King James Bible

Back to Reader

2 Kings

5

:

17

And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
And Naaman Naaman Noun H5283 נַעֲמָן֒ na·'a·man
Analysis:
Read more about: Naaman
said answer Verb H559 וַיֹּאמֶר֮ vai·yo·mer
please I beseech thee Interjection H4994 נָ֣א na
to thy servant bondage Noun H5650 לְעַבְדְּךָ֔ le·'av·de·cha,
Shall there not then I pray thee be given add Verb H5414 יֻתַּן־ yut·tan-
two acre Noun H6776 צֶֽמֶד־ tze·med-
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

mules' mule Noun H6505 פְּרָדִ֖ים pe·ra·dim
burden burden Noun H4853 מַשָּׂ֥א mas·sa
of earth country Noun H127 אֲדָמָ֑ה a·da·mah;
your servant bondage Noun H5650 עַבְדְּךָ֜ av·de·cha
will no before Adverb H3808 וָלֹ֕א va·lo
longer again sub H5750 עֹ֨וד o·vd
will henceforth offer accomplish Verb H6213 יַעֲשֶׂה֩ ya·'a·seh
neither burnt offering ascent Noun H5930 עֹלָ֤ה o·lah
nor before Adverb H3808 לֹֽוא־ lo·v-
nor sacrifice offer Noun H2077 וָזֶ֙בַח֙ va·ze·vach
unto other other man Adjective H312 אֲחֵרִ֔ים a·che·rim,
gods angels Noun H430 לֵאלֹהִ֣ים le·lo·him
but unto the LORD Jehovah Noun H3068 לַיהוָֽה׃ Yah·weh

People

Naaman

a descendant of Benjamin, also an Aramean (Syrian) general

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
King James Bible And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.
Hebrew Greek English And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, "If not, please let your servant at least be given to thy servant two mules' burden load of earth? earth; for thy your servant will henceforth no longer offer neither burnt offering nor will he sacrifice unto to other gods, but unto to the LORD.
New American Standard Bible 1995 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, "If not, please let your servant at least be given to thy servant two mules' burden load of earth? earth; for thy your servant will henceforth no longer offer neither burnt offering nor will he sacrifice unto to other gods, but unto to the LORD.