Gehazi

Biblical Account

In 2 Kings, Gehazi appears as the servant (a personal attendant) of the prophet Elisha. He is named in chapters 4, 5, and 8. A "servant" also appears in other scenes in chapter 4 (4:38, 4:43), and some identify this figure as Gehazi, but the text does not name him there.

• The Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8–37): When Elisha wishes to repay the Shunammite woman, Gehazi points out that she has no son and that her husband is old (4:14). Later, when the child dies and the woman catches hold of Elisha's feet, Gehazi tries to push her away. He takes Elisha's staff, goes on ahead, and lays it on the child's face, but the child does not awaken (4:31). Elisha then comes himself and restores the child to life.
• The Naaman incident (2 Kings 5:20–27): Elisha refused the gifts offered by Naaman after his healing. Gehazi, however, pursues Naaman, falsely claims that two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to Elisha, and receives silver and garments, which he hides in the house. When Elisha asks where he has been, he answers that he has gone nowhere. Elisha rebukes him: "Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments?" (5:26), and declares that the leprosy of Naaman will cleave to Gehazi and to his descendants. Gehazi goes out from his presence "a leper as white as snow" (5:27).
• Before the king (2 Kings 8:1–6): The king of Israel asks Gehazi about the great things Elisha has done. Just then the Shunammite woman arrives to appeal for the return of the land she had lost. When Gehazi identifies the woman and her son, the king orders that her property be restored to her.

Significance within Scripture

Gehazi's conduct stands in sharp contrast to that of Elisha, who gave without asking anything in return. The story turns on a reversal: Naaman, a Gentile, is cleansed, while Gehazi, an Israelite, contracts leprosy. Gehazi is not named in the New Testament; Jesus mentions only Naaman, in Luke 4:27. Christian interpreters often read the account alongside the words "freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8), or compare Gehazi with Simon the Sorcerer and Ananias and Sapphira.

Interpretations and Debates

• Why the staff had no effect: The text gives no reason. Some sermons attribute the failure to Gehazi's lack of faith or to his disobedience of the command not to greet anyone on the way (4:29), but these are interpretations rather than statements of the text.
• The timing of chapter 8: Interpreters differ on whether Gehazi could have conversed with the king after contracting leprosy. Some hold that 2 Kings does not arrange events in strict chronological order. Others infer from chapter 8 that Gehazi was later restored.
• The declaration concerning his descendants: Discussion centers on how this declaration can be reconciled with Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:19–20, which hold each person accountable for his own sin.
• Jewish tradition: The Mishnah (a collection of Jewish oral law) is understood to list Gehazi, along with Balaam and others, among those who have no share in the world to come. The Talmud preserves a tradition identifying the four lepers of 2 Kings 7 as Gehazi and his sons. All of these traditions lie outside the biblical text.

No significant differences in the interpretation of this figure are known among Protestant denominations.

In the Korean Church

In Korean church preaching, Gehazi frequently serves as an illustration of the consequences of covetousness and lying. He is especially often cited to teach that ministers must not be greedy for material gain. In Sunday school, his story is usually taught as part of the account of Naaman's healing.