In 2 Kings 5:3, we encounter the words of a young Israelite servant girl, spoken in the midst of her master’s dire illness. Referring to Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army (2 Kings 5:1), the passage states: “She said to her mistress, ‘I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.’” (v.3). This young girl, uprooted from her land and serving Naaman’s wife, points him toward hope and healing in the land of Israel. Her brief but profoundly faithful statement sets in motion a miraculous chain of events. According to the historical timeline of this passage, it is the ministry of the prophet Elisha, successor of Elijah in the 9th century BC, that will bring healing to Naaman. In this way, 2 Kings 5:3 highlights how God can use the humble testimony of an unexpected person—even an enslaved girl—to accomplish His purpose. The region mentioned here, Samaria, served as the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel after the monarchy split following King Solomon’s death, around 930 BC. Under King Omri (ca. 885-874 BC), Samaria was established as the seat of power in the north (1 Kings 16:24). By Elisha’s time in the 9th century BC, Samaria had become a prominent place where God’s prophets ministered (2 Kings 5:1-14).
When the servant girl proclaims, “I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria!” (v.3), she is confidently testifying that the God of Israel has authentic power to heal—power that surpasses that of the pagan gods assumed by her captors.She is echoing a deep trust in the LORD’s sovereignty, which in turn foreshadows Naaman’s own journey of faith. Despite her foreign circumstances, she still believes in the LORD’s might. In fact, Naaman’s eventual obedience to Elisha’s directions (2 Kings 5:14) serves as a reminder of how God’s grace can extend beyond Israel’s boundaries—a grace Jesus Himself references (Luke 4:27). Through this servant girl’s words, hope enters a seemingly hopeless situation.
Ultimately, 2 Kings 5:3 invites us to see how God accomplishes His works among people of all walks of life. The girl’s statement reveals faith that surpasses her station and calls Naaman to seek the prophet in Israel. Elisha, who ministered in the 9th century BC, would use this opportunity to show God’s power to the Aramean commander, culminating in Naaman’s complete healing from his leprosy (2 Kings 5:14).The mention of Samaria emphasizes the historical placement of the event in the Northern Kingdom, a land often embroiled in idolatry yet still the place where God’s prophet would intervene mightily.
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2 Kings 5:3 meaning
In 2 Kings 5:3, we encounter the words of a young Israelite servant girl, spoken in the midst of her master’s dire illness. Referring to Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army (2 Kings 5:1), the passage states: “She said to her mistress, ‘I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.’” (v.3). This young girl, uprooted from her land and serving Naaman’s wife, points him toward hope and healing in the land of Israel. Her brief but profoundly faithful statement sets in motion a miraculous chain of events. According to the historical timeline of this passage, it is the ministry of the prophet Elisha, successor of Elijah in the 9th century BC, that will bring healing to Naaman. In this way, 2 Kings 5:3 highlights how God can use the humble testimony of an unexpected person—even an enslaved girl—to accomplish His purpose. The region mentioned here, Samaria, served as the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel after the monarchy split following King Solomon’s death, around 930 BC. Under King Omri (ca. 885-874 BC), Samaria was established as the seat of power in the north (1 Kings 16:24). By Elisha’s time in the 9th century BC, Samaria had become a prominent place where God’s prophets ministered (2 Kings 5:1-14).
When the servant girl proclaims, “I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria!” (v.3), she is confidently testifying that the God of Israel has authentic power to heal—power that surpasses that of the pagan gods assumed by her captors.She is echoing a deep trust in the LORD’s sovereignty, which in turn foreshadows Naaman’s own journey of faith. Despite her foreign circumstances, she still believes in the LORD’s might. In fact, Naaman’s eventual obedience to Elisha’s directions (2 Kings 5:14) serves as a reminder of how God’s grace can extend beyond Israel’s boundaries—a grace Jesus Himself references (Luke 4:27). Through this servant girl’s words, hope enters a seemingly hopeless situation.
Ultimately, 2 Kings 5:3 invites us to see how God accomplishes His works among people of all walks of life. The girl’s statement reveals faith that surpasses her station and calls Naaman to seek the prophet in Israel. Elisha, who ministered in the 9th century BC, would use this opportunity to show God’s power to the Aramean commander, culminating in Naaman’s complete healing from his leprosy (2 Kings 5:14).The mention of Samaria emphasizes the historical placement of the event in the Northern Kingdom, a land often embroiled in idolatry yet still the place where God’s prophet would intervene mightily.