What Does 2 Kings 5:21 Mean in the King James?
So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The verb behind “followed after” carries pursuit, placing Gehazi’s chase beside Naaman’s question about wholeness.
THE MEANING
The verse places an urgent pursuit beside a question about wholeness: Gehazi runs after Naaman, and Naaman steps down from the chariot to meet him. His first words ask whether all is well. The gap between the chase and the unanswered question remains open.
THE ROOT
וַיִּרְדֹּף
wayyirdof
GROWS FROM
רדף
radaph
Pursue, chase after.
“followed after” in this verse is wayyirdof. The verb carries the force of pursuit. The same root can describe pursuing peace, so the action’s character emerges from what it is pursuing; here, Gehazi’s aim remains open while Naaman asks after wholeness.
ALSO GROWS
rōdēf: One who pursues.
רֹדֵף
This form names a person by the same active pursuit that drives the encounter.
werodfehu: Pursue it.
וְרָדְפֵהוּ
Psalm 34 directs the same root toward peace, showing that pursuit takes its character from its object.
הֲשָׁלוֹם
hashalom
GROWS FROM
שלם
sh-l-m
Be whole, complete, sound.
“all well” in this verse is hashalom. The question asks about more than a calm atmosphere; its root carries the sense of wholeness and completeness. A branch of the same root means making good or repaying, adding the shade of something restored or made right.
ALSO GROWS
shalem: Whole, complete.
שָׁלֵם
This branch gives “Is all well?” a concrete sense of wholeness.
shillem: Make good, repay, recompense.
שִׁלֵּם
The same root family links wholeness with restoring what is due or making something right.
THE PATTERN
Wholeness is spoken into relationship as a question, a greeting, or a blessing.
And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.THE THREAD
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.Psalm 34:14 uses רדף (radaph, “pursue”) for the same action behind “followed after,” and sets it beside שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “wholeness”). There, wholeness itself is pursued; here, Naaman asks whether it is present while Gehazi’s aim remains unstated.
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