גֵּיחֲזִי (ge.cha.zi)
ge.cha.zi
Gehazi
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
Gehazi was the personal attendant of the prophet Elisha during the era of the Divided Monarchy. His name, meaning "valley of vision," appears twelve times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the narratives of 2 Kings. He is not a major theological figure but serves as a crucial character study in the stories surrounding his master’s miracles.
The sources highlight two contrasting episodes that define his legacy. Initially, he acts as a faithful servant, carrying Elisha’s staff to revive a Shunammite woman’s son (2 Kings 4:29). However, his reputation shifts dramatically when he secretly accepts gifts from Naaman the Syrian, lying about his absence to cover his tracks (2 Kings 5:20-27). Elisha condemns this greed, declaring that Naaman’s leprosy will cling to Gehazi and his descendants forever.
This narrative illustrates the danger of spiritual compromise for those close to God’s work. While Elisha performed miracles freely, Gehazi sought personal profit from divine power. The text uses his story to warn against using religious proximity for material gain, marking him as a cautionary figure in biblical history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Gehazi’s story offers a sobering look at how proximity to God’s work does not guarantee personal holiness. As Elisha’s attendant, he witnessed miracles daily, yet his heart remained tethered to material gain rather than spiritual devotion. This contrast reminds us that serving in ministry or attending church requires an inward transformation of desire, not just outward activity.
His attempt to profit from Naaman’s healing reveals the danger of mixing faith with greed. Elisha’s sharp rebuke shows that God sees the hidden motives behind our actions. We are invited to examine our own hearts, ensuring that our service flows from gratitude and love, not a desire for personal advantage or recognition.
Ultimately, Gehazi serves as a warning against spiritual compromise. His narrative encourages believers to pursue integrity in private as well as public life, trusting that God’s provision is sufficient without resorting to deceit. This reflection invites us to seek a heart aligned with God’s values above all else.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Gehazi9×
- to/ Gehazi1×
- and/ Gehazi1×
- O Gehazi1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גֵּיחֲזִ֗י3×
- לְ/גֵיחֲזִ֜י1×
- וְ/גֵחֲזִ֞י1×
- גֵּיחֲזִ֣י1×
- גֵּיחֲזִ֖י1×
- גֵּחֲזִ֣י1×
- גֵּחֲזִ֑י1×
- גֵּֽיחֲזִ֜י1×
- גֵּֽחֲזִי֙1×
- גֵּ֣חֲזִ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 5:20
But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As Yahweh lives, I will run after him, and take something from him.”
This verse marks the turning point where Gehazi’s greed overtakes his duty, revealing his secret plan to exploit Naaman's gratitude for personal profit.
-
II Kings 5:25
But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you come from, Gehazi?” He said, “Your servant went nowhere.”
Gehazi’s lie to Elisha highlights the immediate spiritual blindness that follows deceit, as he claims to have gone nowhere despite his clear intentions.
-
II Kings 4:29
Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don’t answer him again. Then lay my staff on the child’s face.”
Here Gehazi acts obediently by taking Elisha’s staff, showing his initial role as a faithful servant before his moral decline begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Gehazi in the Bible?
What sin did Gehazi commit?
What was the consequence of Gehazi’s actions?
Every Occurrence (12 verses across 1 books)
II Kings 12 verses
He said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him.
II Kings 4:14He said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Most certainly she has no son, and her husband is old.”
II Kings 4:25So she went, and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his…
II Kings 4:27When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the…
II Kings 4:29Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any…
II Kings 4:31Gehazi went ahead of them, and laid the staff on the child’s face; but there was no voice and no hearing. Therefore he…
II Kings 4:36He called Gehazi, and said, “Call this Shunammite!” So he called her. When she had come in to him, he said, “Take up…
II Kings 5:20But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not…
II Kings 5:21So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and…
II Kings 5:25But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you come from, Gehazi?” He said, “Your…
II Kings 8:4Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Please tell me all the great things that…
II Kings 8:5As he was telling the king how he had restored to life him who was dead, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to…