CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>2 Kings 20:9 And Isaiah had replied, "This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/2_kings/20-9.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/12_2Ki_20_09.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="2 Kings 20:9 - Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And Isaiah had replied, This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/2_kings/20-9.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/2_kings/20-9.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/2_kings/">2 Kings</a> > <a href="/2_kings/20.htm">Chapter 20</a> > Verse 9</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad9.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/2_kings/20-8.htm" title="2 Kings 20:8">◄</a> 2 Kings 20:9 <a href="/2_kings/20-10.htm" title="2 Kings 20:10">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<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"><a href="/niv/2_kings/20.htm">New International Version</a> Isaiah answered, &#8220This is the LORD&#8217s sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?&#8221 <a href="/nlt/2_kings/20.htm">New Living Translation</a> Isaiah replied, “This is the sign from the LORD to prove that he will do as he promised. Would you like the shadow on the sundial to go forward ten steps or backward ten steps?” <a href="/esv/2_kings/20.htm">English Standard Version</a> And Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” <a href="/bsb/2_kings/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> And Isaiah had replied, “This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?” <a href="/kjv/2_kings/20.htm">King James Bible</a> And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? <a href="/nkjv/2_kings/20.htm">New King James Version</a> Then Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing which He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees or go backward ten degrees?” <a href="/nasb_/2_kings/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will perform the word that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?” <a href="/nasb/2_kings/20.htm">NASB 1995</a> Isaiah said, &#8220This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/2_kings/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?” <a href="/lsb/2_kings/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or turn back ten steps?” <a href="/amp/2_kings/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Isaiah said, “This will be the sign to you from the LORD, that He will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow [indicating the time of day] go forward ten steps, or go backward ten steps?” <a href="/csb/2_kings/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the LORD that he will do what he has promised: Should the shadow go ahead ten steps or go back ten steps? ” <a href="/hcsb/2_kings/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Isaiah said, &#8220This is the sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Should the shadow go ahead 10 steps or go back 10 steps?&#8221 <a href="/asv/2_kings/20.htm">American Standard Version</a> And Isaiah said, This shall be the sign unto thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps? <a href="/cev/2_kings/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Isaiah replied, "The LORD will prove to you that he will keep his promise. Will the shadow made by the setting sun on the stairway go forward ten steps or back ten steps?" <a href="/erv/2_kings/20.htm">English Revised Version</a> And Isaiah said, This shall be the sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps? <a href="/gwt/2_kings/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Isaiah said, "This is your sign from the LORD that he will do what he promises. Do you want the shadow to go forward ten steps or come back ten steps?" <a href="/gnt/2_kings/20.htm">Good News Translation</a> Isaiah replied, "The LORD will give you a sign to prove that he will keep his promise. Now, would you prefer to have the shadow on the stairway go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?" <a href="/isv/2_kings/20.htm">International Standard Version</a> So Isaiah replied, "This will be your sign from the LORD that the LORD will do what he has promised. Shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?" <a href="/msb/2_kings/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> And Isaiah had replied, ?This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?? <a href="/net/2_kings/20.htm">NET Bible</a> Isaiah replied, "This is your sign from the LORD confirming that the LORD will do what he has said. Do you want the shadow to move ahead ten steps or to go back ten steps?" <a href="/nheb/2_kings/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Isaiah said, "This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?" <a href="/wbt/2_kings/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? <a href="/web/2_kings/20.htm">World English Bible</a> Isaiah said, “This will be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do the thing that he has spoken: should the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/2_kings/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And Isaiah says, “This [is] the sign to you from YHWH, that YHWH does the thing that He has spoken—[will] the shadow have gone on ten degrees, or does it turn back ten degrees?” <a href="/ylt/2_kings/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Isaiah saith, 'This is to thee the sign from Jehovah, that Jehovah doth the thing that He hath spoken -- The shadow hath gone on ten degrees, or it doth turn back ten degrees?' <a href="/slt/2_kings/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Isaiah will say, This the sign to thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do the word which he spake: the shadow going ten steps, or shall it turn back ten steps?<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/2_kings/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And Isaias said to him: This shall be the sign from the Lord, that the Lord will do the word which he hath spoken: Wilt thou that the shadow go forward ten lines, or that it go back so many degrees? <a href="/cpdv/2_kings/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And Isaiah said to him: “This will be the sign from the Lord, that the Lord will do the word that he has spoken: Do you wish that the shadow may ascend ten lines, or that it may turn back for the same number of degrees?” <a href="/nabre/2_kings/20.htm">New American Bible</a> Isaiah replied, “This will be the sign for you from the LORD that he will carry out the word he has spoken: Shall the shadow go forward or back ten steps?” <a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he has promised: the shadow has now advanced ten intervals; shall it retreat ten intervals?”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And Isaiah said, This is the sign that you shall have from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees or backward ten degrees? <a href="/hpbt/2_kings/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And Isaiah said: “This is the sign for you from before LORD JEHOVAH, that LORD JEHOVAH will perform for you the statement that he spoke: will the shadow walk ten degrees, or will it return ten degrees?”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/2_kings/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And Isaiah said: 'This shall be the sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? <a href="/sep/2_kings/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And Esaias said, This is the sign from the Lord, that the Lord will perform the word which he has spoken, the shadow of the dial shall advance ten degrees: or if it should go back ten degrees this would also be the sign. <a href="/parallel/2_kings/20-9.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=7147" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/2_kings/20.htm">Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery</a> …8Now Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?” 9<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.">And Isaiah</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">had replied,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: zeh- (Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">“This</a> <a href="/hebrew/226.htm" title="226: hā·’ō·wṯ (Art:: N-cs) -- A sign. Probably from 'uwth; a signal, as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.">will be a sign</a> <a href="/hebrew/lə·ḵā (Prep:: 2ms) -- ">to you</a> <a href="/hebrew/854.htm" title="854: mê·’êṯ (Prep-m:: DirObjM) -- With (denoting proximity). Probably from 'anah; properly, nearness, near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.">from</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.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">that</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.">He</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: had·dā·ḇār (Art:: N-ms) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ya·‘ă·śeh (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">will do</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">what</a> <a href="/hebrew/1696.htm" title="1696: dib·bêr (V-Piel-Perf-3ms) -- To speak. A primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively, to speak; rarely to subdue.">He has promised:</a> <a href="/hebrew/6738.htm" title="6738: haṣ·ṣêl (Art:: N-ms) -- A shadow. From tsalal; shade, whether literal or figurative.">Would you like the shadow</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: hā·laḵ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">to go</a> <a href="/hebrew/6235.htm" title="6235: ‘e·śer (Number-fsc) -- Ten. Masculine of term aasarah; from asar; ten.">forward ten</a> <a href="/hebrew/4609.htm" title="4609: ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ (N-fp) -- Feminine of ma'aleh; elevation, i.e. The act, or the condition; specifically a climactic progression.">steps,</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: yā·šūḇ (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">back</a> <a href="/hebrew/6235.htm" title="6235: ‘e·śer (Number-fsc) -- Ten. Masculine of term aasarah; from asar; ten.">ten</a> <a href="/hebrew/4609.htm" title="4609: ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ (N-fp) -- Feminine of ma'aleh; elevation, i.e. The act, or the condition; specifically a climactic progression.">steps?”</a> 10“It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps,” answered Hezekiah, “but not for it to go back ten steps.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/isaiah/38-7.htm">Isaiah 38:7-8</a> This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: / I will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended. <a href="/joshua/10-12.htm">Joshua 10:12-14</a> On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” / So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? “So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.” / There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man, because the LORD fought for Israel. <a href="/2_kings/19-29.htm">2 Kings 19:29-31</a> And this will be a sign to you, O Hezekiah: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what springs from the same. But in the third year you will sow and reap; you will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. / And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root below and bear fruit above. / For a remnant will go forth from Jerusalem, and survivors from Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this. <a href="/2_kings/4-43.htm">2 Kings 4:43-44</a> But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” / So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD. <a href="/2_kings/13-18.htm">2 Kings 13:18-19</a> Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them, and Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped. / But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.” <a href="/2_kings/3-17.htm">2 Kings 3:17-18</a> For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ / This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. <a href="/2_kings/1-10.htm">2 Kings 1:10-12</a> Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men. / So the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. And the captain said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down at once!’” / Again Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men. <a href="/2_kings/5-14.htm">2 Kings 5:14</a> 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. <a href="/2_kings/6-17.htm">2 Kings 6:17</a> Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. <a href="/2_kings/7-1.htm">2 Kings 7:1-2</a> Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: ‘About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel, and two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel.’” / But the officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” replied Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it.” <a href="/matthew/12-38.htm">Matthew 12:38-40</a> Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” / Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. / For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. <a href="/luke/11-29.htm">Luke 11:29-30</a> As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. / For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. <a href="/john/2-18.htm">John 2:18-19</a> On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?” / Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” <a href="/john/4-48.htm">John 4:48</a> Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.” <a href="/john/20-29.htm">John 20:29</a> Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And Isaiah said, This sign shall you have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?This sign.<a href="/isaiah/38-7.htm">Isaiah 38:7,8</a> And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken; … <a href="/matthew/16-1.htm">Matthew 16:1-4</a> The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven… <a href="/mark/8-11.htm">Mark 8:11,12</a> And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/38-8.htm">Degrees</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-14.htm">Forward</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-8.htm">Isaiah</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-25.htm">Lord's</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-10.htm">Promised</a> <a href="/judges/9-36.htm">Shade</a> <a href="/judges/9-36.htm">Shadow</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-8.htm">Sign</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-24.htm">Steps</a> <a href="/2_kings/15-17.htm">Ten</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-5.htm">Turn</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_kings/20-10.htm">Degrees</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-10.htm">Forward</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-11.htm">Isaiah</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-5.htm">Lord's</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/11-3.htm">Promised</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-11.htm">Shade</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-10.htm">Shadow</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-11.htm">Sign</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-10.htm">Steps</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-10.htm">Ten</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-10.htm">Turn</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 20</div>1. <a href="/2_kings/20-1.htm">Hezekiah, having received a message of death, by prayer has his life lengthened.</a> 8. <a href="/2_kings/20-8.htm">The sun goes ten degrees backward for a sign of that promise.</a> 12. <a href="/2_kings/20-12.htm">Berodach-baladan sending to visit Hezekiah has notice of his treasures.</a> 14. <a href="/2_kings/20-14.htm">Isaiah understanding thereof, foretells the Babylonian captivity.</a> 20. <a href="/2_kings/20-20.htm">Manasseh succeeds Hezekiah.</a> </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>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <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> </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>And Isaiah had replied Isaiah, a major prophet in the Old Testament, served during the reigns of several kings of Judah, including Hezekiah. His role as a prophet was to convey God's messages to the people and the king. Isaiah's interactions with Hezekiah are significant, as they demonstrate the prophet's influence and the king's reliance on divine guidance.“This will be a sign to you from the LORD Signs in the Bible often serve as confirmations of God's promises or intentions. In this context, the sign is meant to reassure King Hezekiah of God's promise to heal him and extend his life. Signs from the LORD are seen throughout scripture, such as the rainbow in <a href="/genesis/9-13.htm">Genesis 9:13</a> as a sign of God's covenant with Noah, or the virgin birth in <a href="/isaiah/7-14.htm">Isaiah 7:14</a> as a sign of the coming Messiah.that He will do what He has promised: God's promises are central to the biblical narrative, emphasizing His faithfulness and sovereignty. In <a href="/2_kings/20.htm">2 Kings 20</a>, God promises Hezekiah healing and an extension of life by fifteen years. This promise underscores God's control over life and death and His ability to intervene in human affairs.Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, The mention of the shadow likely refers to a sundial or a set of steps used to measure time by the position of the sun. The forward movement of the shadow would be the natural progression of time. This option would be the expected course of events, making it less miraculous.or back ten steps?” The backward movement of the shadow would be a supernatural event, defying the natural order. This miraculous sign would serve as a powerful confirmation of God's promise to Hezekiah. The reversal of the shadow can be seen as a type of resurrection or renewal, symbolizing God's power to reverse the course of events, much like the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which defied the natural order of death.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/h/hezekiah.htm">Hezekiah</a> The king of Judah who was ill and prayed to the LORD for healing. God granted him 15 more years of life. 2. <a href="/topical/i/isaiah.htm">Isaiah</a> The prophet who delivered God's message to Hezekiah, including the sign of the shadow. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a> The God of Israel, who hears Hezekiah's prayer and provides a miraculous sign. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_sundial_of_ahaz.htm">The Sundial of Ahaz</a> The device used to measure time by the movement of the sun's shadow, which God used to perform the sign. 5. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The capital city of Judah, where these events took place.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/f/faith_and_signs.htm">Faith and Signs</a> Hezekiah's request for a sign demonstrates a human tendency to seek tangible evidence of God's promises. While God graciously provides signs, believers are called to trust in His word even without them. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_nature.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Nature</a> The miraculous movement of the shadow illustrates God's control over creation. This reassures believers of His power to intervene in their lives in extraordinary ways. <a href="/topical/p/prayer_and_god's_response.htm">Prayer and God's Response</a> Hezekiah's earnest prayer and God's immediate response highlight the importance of prayer in the believer's life. God hears and answers prayers according to His will. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophets.htm">The Role of Prophets</a> Isaiah's role as a messenger underscores the importance of listening to God's appointed leaders and the messages they bring from Him. <a href="/topical/h/humility_and_repentance.htm">Humility and Repentance</a> Hezekiah's account, including his later pride and repentance, serves as a reminder of the need for humility before God and the dangers of pride.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_kings_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 20</a> <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> <a href="/q/how_did_the_sun_'stand_still'_safely.htm">How could the sun “stand still” in Joshua 10:13 without catastrophic effects on Earth?</a> <a href="/q/is_job_9_7_poetic_or_literal.htm">In Job 9:7, the text suggests God can command the sun not to rise, but astronomy shows consistent solar cycles—does this imply poetic exaggeration or a literal event? </a> <a href="/q/how_did_the_star_pinpoint_one_house.htm">In Matthew 2:9, how could a star move to single out one specific house without defying known astronomical laws? </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>(9) Shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?--Rather, the shadow hath marched (or travelled) ten steps; shall it return ten steps? This is what the Hebrew text seems to say at a first glance. But Hezekiah's answer apparently implies an alternative; and we might render: "the shadow shall have travelled ten steps; or shall it return ten steps?" (Comp. the LXX. ??????????.) The Targum has: "shall the shadow march ten hours or return ten hours?" The Vulgate also makes it a double question. The Syriac is: "the shadow shall march ten steps, or return ten steps."It is very probable that the Hebrew text is corrupt. We might read the first word as an infinitive instead of a perfect, after the analogy of <a href="/2_kings/19-29.htm" title="And this shall be a sign to you, You shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springs of the same; and in the third year sow you, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.">2Kings 19:29</a> ("ye shall eat"). Or we might read "shall it march?" as a question (h?-y?l?k); or better still, "shall it go up" (h?-y?l?k), after the hint afforded by the Vulgate: "Vis ut ascendat umbra . . . Et ait Ezeehias, Facile est umbram crescere," &c. It is obvious that a kind of sun-dial is meant, though what kind is not so clear. The word "degrees" (ma'?loth) means "steps" or "stairs" wherever it occurs. (See <a href="/exodus/20-26.htm" title="Neither shall you go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not discovered thereon.">Exodus 20:26</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/40-6.htm" title="Then came he to the gate which looks toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.">Ezekiel 40:6</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/40-22.htm" title="And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looks toward the east; and they went up to it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.">Ezekiel 40:22</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/40-26.htm" title="And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, on the posts thereof.">Ezekiel 40:26</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/40-31.htm" title="And the arches thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were on the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps.">Ezekiel 40:31</a>, &c; <a href="/1_kings/10-20.htm" title="And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.">1Kings 10:20</a>; <a href="/nehemiah/3-15.htm" title="But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and to the stairs that go down from the city of David.">Nehemiah 3:15</a>.) There is probability, therefore, in Knobel's conjecture that "the dial of Ahaz" consisted of a column rising from a circular flight of steps, so as to throw the shadow of its top on the top step at noon, and morning and evening on the bottom step. This, or some similar device, was set up in the palace court, and was probably visible to Hezekiah lying on his sick bed and facing the window. Herodotus (ii. 9) ascribes the invention of the gnomon to the Babylonians. From the inscriptions we know that they divided time into periods of two hours, each called in Sumerian kasbumi, and in Assyrian asli. Each kasbu or aslu was subdivided into sixty equal parts. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 9. - And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he hath spoken. Hezekiah is no more reproved for asking for a sign than was Gideon (<a href="/judges/6-37.htm">Judges 6:37, 39</a>). Ahaz, his father, had been reproved for not asking (<a href="/isaiah/7-13.htm">Isaiah 7:13</a>). It would be faithless now for Christians to demand signs; but in an age of miracles, when there were prophets upon the earth empowered to give signs, faithful men might request them without incurring God's displeasure. Shall the shadow go forward ten degrees? The Hebrew text will scarcely bear this translation, which, however, seems to be required by Hezekiah's answer. Perhaps for חָלַך we should read הֲחָלך. Or go back ten degrees? literally, in both clauses, ten steps. There are abundant reasons for believing that the early dials consisted of a gnomon set up on the top of a flight of steps, and that time was measured by the number of steps on which the shadow of the gnomon fell (see a paper by Mr. Bosanquet, in the 'Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archaeology' for 1874, pp. 1-82). <a href="/commentaries/2_kings/20-9.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>And Isaiah יְשַׁעְיָ֗הוּ (yə·ša‘·yā·hū) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3470.htm">Strong's 3470: </a> Isaiah -- 'salvation of Yah', four Israelites replied, וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “This זֶה־ (zeh-) Pronoun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> This, that will be a sign הָאוֹת֙ (hā·’ō·wṯ) Article | Noun - common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_226.htm">Strong's 226: </a> A signal, as a, flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence to you לְּךָ֤ (lə·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> from מֵאֵ֣ת (mê·’êṯ) Preposition-m | Direct object marker <a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> Untranslatable mark of the accusative case the LORD יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel that כִּ֚י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction He יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel will do יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה (ya·‘ă·śeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> To do, make what אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that He has promised: דִּבֵּ֑ר (dib·bêr) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1696.htm">Strong's 1696: </a> To arrange, to speak, to subdue [Would you like] the shadow הַצֵּל֙ (haṣ·ṣêl) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6738.htm">Strong's 6738: </a> A shadow to go הָלַ֤ךְ (hā·laḵ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> To go, come, walk forward ten עֶ֣שֶׂר (‘e·śer) Number - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6235.htm">Strong's 6235: </a> Ten steps, מַֽעֲל֔וֹת (ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4609.htm">Strong's 4609: </a> Elevation, the act, the condition, a climactic progression or אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not back יָשׁ֖וּב (yā·šūḇ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> To turn back, in, to retreat, again ten עֶ֥שֶׂר (‘e·śer) Number - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6235.htm">Strong's 6235: </a> Ten steps?” מַעֲלֽוֹת׃ (ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4609.htm">Strong's 4609: </a> Elevation, the act, the condition, a climactic progression <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/20-9.htm">2 Kings 20:9 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/2_kings/20-9.htm">2 Kings 20:9 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/2_kings/20-9.htm">2 Kings 20:9 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/2_kings/20-9.htm">2 Kings 20:9 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/2_kings/20-9.htm">2 Kings 20:9 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/20-9.htm">2 Kings 20:9 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/20-9.htm">2 Kings 20:9 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/20-9.htm">2 Kings 20:9 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/20-9.htm">2 Kings 20:9 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/2_kings/20-9.htm">2 Kings 20:9 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-9.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 20:9 Isaiah said This shall be the sign (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/20-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 20:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 20:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/20-10.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 20:10"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 20:10" /></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>