3497. Neeman

Lexical Summary

Neeman: Naaman

Original Word: Νεεμάν
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Neeman
Pronunciation: neh-eh-MAHN
Phonetic Spelling: (neh-eh-man')
KJV: Naaman
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H5283 (נַעֲמָן - Naaman))]

1. Neeman (i.e. Naaman), a Syrian

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Naaman.

Of Hebrew origin (Na'aman); Neeman (i.e. Naaman), a Syrian -- Naaman.

see HEBREW Na'aman

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
variant reading for Naiman, q.v.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3497: Ναιμάν

Ναιμάν, see Νημαν.

STRONGS NT 3497: ΝημανΝημαν and (so L T Tr WH after the Sept. (see WH's Appendix, p. 159f)) Ναιμάν, ὁ (נַעֲמָן, pleasantness), Naaman (so Vulg. (also Neman)), a commander of the Syrian armies (2 Kings 5:1): Luke 4:27.

Topical Lexicon

Name and Meaning

Naaman means “pleasant, gracious” in Hebrew. In the Old Testament the name is carried by two different men, but Strong’s Greek 3497 refers specifically to Naaman the Syrian general.

Historical Setting

Naaman served as commander of the army of Aram (Syria) during the ministry of the prophet Elisha, in the ninth century BC. Aram and Israel were frequently at odds, yet periodic alliances and truces existed. Leprosy, an incurable and socially debilitating disease in the ancient Near East, threatened Naaman’s military career and public standing.

Old Testament Narrative (2 Kings 5:1-19)

1. Status and affliction (2 Kings 5:1) – Though “a great man… and highly regarded,” Naaman was “a leper.”
2. The Israelite servant girl (5:2-4) – God uses a captive child to point the pagan general toward the prophet in Samaria.
3. Diplomatic overture (5:5-7) – Naaman brings royal letters and extravagant gifts, illustrating both his desperation and the political undertones of healing.
4. Elisha’s instruction (5:8-10) – The prophet refuses prestige, sends a simple command: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan.”
5. Naaman’s anger and humility (5:11-13) – Expecting elaborate ritual, Naaman is offended. His servants persuade him to obey.
6. Cleansing and confession (5:14-17) – Immersion in the Jordan brings immediate healing; Naaman declares, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.”
7. Request for earth and refusal of payment (5:15-19) – Naaman seeks to worship YHWH exclusively and offers gifts; Elisha declines, underscoring the grace of God.

Naaman in the Ministry of Jesus (Luke 4:27)

Jesus cites Naaman in the synagogue at Nazareth: “And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian” (Luke 4:27). The single New Testament occurrence of Ναιμάν (Strong’s 3497) serves several purposes:
• Demonstrates divine sovereignty in the distribution of miraculous grace.
• Signals God’s concern for Gentiles, anticipating the Gospel’s worldwide reach.
• Exposes unbelief in Israel and foreshadows the rejection Jesus would experience in His hometown (Luke 4:28-29).

Key Theological Themes

1. Grace over merit – Naaman’s healing is unearned; it showcases God’s free favor toward an outsider.
2. Humility as a conduit of blessing – Obedience to a seemingly insignificant command unlocks deliverance (compare John 9:7).
3. Symbolic washing – Sevenfold immersion prefigures spiritual cleansing and, by extension, Christian baptism (Titus 3:5).
4. Monotheistic confession – Naaman moves from polytheism to exclusive worship of the God of Israel, illustrating true conversion.
5. Witness of the lowly – A servant girl embodies evangelistic boldness; her faith contrasts the wavering faith of kings.
6. Gentile inclusion – Naaman foreshadows Cornelius (Acts 10) and the later influx of Gentile believers.

Practical Ministry Lessons

• God often works through unexpected messengers; value the voices of the overlooked.
• Simple, scriptural instructions carry transformative power; avoid adding human fanfare.
• Refuse to commodify divine gifts; like Elisha, uphold the integrity of ministry.
• Encourage believers to publicly bear witness after experiencing God’s deliverance.

Later Jewish and Christian Reception

Early Jewish writings viewed Naaman as a prototypical God-fearer. Church Fathers (e.g., Tertullian, Augustine) read his washing as a type of baptism, underscoring that cleansing is received by faith, not ritual precision or national pedigree.

Other Bearers of the Name

A Benjaminite named Naaman appears in Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:40; 1 Chronicles 8:4, 7. While distinct from the Syrian general, these occurrences attest to the name’s wider use.

Summary

Naaman the Syrian stands as a multi-faceted witness: a healed leper, a converted Gentile, and a lesson Jesus employs to confront unbelief and announce God’s gracious outreach to all nations.

Forms and Transliterations

Ναιμαν Ναιμὰν νεζέρ νείκος Naiman Naimàn

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 4:27 N
GRK: εἰ μὴ Ναιμὰν ὁ Σύρος
KJV: saving Naaman the Syrian.
INT: if not Naaman the Syrian

Strong's Greek 3497
1 Occurrence

Ναιμὰν — 1 Occ.