2 Kings 5:16
New International Version
The prophet answered, “As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.

New Living Translation
But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.” And though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused.

English Standard Version
But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

Berean Standard Bible
But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused.

King James Bible
But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

New King James Version
But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

New American Standard Bible
But he said, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will accept nothing.” And he urged him to accept it, but he refused.

NASB 1995
But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will take nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

NASB 1977
But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will take nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

Legacy Standard Bible
But he said, “As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will take nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

Amplified Bible
But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will accept nothing.” He urged him to take it, but Elisha refused.

Christian Standard Bible
But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, I stand before Him. I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.

American Standard Version
But he said, As Jehovah liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Elisha said: “As LORD JEHOVAH is living before whom I stand, I shall not take it!” And he begged of him to take it, and he was not willing.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Elisaie said, As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will not take one. And he pressed him to take one: but he would not.

Contemporary English Version
"I am a servant of the living LORD," Elisha answered, "and I swear that I will not take anything from you." Naaman kept begging, but Elisha kept refusing.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he answered: As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And when he pressed him, he still refused.

English Revised Version
But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Elisha said, "I solemnly swear, as the LORD whom I serve lives, I will not accept it." Naaman urged him to take it, but he refused.

Good News Translation
Elisha answered, "By the living LORD, whom I serve, I swear that I will not accept a gift." Naaman insisted that he accept it, but he would not.

International Standard Version
But Elisha replied, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not receive anything from you." Though Naaman urged him to take it, Elisha declined.

JPS Tanakh 1917
But he said: 'As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none.' And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

Literal Standard Version
And he says, “YHWH lives, before whom I have stood—if I take [it]”; and he presses on him to take, and he refuses.

Majority Standard Bible
But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused.

New American Bible
Elisha replied, “As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it.” And despite Naaman’s urging, he still refused.

NET Bible
But Elisha replied, "As certainly as the LORD lives (whom I serve), I will take nothing from you." Naaman insisted that he take it, but he refused.

New Revised Standard Version
But he said, “As the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will accept nothing!” He urged him to accept, but he refused.

New Heart English Bible
But he said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." He urged him to take it; but he refused.

Webster's Bible Translation
But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

World English Bible
But he said, “As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” He urged him to take it; but he refused.

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith, 'Jehovah liveth, before whom I have stood -- if I take it;' and he presseth on him to take, and he refuseth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Gehazi's Greed and Leprosy
15Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” 16But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused. 17“If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry. For your servant will never again make a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the LORD.…

Cross References
Acts 8:20
But Peter replied, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!

Genesis 14:22
But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,

Genesis 14:23
that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.'

2 Kings 3:14
Then Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not for my regard for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or acknowledge you.

2 Kings 5:20
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, while not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him."

2 Kings 5:26
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?

Daniel 5:17
In response, Daniel said to the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.


Treasury of Scripture

But he said, As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

As the Lord

2 Kings 3:14
And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

1 Kings 17:1
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

1 Kings 18:15
And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.

I will receive

2 Kings 5:20,26
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him…

Genesis 14:22,23
And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, …

1 Kings 13:8
And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:

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Accept Best Life Naaman Presseth Prophet Receive Refused Refuseth Servant Serve Stand Stood Surely Urged
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Accept Best Life Naaman Presseth Prophet Receive Refused Refuseth Servant Serve Stand Stood Surely Urged
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














(16) But.--And (both times).

I will receive none.--Theodoret compares our Lord's "Freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). (Comp. Acts 8:20.) Such may have been Elisha's feeling. His refusal, strongly contrasting with the conduct of ordinary prophets, Israelite and heathen (comp. 1Samuel 9:6-9), would make a deep impression upon Naaman and his retinue.

Verse 16. - But he said, As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. Elisha regards it as best, under the circumstances, to refuse the offered recompense. It was not compulsory on him so to act; for the precept, "Freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8), had not been yet uttered. Pious Israelites commonly brought gifts to the prophets whom they consulted (1 Samuel 9:7, 8; 1 Kings 14:3). But, in the case of a foreigner, ignorant hitherto of true religion, whom it was important to impress favorably, and, if possible, win over to the faith, Elisha deemed it advisable to take no reward. Naaman was thus taught that Jehovah was his true Healer, the prophet the mere instrument, and that it was to Jehovah that his gratitude, his thanks, and his offerings were due. And he urged him to take it; but he refused. Contests of politeness are common in the East, where the one party offers to give and even insists on giving, while the other makes a pretence of declining; but here both parties were in earnest, and the gift was absolutely declined.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

“As surely as the LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

lives,
חַי־ (ḥay-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

before whom
לְפָנָ֖יו (lə·p̄ā·nāw)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

I stand,
עָמַ֥דְתִּי (‘ā·maḏ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

I will not
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

accept it.”
אֶקָּ֑ח (’eq·qāḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3947: To take

And although Naaman urged
וַיִּפְצַר־ (way·yip̄·ṣar-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6484: To peck at, stun, dull

him
בּ֥וֹ (bōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

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

he refused.
וַיְמָאֵֽן׃ (way·mā·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3985: To refuse


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OT History: 2 Kings 5:16 But he said As Yahweh lives before (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 5:15
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