2 Kings 20:1 kjv
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Kings 20:1 nkjv
In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.' "
2 Kings 20:1 niv
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."
2 Kings 20:1 esv
In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.'"
2 Kings 20:1 nlt
About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: "This is what the LORD says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness."
2 Kings 20 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 38:1 | In those days Hezekiah was sick unto death... thus saith the Lord... | Parallel account of Hezekiah's illness. |
| Deut 32:39 | See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive... | God's absolute power over life and death. |
| 1 Sam 2:6 | The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. | God's sovereignty in life and death. |
| Job 12:10 | In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. | God sustains all life. |
| Ps 39:4 | Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days... | Acknowledging the brevity of life. |
| Ps 90:12 | So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. | Wisdom in preparing for the end. |
| Eccl 7:2 | It is better to go to the house of mourning... for that is the end of all men... | The universality of death. |
| Amos 3:7 | Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. | Prophets convey God's direct messages. |
| Heb 9:27 | And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: | The certainty and singular event of death. |
| Ps 103:3 | Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; | God is the ultimate healer. |
| Prov 27:23 | Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. | Prudent management of affairs. |
| Matt 6:20 | But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt... | Focus on eternal preparations, not earthly. |
| Luke 12:20 | But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee... | Call to prepare for death, not just worldly. |
| Jas 4:14 | Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour... | Life's brevity and unpredictability. |
| Gen 3:19 | For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. | The consequence of the fall: physical death. |
| Rom 5:12 | ...as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin... | Death as the result of sin. |
| 1 Cor 15:26 | The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. | Death's power, ultimately conquered. |
| Heb 4:7 | Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time it was said... | The urgency of responding to God's word. |
| Jer 1:7 | But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee... | The divine commission of prophets. |
| Isa 55:11 | So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void... | God's word accomplishes its purpose. |
| Jon 3:4-10 | ...Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown... And God saw their works... | God's potential for repentance based on response. |
| Gen 27:2 | And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: | Reflecting on inevitable mortality. |
2 Kings 20 verses
2 Kings 20 1 Meaning
2 Kings 20:1 declares the immediate, life-threatening illness of King Hezekiah, emphasizing its terminal nature. The Lord, through His prophet Isaiah, delivers a direct message to Hezekiah: prepare for death, as he will surely die and not recover. This verse highlights divine sovereignty over life and death, and the solemn duty to make final arrangements when confronted with one's mortality.
2 Kings 20 1 Context
This verse is situated immediately after the account of King Hezekiah's miraculous deliverance from the Assyrian invasion under Sennacherib (2 Kings 18-19). Despite the recent national triumph and divine intervention, Hezekiah faces a personal crisis: a severe, terminal illness. The historical setting is the late 8th century BC, a tumultuous period for Judah amidst regional powers. Culturally, illness, especially one unto death, was often interpreted as a direct result of divine pleasure or displeasure, a test, or simply a manifestation of God's sovereign control over life. The mention of Isaiah highlights his continuous prophetic activity during Hezekiah's reign, underscoring the king's reliance on divine counsel. The instruction "Set thine house in order" would have been profoundly significant for a king, implying not just personal estate, but dynastic succession and the welfare of the kingdom. This declaration implicitly refutes any pagan belief that life or death is dictated by chance or by a multiplicity of lesser deities; instead, it asserts the sole, absolute authority of Yahweh over all existence.
2 Kings 20 1 Word analysis
- In those days: This phrase indicates a general timeframe, placing the event within Hezekiah's reign, though not necessarily immediately chronologically following the preceding chapter. The parallel account in Isa 38:1 suggests it occurred around the time of Sennacherib's invasion or shortly thereafter, likely before Hezekiah's son Manasseh was born, as Manasseh reigned for 55 years and Hezekiah lived 15 more years after this.
- Hezekiah (חִזְקִיָּהוּ - Chizqiyyahu): Meaning "The Lord strengthens" or "The Lord is my strength." His name ironically contrasts with his weakened state, yet foreshadows divine intervention. He was a righteous king who initiated religious reforms in Judah.
- was sick (חָלָה - chalah): "To be weak, sick, grieved." Describes a severe physical malady, deeply debilitating.
- unto death (לָמוּת - lamuth): "To die, appointed for death." Emphatically states the terminal prognosis, signifying no natural possibility of recovery.
- And Isaiah the prophet: Identifies the messenger. Isaiah's ministry was prominent during Hezekiah's reign, serving as God's primary voice to the king.
- the son of Amoz: A typical patriarchal identifier for important figures, establishing his lineage and likely his authenticity as a prophet.
- came to him: Denotes a direct, personal audience between the prophet and the king.
- Thus saith the Lord (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - koh amar YHWH): This is a formal prophetic formula, unequivocally marking the words that follow as a direct divine oracle, carrying the full authority of God Himself. It leaves no room for personal opinion or conjecture.
- Set thine house in order (צַו לְבֵיתֶךָ - tzav l'veitekha): Literally "Command your house" or "Give charge concerning your house." This comprehensive instruction covers not just personal will and estate but includes matters of family, governance, religious affairs, and dynastic succession. It reflects a comprehensive preparation for the end of life. For a king, this included naming an heir, ensuring stability for the kingdom.
- for thou shalt die (כִּי מֵת אַתָּה - ki met attah): "For you are dying" or "For you will certainly die." An emphatic declaration of certain death. It's a divine decree, not merely a medical diagnosis.
- and not live: This phrase serves as a redundancy for strong emphasis, unequivocally stressing the finality of the declaration. It confirms that without direct divine intervention, there is no hope of recovery.
2 Kings 20 1 Bonus section
- This initial divine declaration of death sets up a remarkable narrative where God, in the subsequent verses (2 Kgs 20:4-6), remarkably reverses His decision in response to Hezekiah's fervent prayer and tears, demonstrating His compassion and flexibility when truly sought.
- Hezekiah's barrenness at this point, leading to no clear heir, would have added to the spiritual and political anxiety conveyed by the "set thine house in order" command. This later changes with the birth of Manasseh after his recovery.
- The nature of Hezekiah's illness is not specified in the Bible but is generally understood by scholars to have been a malignant boil or tumor (indicated in 2 Kgs 20:7).
- The seemingly direct pronouncement of "you will die" might appear deterministic, yet Hezekiah's subsequent appeal shows that God's pronouncements often reveal His general will, but true repentance and earnest prayer can affect the immediate outcome, revealing God's attribute of hearing and responding to His humble servants.
2 Kings 20 1 Commentary
2 Kings 20:1 immediately plunges the reader into a grave personal crisis for King Hezekiah. Despite his piety and the recent, dramatic deliverance of Judah from the Assyrians, he is now terminally ill, facing certain death. The arrival of Isaiah, introduced as "the prophet, the son of Amoz," underscores that this is no ordinary illness but a divinely ordained situation. Isaiah's message, introduced with the authoritative "Thus saith the Lord," carries the weight of divine decree. Hezekiah's death is not presented as a possibility but as a certainty: "thou shalt die, and not live." This pronouncement serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it reaffirms God's ultimate sovereignty over life and death, even over a righteous king. Secondly, the command to "Set thine house in order" is a solemn directive to prepare for the end. For a king without an heir (at this point, Manasseh was not yet born), this would have included securing the kingdom's future and ensuring its continued worship of the Lord. The abruptness of the divine decree, devoid of comfort or explanation in this initial verse, sets the stage for Hezekiah's immediate reaction and the dramatic turning point that follows. It highlights the directness of God's communication through His prophets and His expectation of human compliance and readiness when faced with life's ultimate transition.