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>Isaiah 38:8 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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/38-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/23_Isa_38_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 38:8 - Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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." /><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/isaiah/38-8.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/isaiah/38-8.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="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/38.htm">Chapter 38</a> > Verse 8</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="/ad8.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="/isaiah/38-7.htm" title="Isaiah 38:7">◄</a> Isaiah 38:8 <a href="/isaiah/38-9.htm" title="Isaiah 38:9">►</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"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/isaiah/38.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/isaiah/38.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.&#8217&#8221 So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/isaiah/38.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />I will cause the sun’s shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!’” So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/isaiah/38.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps.” So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/38.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/isaiah/38.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/isaiah/38.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.” So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/38.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I will make the shadow on the stairway, which has gone down with the sun on the stairway of Ahaz, go back ten steps.” So the sun’s <i>shadow</i> went back ten steps on the stairway on which it had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/38.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Behold, I will cause the shadow on the stairway, which has gone down with the sun on the stairway of Ahaz, to go back ten steps.&#8221 So the sun&#8217s shadow went back ten steps on the stairway on which it had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/38.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Behold, I will cause the shadow on the stairway, which has gone down with the sun on the stairway of Ahaz, to go back ten steps.” So the sun’s <i>shadow</i> went back ten steps on the stairway on which it had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/38.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Behold, I will cause the shadow on the stairway, which has gone down with the sun on the stairway of Ahaz, to go back ten steps.” So the sun’s <i>shadow</i> went back ten steps on the stairway on which it had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/38.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Listen carefully, I will turn the shadow on the stairway [denoting the time of day] ten steps backward, <i>the shadow</i> on the stairway (sundial) of Ahaz.” And the sunlight went ten steps backward on the stairway where it had [previously] gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/38.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I am going to make the sun’s shadow that goes down on the stairway of Ahaz go back by ten steps.’ ” So the sun’s shadow went back the ten steps it had descended.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/38.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I am going to make the sun&#8217s shadow that goes down on Ahaz&#8217s stairway go back by 10 steps.&#8221 So the sun&#8217s shadow went back the 10 steps it had descended. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/38.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />behold, I will cause the shadow on the steps, which is gone down on the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the dial whereon it was gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/isaiah/38.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Do you see the shadow made by the setting sun on the stairway built for King Ahaz? I will make the shadow go back ten steps. Then the shadow went back ten steps. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/38.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />behold, I will cause the shadow on the steps, which is gone down on the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the dial whereon it was gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/38.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The sun made a shadow that went down the stairway of Ahaz's upper palace. I'm going to make the shadow go back ten steps." So the sun on the stairway went back up the ten steps it had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/38.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />On the stairway built by King Ahaz, the LORD will make the shadow go back ten steps." And the shadow moved back ten steps. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/38.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Watch! I will make the shadow on the steps of the upper dial of Ahaz that marks the sun go ten steps backwards."'" Then the sunlight turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/38.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/38.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Look, I will make the shadow go back ten steps on the stairs of Ahaz." And then the shadow went back ten steps. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/38.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Look, I will cause the shadow on the steps, which has gone down with the sun on the upper steps of Ahaz, to go backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the sundial on which it had gone down."'"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/38.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which hath gone down on the sun-dial of Ahaz ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/38.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps.”’” So the sun returned ten steps on the sundial on which it had gone down. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/38.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, I am bringing back the shadow of the degrees that it has gone down on the degrees of Ahaz, by the sun, backward ten degrees”; and the sun turns back ten degrees in the degrees that it had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/38.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Lo, I am bringing back the shadow of the degrees that it hath gone down on the degrees of Ahaz, by the sun, backward ten degrees:' and the sun turneth back ten degrees in the degrees that it had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/38.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Behold me turning back the shadow of the steps which will go down in the steps of Ahaz in the sun, backward ten steps. And the sun will turn back ten steps in the steps which it will go down.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/38.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Behold I will bring again the shadow of the lines, by which it is now gone down in the sun dial of Achaz with the sun, ten lines backward. And the sun returned ten lines by the degrees by which it was gone down. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/38.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Behold, I will cause the shadow of the lines, which has now descended on the sundial of Ahaz, to move in reverse for ten lines.” And so, the sun moved backward by ten lines, through the degrees by which it had descended.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/38.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />See, I will make the shadow cast by the sun on the stairway to the terrace of Ahaz go back the ten steps it has advanced. So the sun came back the ten steps it had advanced. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/38.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />See, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps.” So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/38.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down on the sundial of Ahaz your father, ten degrees backward. So the shadow of the sun returned the ten degrees by which it had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/38.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Behold, I am returning the sun backward ten degrees, the shadow of the degrees which have gone down by the degrees of Akhaz your father. And the sun returned backward ten degrees by the degrees that it had gone down<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/38.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />behold, I will cause the shadow of the dial, which is gone down on the sun-dial of Ahaz, to return backward ten degrees.' So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/38.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />behold, I will turn back the shadow of the degrees <i>of the dial</i> by which ten degrees on the house of thy father the sun has gone down - I will turn back the sun the ten degrees; so the sun went back the ten degrees by which the shadow had gone down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/38-8.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/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=8169" 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/isaiah/38.htm">Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2005.htm" title="2005: hin·nî (Interjection:: 1cs) -- Lo! behold! A primitive particle; lo!; also if."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: mê·šîḇ (V-Hifil-Prtcpl-ms) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">I will make</a> <a href="/hebrew/8121.htm" title="8121: baš·še·meš (Prep-b, Art:: N-cs) -- From an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. A notched battlement.">the sun’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/6738.htm" title="6738: ṣêl (N-msc) -- A shadow. From tsalal; shade, whether literal or figurative.">shadow</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.">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/3381.htm" title="3381: yā·rə·ḏāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To come or go down, descend. ">falls</a> <a href="/hebrew/4609.htm" title="4609: ḇə·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ (Prep-b:: N-fpc) -- Feminine of ma'aleh; elevation, i.e. The act, or the condition; specifically a climactic progression."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4609.htm" title="4609: ham·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ (Art:: N-fp) -- Feminine of ma'aleh; elevation, i.e. The act, or the condition; specifically a climactic progression.">on the stairway</a> <a href="/hebrew/271.htm" title="271: ’ā·ḥāz (N-proper-ms) -- He has grasped, two Isr. From 'achaz; possessor; Achaz, the name of a Jewish king and of an Israelite.">of Ahaz</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/322.htm" title="322: ’ă·ḥō·ran·nîṯ (Adv) -- Backwards. Prolonged from 'achowr; backwards.">go 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> <a href="/hebrew/8121.htm" title="8121: haš·še·meš (Art:: N-cs) -- From an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. A notched battlement.">So the sunlight</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: wat·tā·šāḇ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">went back</a> <a href="/hebrew/6235.htm" title="6235: ‘e·śer (Number-fsc) -- Ten. Masculine of term aasarah; from asar; ten.">the 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."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4609.htm" title="4609: bam·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ (Prep-b, Art:: N-fp) -- Feminine of ma'aleh; elevation, i.e. The act, or the condition; specifically a climactic progression.">steps</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."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3381.htm" title="3381: yā·rā·ḏāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To come or go down, descend. ">it had descended.</a> </span><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="/2_kings/20-9.htm">2 Kings 20:9-11</a></span><br />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?” / “It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps,” answered Hezekiah, “but not for it to go back ten steps.” / So Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/10-12.htm">Joshua 10:12-14</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/32-24.htm">2 Chronicles 32:24</a></span><br />In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. So he prayed to the LORD, who spoke to him and gave him a sign.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/74-16.htm">Psalm 74:16</a></span><br />The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/136-7.htm">Psalm 136:7-9</a></span><br />He made the great lights—His loving devotion endures forever. / the sun to rule the day, His loving devotion endures forever. / the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/9-7.htm">Job 9:7</a></span><br />He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/33-20.htm">Jeremiah 33:20-21</a></span><br />“This is what the LORD says: If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that day and night cease to occupy their appointed time, / then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant and with My ministers the Levites who are priests, so that David will not have a son to reign on his throne.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/5-8.htm">Amos 5:8</a></span><br />He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth—the LORD is His name—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/habakkuk/3-11.htm">Habakkuk 3:11</a></span><br />Sun and moon stood still in their places at the flash of Your flying arrows, at the brightness of Your shining spear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/1-14.htm">Genesis 1:14-18</a></span><br />And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years. / And let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.” And it was so. / God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-29.htm">Matthew 24:29</a></span><br />Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/23-44.htm">Luke 23:44-45</a></span><br />It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. / The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/2-20.htm">Acts 2:20</a></span><br />The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/6-12.htm">Revelation 6:12-14</a></span><br />And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, / and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind. / The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/8-12.htm">Revelation 8:12</a></span><br />Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck. A third of the stars were darkened, a third of the day was without light, and a third of the night as well.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.</p><p class="hdg">I will bring</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/10-12.htm">Joshua 10:12-14</a></b></br> Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/20-11.htm">2 Kings 20:11</a></b></br> And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/32-24.htm">2 Chronicles 32:24,31</a></b></br> In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign… </p><p class="hdg">the sun dial.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/14-28.htm">Ahaz</a> <a href="/isaiah/28-13.htm">Backward</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-33.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-33.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/psalms/119-157.htm">Declined</a> <a href="/luke/24-29.htm">Declining</a> <a href="/psalms/134-1.htm">Degrees</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-11.htm">Dial</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-15.htm">Shade</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-15.htm">Shadow</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-25.htm">Steps</a> <a href="/isaiah/30-26.htm">Sun</a> <a href="/job/5-14.htm">Sunlight</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/15-41.htm">Sun's</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-10.htm">Ten</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-37.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-2.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/isaiah/36-6.htm">Whereon</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hosea/1-1.htm">Ahaz</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-25.htm">Backward</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-17.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-14.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/acts/18-20.htm">Declined</a> <a href="/luke/24-29.htm">Declining</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-9.htm">Degrees</a> <a href="/2_kings/20-11.htm">Dial</a> <a href="/isaiah/49-2.htm">Shade</a> <a href="/isaiah/49-2.htm">Shadow</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-2.htm">Steps</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-25.htm">Sun</a> <a href="/habakkuk/3-4.htm">Sunlight</a> <a href="/luke/23-45.htm">Sun's</a> <a href="/jeremiah/41-1.htm">Ten</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-18.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-17.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/jeremiah/7-30.htm">Whereon</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 38</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/38-1.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="/isaiah/38-8.htm">The sun goes ten degrees backward, for a sign of that promise</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/38-9.htm">His song of thanksgiving.</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/isaiah/38.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/isaiah/38.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>I will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.</b><br>This phrase refers to a miraculous sign given by God to King Hezekiah as a confirmation of his healing and the extension of his life. The "stairway of Ahaz" likely refers to a sundial or a series of steps used to measure time by the position of the sun's shadow. Ahaz, Hezekiah's father, was a previous king of Judah, and this structure was associated with him. The miracle of the shadow moving backward is significant as it demonstrates God's control over nature and time, emphasizing His sovereignty. This event is unique in biblical history and serves as a powerful sign of divine intervention. Theologically, it underscores God's ability to alter the natural order, which is a theme seen in other biblical miracles, such as the parting of the Red Sea (<a href="/exodus/14-21.htm">Exodus 14:21-22</a>) and the stopping of the sun in <a href="/joshua/10-12.htm">Joshua 10:12-14</a>.<p><b>So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.</b><br>This confirms the fulfillment of God's promise to Hezekiah. The reversal of the sun's shadow is a physical manifestation of God's power and faithfulness. It also serves as a typology of resurrection and renewal, as Hezekiah's life is extended, symbolizing new life. This event can be seen as a precursor to the ultimate miracle of resurrection found in Jesus Christ, who is described as the "light of the world" (<a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a>). Theologically, this miracle reassures believers of God's ability to intervene in human affairs and His willingness to provide signs to strengthen faith. Historically, such an event would have been awe-inspiring and served to reinforce Hezekiah's faith and the faith of the people of Judah in God's promises.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/h/hezekiah.htm">Hezekiah</a></b><br>The king of Judah who was ill and prayed to God for healing. God granted him 15 more years of life and provided a sign to confirm His promise.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/isaiah.htm">Isaiah</a></b><br>The prophet who delivered God's message to Hezekiah, including the promise of healing and the sign of the sun's shadow moving backward.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/ahaz.htm">Ahaz</a></b><br>The father of Hezekiah and former king of Judah. The "stairway of Ahaz" is likely a sundial or a set of steps used to measure time by the sun's shadow.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_sun.htm">The Sun</a></b><br>Central to the miraculous sign given by God, where its shadow moved backward as a confirmation of His promise to Hezekiah.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where these events took place, serving as the political and spiritual center of Judah.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_creation.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Creation</a></b><br>The miracle of the sun's shadow moving backward demonstrates God's absolute control over the natural world. This reassures believers of His power and ability to intervene in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_and_prayer.htm">Faith and Prayer</a></b><br>Hezekiah's earnest prayer and God's response highlight the importance of turning to God in times of need. It encourages believers to seek God with faith, trusting in His willingness to hear and answer.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/signs_and_wonders_as_confirmation.htm">Signs and Wonders as Confirmation</a></b><br>The sign given to Hezekiah serves as a reminder that God sometimes uses extraordinary means to confirm His promises. Believers can trust in God's faithfulness even when circumstances seem impossible.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophets.htm">The Role of Prophets</a></b><br>Isaiah's role in delivering God's message underscores the importance of prophetic voices in guiding and encouraging God's people. It challenges believers to be attentive to God's word through Scripture and His messengers.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_isaiah_38.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 38</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_isaiah_38_8's_shadow_reversal_possible.htm">How is the reversal of the sun’s shadow in Isaiah 38:8 scientifically plausible? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_don't_records_mention_isaiah_38_8_event.htm">Why do external historical records fail to report this cosmic event described in Isaiah 38:8? </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/is_isaiah_38_7-8's_sign_metaphorical.htm">Could the sign in Isaiah 38:7-8 be metaphorical rather than an actual astronomical phenomenon?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/38.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The sun-dial of Ahaz</span>. We are informed by Herodotus that the sun-dial was an invention of the Babylonians (Herod., 2:109), from whom it would readily pass to the Assyrians. Ahaz may have obtained a knowledge of it, or an actual specimen, when he visited Tiglath-Pileser at Damascus (<a href="/2_kings/16-10.htm">2 Kings 16:10</a>), and, on his return to his capital, have caused one to be erected there. Sun-dials are of several kinds. The one here spoken of seems to have consisted of a set of steps, with a perpendicular gnomon or pole at the top, the shadow of which receded up the steps as the sun rose in the heavens, and descended down them as the sun declined. We must suppose that the sign was given in the forenoon, when the shadow was gradually creeping up the steps. Hezekiah thought that a sudden jump in the same direction would be as nothing compared with a reversal of the motion, and therefore required that the shadow should go back, which it did. How the effect was produced, whether by an eclipse as argued by Mr. Bosanquet ('Transactions of Society of Bibl. Archaeology,' vol. 3. pp. 34-40), or by refraction, or by an actual alteration of the earth's motion, we are not told; but there is reason to believe that the cause, whatever it was, was local, not general, since the King of Babylon subsequently sent ambassadors, to inquire concerning "<span class="accented">the wonder</span> <span class="accented">that was done in the land"</span> (<a href="/2_chronicles/32-31.htm">2 Chronicles 32:31</a>). <span class="cmt_word">The sun returned ten degrees</span>. We must not press this expression as indicating a real alteration of the <span class="accented">sun's</span> place in the heavens. The meaning is that <span class="accented">the shadow cast by the sun re</span>turned. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/38-8.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">I will make the sun’s</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(baš·še·meš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8121.htm">Strong's 8121: </a> </span><span class="str2">The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">shadow</span><br /><span class="heb">צֵ֣ל</span> <span class="translit">(ṣêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6738.htm">Strong's 6738: </a> </span><span class="str2">A shadow</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">falls</span><br /><span class="heb">יָרְדָה֩</span> <span class="translit">(yā·rə·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3381.htm">Strong's 3381: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come or go down, descend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on the stairway</span><br /><span class="heb">הַֽמַּעֲל֡וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(ham·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4609.htm">Strong's 4609: </a> </span><span class="str2">Elevation, the act, the condition, a climactic progression</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Ahaz</span><br /><span class="heb">אָחָ֥ז</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḥāz)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_271.htm">Strong's 271: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ahaz -- 'he has grasped', two Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">go</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵשִׁ֣יב</span> <span class="translit">(mê·šîḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">ten</span><br /><span class="heb">עֶ֣שֶׂר</span> <span class="translit">(‘e·śer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6235.htm">Strong's 6235: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ten</span><br /><br /><span class="word">steps</span><br /><span class="heb">בְמַעֲל֨וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(ḇə·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4609.htm">Strong's 4609: </a> </span><span class="str2">Elevation, the act, the condition, a climactic progression</span><br /><br /><span class="word">backward.”</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḥō·ran·nîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_322.htm">Strong's 322: </a> </span><span class="str2">Backwards</span><br /><br /><span class="word">So [the shadow cast by] the sun</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙</span> <span class="translit">(haš·še·meš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8121.htm">Strong's 8121: </a> </span><span class="str2">The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">went back</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתָּ֤שָׁב</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tā·šāḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the ten</span><br /><span class="heb">עֶ֣שֶׂר</span> <span class="translit">(‘e·śer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6235.htm">Strong's 6235: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ten</span><br /><br /><span class="word">steps</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(bam·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4609.htm">Strong's 4609: </a> </span><span class="str2">Elevation, the act, the condition, a climactic progression</span><br /><br /><span class="word">it had descended.</span><br /><span class="heb">יָרָֽדָה׃</span> <span class="translit">(yā·rā·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3381.htm">Strong's 3381: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come or go down, descend</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/38-8.htm">Isaiah 38:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/38-8.htm">Isaiah 38:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/38-8.htm">Isaiah 38:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/38-8.htm">Isaiah 38:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/38-8.htm">Isaiah 38:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/38-8.htm">Isaiah 38:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/38-8.htm">Isaiah 38:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/38-8.htm">Isaiah 38:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/38-8.htm">Isaiah 38:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/38-8.htm">Isaiah 38:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/38-8.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 38:8 Behold I will cause the shadow (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/38-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 38:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 38:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/38-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 38:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 38:9" /></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>