GEHAZI gĭ hā’ zī (גֵּיחֲזִ֗י, גֵּחֲזִ֣י, prob. valley of vision). The young servant of the prophet Elisha. The strengths and weaknesses of his character are readily apparent in the three passages where he is mentioned by name.

In the story of the wealthy Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8-37) is the first time Gehazi is mentioned. His master, Elisha, had been provided a chamber by this woman and was desirous of repaying the favor in some way. Gehazi perceptively alerted Elisha to the fact “she has no son, and her husband is old” (v. 14). Elisha predicted the birth of a son which came to pass the following spring. When the child had grown up he died one day of a head ailment (vv. 18-20). Immediately, the Shunammite woman, in bitter distress, rushed up to Elisha at Mt. Carmel. Gehazi was rebuked by Elisha for trying to thrust her away after she caught hold of the prophet’s feet. Gehazi was then sent on ahead to Shunem with Elisha’s staff to place on the woman’s son. The child, however, did not come to life until the prophet came, prayed and lay upon him (vv. 32-35).

Unlike the incident above, 2 Kings 5:20-27 pictures Gehazi as a man of covetousness and distrust. After Elisha had cleansed Naaman the Syrian of leprosy, and refused the gifts offered him in appreciation, Gehazi deceitfully sought the reward. He overtook Naaman’s chariot. By fabricating a story in Elisha’s name he deceitfully got for himself “two talents of silver in two bags, with two festal garments” (v. 23). The sagacious prophet, however, knowing of the incident, harshly rebuked the deception of his servant by issuing a curse: “Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cleave to you” (v. 27).

In a final account (2 Kings 8:1-6), while Gehazi related to the king the great things Elisha had done, the Shunammite woman appeared with her son. She had returned from Philistia after a seven year famine. When Gehazi attested the identity of both, she requested of the king restoration of her house and land. This, the king granted, along with all the produce her fields had yielded since she had been gone.

Though unnamed, the “servant” in 2 Kings 4:43 and 6:15, may be Gehazi.