Who was Naaman in the Bible?
Syrian, during the divided monarchy
Naaman was a commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria) who lived during the time of the prophet Elisha. Naaman appears in 11 verses across 2 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Naaman?
Naaman was a commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria) who lived during the time of the prophet Elisha. He is described as a great man, highly regarded by his master, and a valiant soldier. However, Naaman was afflicted with leprosy (2Ki.5.1). Through an Israelite servant girl, Naaman learned of the prophet Elisha in Samaria who could heal him of his leprosy. With his king's permission, Naaman traveled to Israel, carrying a letter from the king of Aram to the king of Israel. The king of Israel, mistakenly believing that the king of Aram was trying to provoke a quarrel, tore his clothes in distress (2Ki.5.2-7). When Elisha heard of this, he sent a message to the king, telling him to send Naaman to him. Naaman arrived at Elisha's house with his horses and chariots, expecting a grand healing ceremony. Instead, Elisha sent a messenger, instructing Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River (2Ki.5.8-10). Initially, Naaman was angry and refused, believing that the rivers of Damascus were better than the waters of Israel. However, his servants persuaded him to follow Elisha's instructions. Naaman dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, and his flesh was restored, becoming clean like that of a young boy (2Ki.5.11-14). Grateful for his healing, Naaman returned to Elisha, declaring his belief in the God of Israel and offering a gift, which Elisha refused. Naaman then requested two mule-loads of earth to take back with him, so that he could worship the Lord on Israelite soil (2Ki.5.15-19). Jesus later referred to Naaman's story in Luk.4.27, using it as an example of God's grace extending beyond Israel to the Gentiles. Naaman's healing demonstrates God's power, compassion, and willingness to heal and save those who turn to Him in faith, regardless of their nationality or background.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Naaman appear in the Bible?
Naaman is referenced in 11 verses across 2 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 2 Kings 5:1
- 2 Kings 5:2
- 2 Kings 5:6
- 2 Kings 5:9
- 2 Kings 5:11
- 2 Kings 5:17
- 2 Kings 5:20
- 2 Kings 5:21
- 2 Kings 5:23
- 2 Kings 5:27
- Luke 4:27
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Naaman.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Naaman?
Naaman appears in 11 verses across 2 books, most often in 2 Kings, which accounts for 10 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Naaman?
2 Kings, Luke.
Where can I read every verse about Naaman?
This page lists 11 of them. Protos carries all 11, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
