Language Studies

Difficult Sayings

Naaman''s baptism
2 Kings 5:14

"So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean" (2 Kings 5:14, NRSV)

Is baptism a Christian sacrament necessary for salvation? Is full immersion necessary? What was John's baptism? Is it for adults only? Does the Holy Spirit come at baptism? Did the Jews have anything like Christian baptism? All good questions, which we won't answer here, another time perhaps. Our question here is what was the nature of Naaman's washing and did it, since it uses a Greek word for baptism, prefigure full Christian immersion as suggested by some Baptists^F1 and the translators of the Greek Old Testament?

The story of Naaman's sevenfold washing in the Jordan resulting in the healing of his leprosy is well known. Its similar location to John's baptising in the Jordan and the mention of "divers [Jewish] baptisms"/"various washings" in Hebrews 9:10 has led some to speculate that Naaman's dipping was a ceremonial baptism equivalent. He was not commanded to fully immerse himself, however, only to cleanse himself.

The Hebrew word for "immersion" here is טָבַל tâbhal (Strong's #2881) and is only used 16 times in the Old Testament. It is commonly translated by βαπτω baptô (Strong's #911) or uniquely in this verse by βαπτιζω baptizô (Strong's #907) in the Greek Septuagint. The Greek appears to mean, "to fully cover over" as in the dyeing of a garment for which complete immersion is necessary. Why did the Jewish translators choose a word that would later form the basis of the word baptism only in this verse out of all its uses? Fairfield^F2 suggested that only here was the context suggesting that the dipping meant cleansing and thus a different word was appropriate.

Significantly, the Hebrew which it translates, however, only implies "dipping" not a full immersion or plunging as can be seen by its more common use for dipping something into blood (Leviticus 14:6) or oil (Deuteronomy 33:24) be it just a finger (Leviticus 4:6,17; 9:9) or a toe. It is interesting that the majority of Bible versions render the verb in this verse by "dipped", only the NRSV and The Message use "immersed" and Darby used "plunged".

This said, the standard purification of a leper according to Leviticus 14:2-8 included both "sprinkling" נָזָה nâzâh (Strong's #5137) of blood and "washing" רָחַץ râchats (Strong's #7364) in water. This washing was to include full immersion of the body, according to the Talmud^F3, in a vessel or open sea of sufficient size (minimum 1 cubit wide by 3 cubits/4-5 feet deep) to contain (like a standard mikveh - Jewish ritual bath) 40 seahs. The instructions elsewhere in the Bible and later Jewish literature conflict somewhat and usually the emphasis is more on whether the water is "running" or "living" (Leviticus 14:5-6,51-52; 15:13; Numbers 19:17-18) rather than static and contained in a vessel. It is then sprinkled or poured upon the recipient and the vessel, if used, is for collection of the water not immersion in. This gives extra meaning to Jesus' words about being the source of running or "living water" in John 4:10-11.

Thus, any attempt at seeing full immersion baptism prefigured in Naaman's cleansing misses the point. He was healed because he obeyed in faith, he washed as he was ordered to in “living water”, seven times was required, but not how deep he should go or whether, as was common, he could just stand in the water and use his hands to “sprinkle” water over himself.

FOOTNOTES:
F1: A view countered by the former Baptist E.B. Fairfield in his Letters on Baptism, 1893. (http://truthinheart.com/EarlyOberlinCD/CD/Doctrine/Baptism.htm)
F2: E.B. Fairfield in his Letters on Baptism, 1893, pp.58-65 .
F3: Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 14a,b.

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