The story of Naaman the Syrian can be found within the Second Book of Kings, in the Old Testament. Naaman was a commander in the Syrian army and was highly regarded by the king of Syria due to the victories he had won. However, Naaman suffered from leprosy, a chronic skin disease that has serious consequences.
One day, a young Jewish girl working as a slave in his household told him about the prophet Elisha. She claimed that the prophet had miraculous powers and could heal him of his leprosy. Keen to be cured, Naaman travelled from Damascus to Israel and went to see Elisha.
Elisha told Naaman to go and wash seven times in the holy River Jordan, and he would be healed. Naaman was initially disappointed and angry at the simple instructions and felt that the prophet should have done more to help him. Eventually however, he decided to do as he was told and was then miraculously healed.
In the New Testament, Christ explained that the healing of Naaman was a sign of God’s concern not just for Israelites, but for people of other nations too. He said: “There were also many people with leprosy in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, but not one of these was cleansed except for Naaman the Syrian.” (Luke 4:27)
In later Christian thought, the story of the healing of Naaman was often linked with the Sacrament of Baptism. In the Second Book of Kings, we read that Naaman “bathed himself in the Jordan” (2 Kings 5:14). In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the word used here for “bathed” is the same one for “baptised”, which naturally led to a comparison to the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan.
Preaching on the story of Naaman, Pope Francis said: “In the days of the prophet Elisha, this man enjoyed great renown. He was a valiant general of the Syrian army who had on many occasions demonstrated his bravery and courage. Yet together with fame, power, esteem, honours and glory, Naaman was forced to live with a tragic situation: he had leprosy. His armour, that had won him renown, in reality covered a frail, wounded and diseased humanity. We often find this contradiction in our lives: sometimes great gifts are the armour that covers great frailties.”
He continued: “Naaman came to understand a fundamental truth: we cannot spend our lives hiding behind armour, a role we play, or social recognition; in the end, it hurts us. The moment comes in each individual’s life when he or she desires to set aside the glitter of this world’s glory for the fullness of an authentic life, with no further need for armour or masks. This desire impelled the valiant general Naaman to set out on a journey in search of someone who could help him, and he did this at the suggestion of a slave girl, a Jewish prisoner of war, who told him of a God able to bring healing to hopeless situations like his own.”
In this stained glass window by the Arts and Crafts painter-glazier Paul Woodroffe, we see Naaman bathing himself in the River Jordan, while his entourage look on. The window, which dates to 1923, is found within the baptistery of Our Lady of Compassion, in Formby.
It sits alongside other windows that relate to the Sacrament of Baptism, such as the Baptism of Christ by St John and St Paulinus christening converts. It’s captioned Naaman leprosis mandatus – which means ‘Naaman the leper was commanded’ – a reference to Elisha’s instruction.
See the full image:
Detail of Naaman the Syrian:
The accompanying image of the Baptism of Christ:
Where to find this work of art
Our Lady of Compassion, Formby
Read the relevant story
2 Kings 5:1-16
On a similar theme
- From the Old Testament: Naaman was advised to bathe in the Jordan by the Prophet Elisha, who healed many people.
- From the New Testament: Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan was later connected with this story.
Lo & Behold 