Bible Strands
2 Kings 5:18
Yet may the LORD forgive your servant this one thing: When my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my arm, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant in this matter.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Naaman addresses Elisha immediately after requesting soil for Yahweh, asking for a concession before returning to Aram.
The words — The Hebrew phrase דָּבָר הַזֶּה (da.Var ha.Zeh) translates literally to "this matter," isolating the specific exception Naaman requests. The verb יִסְלַח (yis.Lach) means "may he forgive," framing the plea as a request for divine pardon rather than a declaration of faith.
The thread — The text’s reference to bowing in a foreign temple connects to the covenant command in 2 Kings 17:35 against worshiping other gods, while the detail of leaning on an arm parallels the royal court setting in 2 Kings 7:2 and 2 Kings 7:17.
Why it lands — The verse records a practical concession for a foreign official’s unavoidable court duty without endorsing idolatry. It asks the reader to distinguish between unavoidable physical proximity to a cultic space and voluntary religious allegiance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 7:2 But the officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” replied Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it.”
- 2 Kings 7:17 Now the king had appointed the officer on whose arm he leaned to be in charge of the gate, but the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died, just as the man of God had foretold when the king had come to him.
- 2 Kings 17:35 For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them.
- Jeremiah 50:20 In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, a search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for Judah’s sins, but they will not be found; for I will forgive the remnant I preserve.
- Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
- 1 Kings 19:18 Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
- 2 Chronicles 30:18 A large number of the people—many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun—had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah interceded for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone