1522. Gechazi
Lexical Summary
Gechazi: Gehazi

Original Word: גֵּיחֲזִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Geychaziy
Pronunciation: geh-khah-ZEE
Phonetic Spelling: (gay-khah-zee')
KJV: Gehazi
NASB: Gehazi
Word Origin: [apparently from H1516 (גַּיא גַּי - valley) and H2372 (חָזָה - see)]

1. valley of a visionary
2. Gechazi, the servant of Elisha

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Gehazi

Or Gechaziy {gay-khah-zee'}; apparently from gay' and chazah; valley of a visionary; Gechazi, the servant of Elisha -- Gehazi.

see HEBREW gay'

see HEBREW chazah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
perhaps from gay and chazah
Definition
perhaps "valley of vision," servant of Elisha
NASB Translation
Gehazi (12).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
גֵּיחֲזִי, גֵּחֲזִי proper name, masculine (valley of vision?) servant of Elisha, גֵּיחֲזִי 2 Kings 4:12,14,25,27,29,36; 2 Kings 5:20,21; גֵּחֲזִי 2 Kings 4:31; 2 Kings 5:25; 2 Kings 8:4,5.

גיד (√ of following; meaning dubious; ? compare As gâdu, bind, fetter, JägerBAS i. 589f.)

Topical Lexicon
Identity and Narrative Setting

Gehazi appears exclusively in the Elisha narratives of 2 Kings, serving as the prophet’s personal attendant. His twelve occurrences span 2 Kings 4–8, placing him at the heart of pivotal miracles in the Northern Kingdom during the reigns of Jehoram and Ben-hadad II.

Service to Elisha and Early Promise

As Elisha’s “servant” (2 Kings 4:12), Gehazi occupies the trusted position once held by Elisha under Elijah (1 Kings 19:21). He acts as intermediary between Elisha and others, especially the wealthy Shunammite woman who provided the prophet lodging (2 Kings 4:12,14,25–27). His participation includes carrying Elisha’s staff to the dead boy’s body (4:29–31). Though the mission fails until Elisha arrives, Gehazi is portrayed as obedient and industrious, suggesting a potential heir to prophetic ministry.

Foreshadowings of Spiritual Defect

Even in chapter 4 subtle clues expose spiritual dullness. When the distraught Shunammite approaches, “Gehazi came near to push her away” (2 Kings 4:27). His insensitivity contrasts with Elisha’s discernment and compassion, hinting at a heart not formed by the character of the God he serves.

The Naaman Incident: Greed and Deceit Unveiled

Naaman’s healing (2 Kings 5) becomes the watershed. Elisha refuses payment so that the Aramean commander may know “there is no God in all the earth except in Israel” (5:15). Gehazi, unable to value grace over gain, pursues Naaman, fabricates a account about visiting prophets, and secures silver and garments (5:20–24). When confronted, he adds lying to covetousness: “Your servant went nowhere” (5:25). Elisha’s prophetic insight exposes the deed and pronounces judgment: “The leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and to your descendants forever” (5:27). Gehazi departs “white as snow,” physically marked by the very disease from which he had witnessed miraculous deliverance.

Judgment and Theological Significance

Gehazi’s leprosy signifies more than medical affliction; it is covenantal curse (Leviticus 13–14) and public testimony against profiteering from God’s gifts (cf. Acts 8:18–23). His punishment is immediate, proportional, and permanent, reinforcing Yahweh’s holiness and the integrity required of His servants.

Later Appearance before the King

Despite exclusion from Elisha’s inner circle, Gehazi resurfaces in 2 Kings 8:4–5 recounting Elisha’s miracles to King Joram. The text does not specify whether he still bears leprosy within the royal courts, but the timing underscores divine providence: while Gehazi narrates the resurrection of the Shunammite’s son, the woman herself enters to petition for her land, and the king restores her property. Gehazi thus becomes an unwitting witness to God’s faithfulness, even as his own life embodies warning.

Spiritual Themes and Pastoral Lessons

1. Stewardship versus Self-Enrichment: Ministry positions offer opportunities to serve or to exploit. Gehazi’s fall mirrors Judas Iscariot’s later betrayal (John 12:6; 13:29).
2. Grace Cannot Be Monetized: Gehazi’s greed sought to commercialize a miracle that proclaimed free salvation. The Gospel is compromised whenever personal gain supplants divine glory.
3. Hidden Sin Revealed: Elisha’s prophetic knowledge (2 Kings 5:26) anticipates New Testament teaching that “there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed” (Luke 8:17).
4. Transgenerational Consequences: The leprosy “to your descendants” (5:27) illustrates how sin’s effects ripple through families and communities unless interrupted by repentance and redemption.

Typological and Prophetic Implications

Gehazi stands as a foil to faithful servants—Elijah, Elisha, even the Shunammite woman—highlighting the necessity of inward transformation, not merely external association with holy things. His account foreshadows church-age warnings against false teachers “who in their greed… exploit you with fabricated words” (2 Peter 2:3).

Legacy in Jewish and Christian Tradition

Rabbinic literature sometimes identifies Gehazi among those who forfeited the world to come, emphasizing hardness of heart. Early Christian commentators (e.g., Jerome, Chrysostom) applied Gehazi’s leprosy to clerical avarice. In preaching history he functions as a cautionary emblem, urging ministers to guard motives and laity to discern true from mercenary leadership.

Conclusion

Gehazi’s narrative arc traces a tragic descent from promising servant to leprous outcast. Interwoven with miracles of life and restoration, his account dramatizes the peril of unrepentant greed and deceit, underscoring that proximity to divine power is no substitute for personal holiness and humble faith.

Forms and Transliterations
גֵּ֣חֲזִ֔י גֵּֽחֲזִי֙ גֵּֽיחֲזִ֜י גֵּחֲזִ֑י גֵּחֲזִ֣י גֵּיחֲזִ֖י גֵּיחֲזִ֗י גֵּיחֲזִ֣י גחזי גיחזי וְגֵחֲזִ֞י וגחזי לְגֵיחֲזִ֜י לגיחזי gê·ḥă·zî gechaZi gêḥăzî geichaZi lə·ḡê·ḥă·zî ləḡêḥăzî legeichaZi vegechaZi wə·ḡê·ḥă·zî wəḡêḥăzî
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Kings 4:12
HEB: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ גֵּחֲזִ֣י נַעֲר֔וֹ קְרָ֖א
NAS: Then he said to Gehazi his servant,
KJV: And he said to Gehazi his servant,
INT: said to Gehazi his servant Call

2 Kings 4:14
HEB: לָ֑הּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גֵּיחֲזִ֗י אֲבָ֛ל בֵּ֥ן
NAS: then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered,
KJV: What then [is] to be done for her? And Gehazi answered,
INT: is to be done answered and Gehazi Truly son

2 Kings 4:25
HEB: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ גֵּיחֲזִ֣י נַעֲר֔וֹ הִנֵּ֖ה
NAS: he said to Gehazi his servant,
KJV: that he said to Gehazi his servant,
INT: said to Gehazi his servant Behold

2 Kings 4:27
HEB: בְּרַגְלָ֑יו וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ גֵּֽיחֲזִ֜י לְהָדְפָ֗הּ וַיֹּאמֶר֩
NAS: of his feet. And Gehazi came near
KJV: him by the feet: but Gehazi came near
INT: of his feet came and Gehazi to push said

2 Kings 4:29
HEB: וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לְגֵיחֲזִ֜י חֲגֹ֣ר מָתְנֶ֗יךָ
NAS: Then he said to Gehazi, Gird
KJV: Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up
INT: said to Gehazi Gird your loins

2 Kings 4:31
HEB: וְגֵחֲזִ֞י עָבַ֣ר לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם
NAS: Then Gehazi passed on before
KJV: And Gehazi passed on before
INT: Gehazi passed before

2 Kings 4:36
HEB: וַיִּקְרָ֣א אֶל־ גֵּיחֲזִ֗י וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ קְרָא֙
NAS: He called Gehazi and said, Call
KJV: And he called Gehazi, and said, Call
INT: called about Gehazi and said Call

2 Kings 5:20
HEB: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גֵּיחֲזִ֗י נַעַר֮ אֱלִישָׁ֣ע
NAS: But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha
KJV: But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha
INT: thought Gehazi the servant of Elisha

2 Kings 5:21
HEB: וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ף גֵּיחֲזִ֖י אַחֲרֵ֣י נַֽעֲמָ֑ן
NAS: So Gehazi pursued Naaman.
KJV: So Gehazi followed after
INT: pursued Gehazi after Naaman

2 Kings 5:25
HEB: (מֵאַ֖יִן ק) גֵּחֲזִ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹֽא־
NAS: to him, Where have you been, Gehazi? And he said,
KJV: unto him, Whence [comest thou], Gehazi? And he said,
INT: and Elisha Where Gehazi said not

2 Kings 8:4
HEB: מְדַבֵּר֙ אֶל־ גֵּ֣חֲזִ֔י נַ֥עַר אִישׁ־
NAS: was talking with Gehazi, the servant
KJV: talked with Gehazi the servant
INT: was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man

2 Kings 8:5
HEB: שָׂדָ֑הּ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר גֵּֽחֲזִי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ
NAS: and for her field. And Gehazi said,
KJV: and for her land. And Gehazi said,
INT: her field said and Gehazi my lord king

12 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1522
12 Occurrences


gê·ḥă·zî — 4 Occ.
gê·ḥă·zî — 6 Occ.
lə·ḡê·ḥă·zî — 1 Occ.
wə·ḡê·ḥă·zî — 1 Occ.

1521
Top of Page
Top of Page