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Naaman at Elisha’s house receives from Elisha’s messenger the instruction to wash seven times in the Jordan River, with Elisha nearby and horses and chariots present.

Free printable Bible coloring page

Wash in the Jordan

2 Kings 5:1-19

The Big Idea

God can work through a simple instruction and through people others may overlook. Humility and obedience matter, even when God’s way is not what we expected.

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The Bible Story

Naaman Is Healed

In 2 Kings 5:8–10, Elisha hears about the king of Israel’s distress and tells him to send Naaman to Elisha. Naaman arrives with horses and chariots at the house of Elisha. Elisha does not come out to Naaman himself. Instead, he sends a messenger with this instruction: Naaman is to wash seven times in the Jordan River so that his skin will be restored and he will be clean. This scene is part of the account of Naaman, commander of the army of Aram, who has a skin disease. The instruction is simple, but Naaman must decide whether he will follow it. The passage presents Elisha’s message as God’s appointed direction for Naaman’s healing.

Themes

A low-status person providing crucial guidanceHealing from skin diseaseHumilityObedienceRecognition of God’s powerRefusal of payment for God’s work

Bible moment

The Bible moment

In 2 Kings 5:8–10, Elisha hears about the king of Israel’s distress and tells him to send Naaman to Elisha. Naaman arrives with horses and chariots at the house of Elisha. Elisha does not come out to Naaman himself. Instead, he sends a messenger with this instruction: Naaman is to wash seven times in the Jordan River so that his skin will be restored and he will be clean. This scene is part of the account of Naaman, commander of the army of Aram, who has a skin disease. The instruction is simple, but Naaman must decide whether he will follow it. The passage presents Elisha’s message as God’s appointed direction for Naaman’s healing.

Look closely

What children can notice

At the house of Elisha, Elisha’s messenger gives Naaman the instruction to wash seven times in the Jordan. Show Elisha inside or nearby but not personally coming out to Naaman, with the Jordan visible in the distance or represented on a simple scroll or map-like setting.

Talk together

Talk about it

  • Why might Naaman have found the messenger’s instruction difficult to accept?
  • What did Naaman do after his servants reasoned with him?

For families, church, and class

Use this page

Use this page with 2 Kings 5:8–10 when teaching about Naaman’s response to God’s instruction. Invite children to notice that Elisha sent a messenger and that Naaman was told to wash seven times in the Jordan. Connect the scene with humility and obedience without blaming anyone for illness. A teacher may retell the sequence, display a simple river map, or ask children to count to seven. Do not add dialogue or show Elisha personally delivering the message.

Source note

From this passage

2 Kings 5:8-10 · Naaman and Elisha

At the house of Elisha, Elisha’s messenger gives Naaman the instruction to wash seven times in the Jordan. Show Elisha inside or nearby but not personally coming out to Naaman, with the Jordan visible in the distance or represented on a simple scroll or map-like setting.

Continue the Story

Naaman Is Healed

More from this story

Choose another meaningful scene to color.

The captive Israelite girl respectfully speaks with Naaman’s wife in a simple household setting about the prophet in Samaria who could help Naaman.

A Helpful Message

2 Kings 5:1-19

Naaman prepares to travel to Israel with the king of Aram’s letter, horses or chariots, silver, gold, and changes of clothing.

Naaman Carries the King’s Letter

2 Kings 5:1-19

Naaman and his servants at the Jordan River as Naaman washes seven times and is restored, based on 2 Kings 5:11-14.

Naaman Chooses Obedience

2 Kings 5:1-19

Naaman washing seven times in the Jordan River, represented by seven stones, ripples, or numbered markers.

Seven Times in the Jordan

2 Kings 5:1-19

More from 2 Kings

Elisha listens as an unnamed widow shows him a small jar of oil inside her house, based on 2 Kings 4:2.

The Widow Shows Her Jar of Oil

2 Kings 4:1-7

The unnamed widow and her two sons carry empty containers borrowed from several neighbors toward their home, preparing to follow Elisha’s instruction.

Borrowing Empty Containers

2 Kings 4:1-7

An unnamed widow pours oil from a jar into containers inside her closed household while her two sons bring empty containers and set filled ones aside.

Oil Fills the Containers

2 Kings 4:1-7

An illustration concept of the unnamed widow, her two sons, Elisha, and containers of oil in the household setting, showing provision for the family.

Provision for the Family

2 Kings 4:1-7

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