Who Was Naaman in the Bible — Meaning Explained

Naaman's story is a beautiful narrative of divine grace reaching beyond Israel's borders. He was the commander of the army of Syria, 'a great man with his master, and honourable,' but he was a leper. An Israelite servant girl captured in a Syrian raid told Naaman's wife about the prophet in Samaria who could heal him. With the king of Syria's blessing, Naaman traveled to Israel with an enormous gift of silver, gold, and clothing, expecting Elisha to come out, call on the name of the Lord, wave his hand over the disease, and heal him. Instead, Elisha sent a messenger instructing Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman was furious. He expected dramatic ritual, not a simple command to bathe in a muddy river. He complained that the rivers of Damascus were cleaner than the Jordan. But his servants wisely reasoned: 'If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?' Naaman humbled himself, dipped seven times in the Jordan, and his flesh was restored like that of a little child. His response was immediate and wholehearted: 'Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel.' He vowed never again to offer sacrifice to any other god, and he asked for two mule-loads of Israel's earth so he could worship the Lord even in Syria. Though Elisha refused his gifts, the incident with Gehazi, Elisha's greedy servant, who secretly took silver and clothing, resulted in Gehazi receiving Naaman's leprosy. Naaman's healing illustrates several gospel truths: salvation is not earned by wealth or status but received by humble obedience; God's grace extends to Gentiles; and the means of cleansing (the Jordan) pictures the washing of regeneration. Jesus cited Naaman as an example of God's grace going to Gentiles while Israel's own prophets were rejected.