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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/2_kings/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/2_kings/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/2_kings/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/2_kings/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/2_kings/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/2_kings/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/2_kings/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/2_kings/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And even before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/2_kings/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/2_kings/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And it came about before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/2_kings/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now it happened that Isaiah had not gone out of the middle court, and the word of Yahweh came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/2_kings/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle courtyard, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/2_kings/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Isaiah had not yet gone out of the inner courtyard when the word of the LORD came to him:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/2_kings/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Isaiah had not yet gone out of the inner courtyard when the word of the LORD came to him: &#8220<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/2_kings/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of Jehovah came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/2_kings/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Before Isaiah got to the middle court of the palace, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/2_kings/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/2_kings/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Isaiah hadn't gone as far as the middle courtyard when the LORD spoke his word to him:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/2_kings/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Isaiah left the king, but before he had passed through the central courtyard of the palace the LORD told him <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/2_kings/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Before Isaiah had left the middle court, this message from the LORD came to him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/2_kings/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Isaiah was still in the middle courtyard when the LORD told him,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/2_kings/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />It happened, before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/2_kings/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/2_kings/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/2_kings/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Before Isaiah had gone out into the middle part of the city, Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/2_kings/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And it comes to pass, [when] Isaiah has not [yet] gone out to the middle court, that the word of YHWH has been to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/2_kings/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And it cometh to pass -- Isaiah hath not gone out to the middle court -- that the word of Jehovah hath been unto him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/2_kings/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it will be Isaiah went not forth to the city of the middle, and the word of Jehovah was to him, saying,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/2_kings/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And before Isaias was gone out of the middle of the court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/2_kings/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And before Isaiah departed from the middle part of the atrium, the word of the Lord came to him, saying:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/2_kings/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Before Isaiah had left the central courtyard, the word of the LORD came to him:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him:<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And before Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/2_kings/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Isaiah had not gone out to the middle courtyard, and the word of LORD JEHOVAH was upon him saying:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/2_kings/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out of the inner court of the city, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/2_kings/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Esaias was in the middle court, and the word of the Lord came to him, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/2_kings/20-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=7086" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/2_kings/20.htm">Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>“Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">Before</a> <a href="/hebrew/3470.htm" title="3470: yə·ša‘·yā·hū (N-proper-ms) -- Or Yshayahuw; from yasha' and Yahh; Jah has saved; Jeshajah, the name of seven Israelites.">Isaiah</a> <a href="/hebrew/3318.htm" title="3318: yā·ṣā (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to go out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.">had left</a> <a href="/hebrew/8484.htm" title="8484: hat·tî·ḵō·nāh (Art:: Adj-fs) -- Middle. Or tiykon; from tavek; central.">the middle</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: hå̄·ʿīr (N-cs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">courtyard,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: ū·ḏə·ḇar- (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause.">the word</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: hā·yāh (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">came</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lāw (Prep:: 3ms) -- To, into, towards. ">to him,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">saying,</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>“Go back and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. I will surely heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the house of the LORD.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/38-4.htm">Isaiah 38:4-5</a></span><br />And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, / “Go and tell Hezekiah that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/19-20.htm">2 Kings 19:20</a></span><br />Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/7-17.htm">2 Samuel 7:17</a></span><br />So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire revelation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/17-2.htm">1 Kings 17:2-3</a></span><br />Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah: / “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/42-7.htm">Jeremiah 42:7</a></span><br />After ten days the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/15-1.htm">Genesis 15:1</a></span><br />After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/3-4.htm">Exodus 3:4</a></span><br />When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/12-6.htm">Numbers 12:6-8</a></span><br />He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream. / But this is not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. / I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/3-10.htm">1 Samuel 3:10</a></span><br />Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/18-1.htm">1 Kings 18:1</a></span><br />After a long time, in the third year of the drought, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/9-10.htm">Acts 9:10-11</a></span><br />In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered. / “Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/10-3.htm">Acts 10:3-4</a></span><br />One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” / Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/11-13.htm">Acts 11:13-14</a></span><br />He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. / He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/16-9.htm">Acts 16:9-10</a></span><br />During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” / As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/2-13.htm">Matthew 2:13</a></span><br />When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,</p><p class="hdg">court.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/20-4.htm">2 Kings 20:4</a></b></br> And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ephesians/3-3.htm">Afore</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-34.htm">City</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-64.htm">Court</a> <a href="/2_kings/9-2.htm">Inner</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-1.htm">Isaiah</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-20.htm">Middle</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-23.htm">Part</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-21.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/129-6.htm">Afore</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-6.htm">City</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-11.htm">Court</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/28-11.htm">Inner</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-7.htm">Isaiah</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/11-14.htm">Middle</a> <a href="/2_kings/21-24.htm">Part</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-16.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/20-1.htm">Hezekiah, having received a message of death, by prayer has his life lengthened.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/20-8.htm">The sun goes ten degrees backward for a sign of that promise.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/20-12.htm">Berodach-baladan sending to visit Hezekiah has notice of his treasures.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/20-14.htm">Isaiah understanding thereof, foretells the Babylonian captivity.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/20-20.htm">Manasseh succeeds Hezekiah.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/2_kings/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard</b><br>This phrase indicates the urgency and immediacy of God's response to Hezekiah's prayer. The middle courtyard likely refers to the area within the palace complex in Jerusalem, suggesting that Isaiah was still within the vicinity when God spoke to him again. This setting underscores the close proximity of the prophet to the king, highlighting the direct communication between God and His chosen leaders. The courtyard was a place of official business and royal affairs, emphasizing the importance of the message being delivered.<p><b>the word of the LORD came to him</b><br>This phrase signifies divine revelation, a common occurrence in the prophetic books where God communicates His will to His prophets. The "word of the LORD" is a powerful expression, indicating that what follows is not merely human opinion but a direct message from God. This underscores the authority and reliability of the prophecy. In the broader biblical context, the "word of the LORD" is often associated with creation, judgment, and salvation, reflecting God's active involvement in the world.<p><b>saying</b><br>This introduces the specific message that God is about to deliver. In the context of <a href="/2_kings/20.htm">2 Kings 20</a>, it is a message of hope and healing for King Hezekiah, who was previously told he would die. The immediacy of God's response to Hezekiah's prayer demonstrates His compassion and willingness to intervene in human affairs. This also reflects the biblical theme of God hearing and responding to the prayers of the faithful, as seen in other scriptures such as <a href="/psalms/34-17.htm">Psalm 34:17</a> and <a href="/james/5-16.htm">James 5:16</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/isaiah.htm">Isaiah</a></b><br>A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is known for his prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and the future of Israel. In this context, he is delivering a message from God to King Hezekiah.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/h/hezekiah.htm">Hezekiah</a></b><br>The king of Judah at the time, Hezekiah is known for his faithfulness to God and his efforts to rid Judah of idolatry. He is the recipient of God's message through Isaiah.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who communicates His will and intentions through His prophets.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/middle_courtyard.htm">Middle Courtyard</a></b><br>Part of the royal palace complex in Jerusalem, indicating the setting where Isaiah receives the word of the LORD.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The capital city of Judah, where the events of this chapter take place, serving as the political and spiritual center of the nation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_prayer.htm">The Power of Prayer</a></b><br>Hezekiah's situation demonstrates the importance of turning to God in times of distress. His earnest prayer leads to a direct response from God, highlighting the effectiveness of sincere prayer.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_timing.htm">God's Sovereignty and Timing</a></b><br>The immediacy of God's response to Isaiah, even before he leaves the courtyard, underscores God's control over time and events. It reminds believers that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophets.htm">The Role of Prophets</a></b><br>Isaiah's role as a messenger of God illustrates the importance of listening to and heeding God's word. Prophets in the Bible serve as conduits for divine communication, guiding and correcting God's people.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_in_leadership.htm">Faithfulness in Leadership</a></b><br>Hezekiah's life is a testament to the impact of godly leadership. His faithfulness to God brings about divine intervention and blessing, encouraging leaders today to prioritize their relationship with God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_kings_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/2_kings_20_7__how_did_figs_cure_a_fatal_illness.htm">2 Kings 20:7: Why was a simple poultice of figs sufficient to cure a fatal illness if it was truly life-threatening? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/2_kings_20_9-11__sundial_shadow_reversal.htm">2 Kings 20:9-11: How could the shadow on the sundial move backward without violating the laws of physics?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_hezekiah_unconcerned_in_isaiah_39_8.htm">Isaiah 39:8: Why does Hezekiah seem untroubled by the future judgment pronounced on his descendants, and what does this imply about his character or leadership?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_reconcile_deut._4_2_with_later_changes.htm">Deuteronomy 4:2 restricts adding or subtracting from God's commands--how is this reconciled with later scriptural expansions or revisions?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_kings/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Into the middle court.</span>--This is the reading of some Heb. MSS., and of all the versions. The Hebrew text (<span class= "ital">city;</span> see margin) is wrong. Before Isaiah had left the precincts of the palace, he was bidden to return. (Keil says that here, as in <a href="/2_kings/10-25.htm" title="And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.">2Kings 10:25</a>, the word rendered "city" denotes "castle," <span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> the royal residence.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And it same to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court.</span> The narrative in <a href="/isaiah/38-4.htm">Isaiah 38:4</a> does not contain this touch, which is very graphic, and indicative of the eye-witness. "The middle court" is probably the second or intermediate court of the royal palace. Isaiah had not gone further than this, when he was arrested in his course by a Divine communication. <span class="cmt_word">That the word of the Lord came to him, saying.</span> How the word of the Lord came to the prophets is an inscrutable mystery. Sometimes, no doubt, it came in vision, which to a certain extent we can understand. But how, when the prophet was secularly engaged, as in this instance, walking across a court, he knew that the thought which occurred to him was a Divine message, it is almost impossible to conceive. Still, we cannot doubt that if God determines to communicate his will to man, he must be able, with the message, to impart an absolute certainty of its source, an assured conviction that it is his word, which precludes all question, hesitation, or dubiety. Isaiah, in the middle of his walk, finds his steps arrested, anew injunction laid upon him, with a necessity of immediately obeying it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/2_kings/20-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Before</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Isaiah</span><br /><span class="heb">יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yə·ša‘·yā·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3470.htm">Strong's 3470: </a> </span><span class="str2">Isaiah -- 'salvation of Yah', four Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">had left</span><br /><span class="heb">יָצָ֔א</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ṣā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3318.htm">Strong's 3318: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, bring, out, direct and proxim</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the middle</span><br /><span class="heb">הַתִּֽיכֹנָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(hat·tî·ḵō·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8484.htm">Strong's 8484: </a> </span><span class="str2">Central</span><br /><br /><span class="word">courtyard,</span><br /><span class="heb">חָצֵ֖ר</span> <span class="translit">(ḥā·ṣêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the word</span><br /><span class="heb">וּדְבַר־</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḏə·ḇar-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1697.htm">Strong's 1697: </a> </span><span class="str2">A word, a matter, thing, a cause</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">came</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְהִ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to him,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵלָ֖יו</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·lāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">saying,</span><br /><span class="heb">לֵאמֹֽר׃</span> <span class="translit">(lê·mōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/20-4.htm">2 Kings 20:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/2_kings/20-4.htm">2 Kings 20:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/2_kings/20-4.htm">2 Kings 20:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/2_kings/20-4.htm">2 Kings 20:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/2_kings/20-4.htm">2 Kings 20:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/20-4.htm">2 Kings 20:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/20-4.htm">2 Kings 20:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/20-4.htm">2 Kings 20:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/20-4.htm">2 Kings 20:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/2_kings/20-4.htm">2 Kings 20:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/2_kings/20-4.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 20:4 It happened before Isaiah was gone out (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/20-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 20:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 20:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/20-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 20:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 20:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>