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Before Elisha’s gate NAAMAN

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 38, under 2 Kings 5:14.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 38

METRE

6.6.6.6.8.8 7 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

2 Kings 5:14 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 7 stanzas as Newton printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.

SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here

STANZA I

Before Elisha’s gate

The Syrian leper stood;

But could not brook to wait,

He deemed himself too good:

He thought the prophet would attend,

And not to him a message send.

No line of this stanza quotes a verse closely; it is the hymn's own confession.

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under 2 Kings 5:14. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean. 2 KINGS 5:14 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ 2 KINGS 5

At length I trial made, When I had much endured; The message I obeyed, I washed, and I was cured: Sinners this healing fountain try, Which cleansed a wretch so vile as I. STANZA VII

Its place in the book

Book I of Olney Hymns walks through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, one hymn per passage: 141 hymns. This is number 38. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 38 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN Before Elisha’s gate

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