you have received garments, so that you might buy olive groves, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and men and women servants.

New American Bible
But Elisha said to him: “Was I not present in spirit when someone got down from his chariot to wait for you? Is this a time to take money or to take garments, olive orchards or vineyards, sheep or cattle, male or female servants?

New Revised Standard Version
But he said to him, “Did I not go with you in spirit when someone left his chariot to meet you? Is this a time to accept money and to accept clothing, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to him, My heart told me when the man alighted from his chariot to meet you. Is it a time to gain money and to gain garments and oliveyards and vineyards and sheep and oxen and menservants and maidservants?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Elisha said to him: “My heart showed me when the man came down from his chariot to meet you. Is this time that you may gain for yourself money, and you would gain clothing and olive trees and vineyards and sheep and bulls and Servants and Maids?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said unto him: 'Went not my heart [with thee], when the man turned back 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 men-servants and maid-servants?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whence comest thou, Giezi? and Giezi said, Thy servant has not been hither or thither. And Elisaie said to him, Went not my heart with thee, when the man returned from his chariot to meet thee? and now thou hast received silver, and now thou hast received raiment, and olive yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Gehazi's Greed and Leprosy
25When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Gehazi, where have you been?” “Your servant did not go anywhere,” he replied. 26But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants? 27Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.…

Cross References
Acts 5:3-4
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? / Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

1 John 2:15-16
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.

Proverbs 15:27
He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.

Joshua 7:20-21
“It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: / When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

1 Samuel 15:19
So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”

1 Kings 21:20
When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.

Jeremiah 17:11
Like a partridge hatching eggs it did not lay is the man who makes a fortune unjustly. In the middle of his days his riches will desert him, and in the end he will be the fool.”

Ezekiel 33:31
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.

Micah 2:1-2
Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. / They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.

James 4:3
And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Colossians 3:5
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.


Treasury of Scripture

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

he said

Psalm 63:11
But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

Proverbs 12:19,22
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment…

Acts 5:9
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Went

2 Kings 6:12
And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

1 Corinthians 5:3
For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

Colossians 2:5
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

Is it a time

2 Kings 5:15
And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

Genesis 14:23
That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: …

Jump to Previous
Accept Carriage Cattle Chariot Clothes Elisha Female Flocks Garments Groves Heart Maidservants Male Meet Menservants Men-Servants Money Olive Oliveyards Olive-Yards Orchards Oxen Receive Servants Sheep Spirit Time Turned Vineyards
Jump to Next
Accept Carriage Cattle Chariot Clothes Elisha Female Flocks Garments Groves Heart Maidservants Male Meet Menservants Men-Servants Money Olive Oliveyards Olive-Yards Orchards Oxen Receive Servants Sheep Spirit Time Turned Vineyards
2 Kings 5
1. Naaman, by the report of a captive maid, is sent to Samaria to be cured of leprosy
8. Elisha, sending him to Jordan cures him
15. He refusing Naaman's gifts grants him some of the earth
20. Gehazi, abusing his master's name unto Naaman, is smitten with leprosy














But Elisha questioned him
The phrase highlights the role of Elisha as a prophet and spiritual leader. In Hebrew, the name "Elisha" means "God is salvation," reflecting his divine mission. Elisha's questioning indicates his discernment and authority, emphasizing the prophetic insight granted by God. This moment underscores the accountability expected of those who serve God, as Elisha holds Gehazi to a higher standard.

Was not my spirit with you
This phrase suggests a supernatural awareness or presence, indicating that Elisha, through the Holy Spirit, had insight into Gehazi's actions. The Hebrew word for "spirit" (רוּחַ, ruach) can mean breath, wind, or spirit, often signifying God's presence or influence. This highlights the omniscience of God working through His prophets, reminding believers of the ever-present guidance and conviction of the Holy Spirit.

when the man got down from his chariot to meet you?
This refers to Naaman, the Aramean commander who sought healing from leprosy. The act of getting down from the chariot signifies humility and respect, as chariots were symbols of power and status. Historically, chariots were used by the elite, and Naaman's descent represents his acknowledgment of the power of Israel's God. This moment serves as a reminder of the humility required to receive God's grace.

Is this the time to accept money or clothing
Elisha's rhetorical question challenges the appropriateness of Gehazi's actions. The mention of "money or clothing" symbolizes material wealth and worldly gain. In the context of prophetic ministry, accepting such gifts could compromise the integrity and divine purpose of the prophet's mission. This serves as a caution against the temptation of materialism, urging believers to prioritize spiritual over earthly rewards.

olive groves or vineyards
These items represent long-term wealth and prosperity in ancient Israel. Olive groves and vineyards were valuable assets, providing sustenance and economic stability. Elisha's mention of them underscores the gravity of Gehazi's greed, contrasting temporal wealth with eternal values. This encourages believers to focus on spiritual fruitfulness rather than earthly possessions.

sheep or oxen
Sheep and oxen were essential for agricultural and pastoral life, symbolizing wealth and livelihood. In biblical times, livestock was a measure of one's prosperity and social standing. Elisha's inclusion of these animals in his rebuke highlights the extent of Gehazi's covetousness. This serves as a reminder of the dangers of allowing material desires to overshadow one's spiritual calling.

male or female servants
Servants were a sign of wealth and status, providing labor and increasing one's household power. The mention of "male or female servants" indicates Gehazi's desire for control and influence. In the biblical context, this reflects a departure from servanthood to God, as true greatness in God's kingdom is found in serving others. This challenges believers to examine their motives and align their desires with God's will.

(26) Went not mine heart . . . meet thee?--Rather, Nor did my heart (i.e., consciousness) go away, when a man turned (and alighted) from his chariot to meet thee. The prophet, in severe irony, adopts Gehazi's own phrase: Maurer, "Non abierat animus meus;" "I was there in spirit, and witnessed everything." The sentence has given the commentators much trouble. (See the elaborate Note in Thenius. We might have expected w?lo, and w may have been omitted, owing to the preceding w; but it is not absolutely necessary.) The Authorised Version follows the LXX. (Vat.), which supplies the expression "with thee" (???? ????), wanting in the Hebrew text. The Targum paraphrases: "By the spirit of prophecy I was informed when the man turned," &c. The Syriac follows with, "My heart informed me when the man turned," &c.

Is it a time to receive.--Comp. Ecclesiastes 3:2, seq. The LXX., pointing the Hebrew differently, reads: ??? ??? ?????? ?? ???????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ???. ("And now thou receivedst the money," &c.). So also the Vulg. and Arabic, but not the Targum and Syriac. B”ttcher, retaining the interrogative particle of the Hebrew, adopts this: "Didst thou then take the money?" &c. But the Masoretic pointing appears to be much more suitable. The prophet's question comes to this: "Was that above all others a proper occasion for yielding to your desire of gain, when you were dealing with a heathen? Ought you not to have been studiously disinterested in your behaviour to such an one, that he might learn not to confound the prophets of Jehovah with the mercenary diviners and soothsayers of the false gods?" The prophet's disciple is bound, like his master, to seek, not worldly power, but spiritual; for the time is one of ardent struggle against the encroachments of paganism.

And oliveyards . . . maidservants?--The prophet develops Gehazi's object in asking for the money: he wished to purchase lands, and live stock, and slaves--whatever constituted the material wealth of the time. The Targum inserts the explanatory: "And thou thoughtest in thy heart to purchase oliveyards," &c. So Vulg.: "ut emas oliveta."

Verse 26. - And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee? There is no "with thee" in the original; and the words have been taken in quite a different sense. Ewald regards לבִּי, "my heart," as designating Gehazi, and meaning "my loved one, my favorite disciple." "Thou hast denied that thou wentest any whither; but did not my favorite disciple in truth go forth, when the man turned again from his chariot, as Naaman did?" (ver. 21). But no parallel instance can be adduced of any such use of לִבִּי, which is altogether too strong a term to be applied to a mere favorite servant. The irony, moreover, of the term under the circumstances would be too great. Maurer's interpretation of לִבִּי by "my prophetic power" (my prophetic power had not departed from me) is no better, since it requires חָֹלַך to be taken in two different senses in the two most closely connected clauses of vers. 25 and 26. Altogether, our version would seem to be the best rendering that has been suggested. It accords with the Septuagint, with Theodoret, and with the Vulgate; and it gives a satisfactory sense: "Did not my spirit go forth with thee when thou wentest forth, etc.? Was I not present in spirit during the whole transaction?" When the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? (see ver. 21). Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? The prophet follows Gehazi's thoughts, which had been to purchase, with the money obtained from Naaman, olive yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, etc.; and asks - Was this a time for such proceedings? Keil well explains, "Was this the time, when so many hypocrites pretend to be prophets from selfishness and avarice, and bring the prophetic office into contempt with unbelievers, for a servant of the true God to take money and goods from a non-Israelite... that he might acquire property and luxury for himself?" It was evidently a most unfit time. As Thenius says, "In any other case better than in this mightest thou have yielded to thy desire for gold and goods."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Elisha questioned him,
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Did not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

my spirit
לִבִּ֣י (lib·bî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

go [with you]
הָלַ֔ךְ (hā·laḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

when
כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the man
אִ֛ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

got down
הָֽפַךְ־ (hā·p̄aḵ-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert

from
מֵעַ֥ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

his chariot
מֶרְכַּבְתּ֖וֹ (mer·kaḇ·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4818: A chariot

to meet you?
לִקְרָאתֶ֑ךָ (liq·rā·ṯe·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7125: Against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way

Is this the time
הַעֵ֞ת (ha·‘êṯ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

to accept
לָקַ֤חַת (lā·qa·ḥaṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3947: To take

money
הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ (hak·ke·sep̄)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

and clothing,
בְּגָדִ֔ים (bə·ḡā·ḏîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage

olive groves
וְזֵיתִ֤ים (wə·zê·ṯîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2132: An olive, the tree, the branch, the berry

and vineyards,
וּכְרָמִים֙ (ū·ḵə·rā·mîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3754: A garden, vineyard

sheep
וְצֹ֣אן (wə·ṣōn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

and oxen,
וּבָקָ֔ר (ū·ḇā·qār)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1241: Beef cattle, ox, a herd

menservants
וַעֲבָדִ֖ים (wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

and maidservants?
וּשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ (ū·šə·p̄ā·ḥō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8198: Maid, maidservant


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OT History: 2 Kings 5:26 He said to him Didn't my heart (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 5:25
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