Meaning of the Name Naaman

Naaman is linked in Hebrew with the idea of pleasantness, beauty, or delight. It is therefore often rendered "pleasant" or "gracious/beautiful." The basic meaning is generally accepted.

Origin

The name Naaman is of Hebrew origin.

Who is Naaman in the Bible?

Naaman is the commander of the army of the king of Aram who is healed of leprosy through Elisha. His story powerfully shows that the grace of Israel's God reaches beyond Israel; an older genealogical bearer of the name also appears, but this commander is the best known.

The story of Naaman in the Bible

Naaman is a respected and valiant commander in the army of the king of Aram, yet he suffers from leprosy. A young Israelite girl serving in his household says that the prophet in Samaria could heal him. Naaman sets out with a royal letter and rich gifts; when the king of Israel despairs at the letter, Elisha sends word for the commander to come to him. Elisha does not meet him at the door, however, but sends a messenger telling him to wash seven times in the Jordan. Naaman is furious, insisting the rivers of his own land are better, but his servants reason with him: had the prophet asked something great, would he not have done it? Washing seven times in the Jordan, his flesh is restored like a child's. He returns to Elisha and openly declares that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel, resolving to sacrifice to the LORD alone. Centuries later Jesus recalls this story at Nazareth, noting that only Naaman the Syrian was cleansed in Elisha's days.

Is Naaman mentioned in the Quran?

The name Naaman does not appear in the Quran; his healing from leprosy is told in 2 Kings in the Bible and is also recalled by Jesus in the Gospels.

Verses where Naaman appears

2 Kings 5:1 — Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
2 Kings 5:14 — Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Luke 4:27 — There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.”