2 Kings 5:16 (WEB)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

2 Kings 5:14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

2 Kings 5:15 He returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, “See now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. Now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.”

2 Kings 5:16 But he said, “As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” He urged him to take it; but he refused.

2 Kings 5:17 Naaman said, “If not, then, please let two mules’ burden of earth be given to your servant; for your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to Yahweh.

2 Kings 5:18 In this thing may Yahweh pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon. When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may Yahweh pardon your servant in this thing.”

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "said", "yahweh", "lives", "before", "stand", "receive", "none", and "urged". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "said" and "yahweh", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "He returned to the man of God..." into verse 17's "Naaman said If not then please let...", so "said" and "yahweh" belong inside that flow. In 2 Kings context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "said" and "yahweh" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.