2 Kings 20:10 kjv
And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
2 Kings 20:10 nkjv
And Hezekiah answered, "It is an easy thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees; no, but let the shadow go backward ten degrees."
2 Kings 20:10 niv
"It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps," said Hezekiah. "Rather, have it go back ten steps."
2 Kings 20:10 esv
And Hezekiah answered, "It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen ten steps. Rather let the shadow go back ten steps."
2 Kings 20:10 nlt
"The shadow always moves forward," Hezekiah replied, "so that would be easy. Make it go ten steps backward instead."
2 Kings 20 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 38:8 | I will make the shadow on the stairway of Ahaz, which has gone down... | Parallel account of the sign offered and fulfilled. |
| 2 Kgs 20:1-6 | In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death... | Hezekiah's illness, prayer, and God's promise of healing and life extension. |
| Isa 38:1-5 | In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death... | Isaiah's initial prophecy and God hearing Hezekiah's prayer. |
| 2 Kgs 20:8 | Now Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, "What will be the sign that the Lord... | Hezekiah had asked for a sign, leading to Isaiah's offer. |
| Josh 10:12-14 | Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon... | God's divine control over celestial bodies and time, similar miracle. |
| Exod 14:21-22 | Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord drove the sea back... | God defies natural law to deliver His people. |
| Ps 65:2 | O You who hear prayer, to You all mankind will come. | God's nature as the One who hears and responds to prayer. |
| Jer 33:3 | Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you great and mighty things... | Reinforces God's willingness to respond to those who call upon Him. |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings... | God's absolute sovereignty over time and historical events. |
| Ps 104:19 | He appointed the moon for seasons; The sun knows its setting. | God is the Creator who sets natural laws but can also override them. |
| Job 9:7 | He commands the sun, and it does not rise; He seals up the stars; | Emphasizes God's supreme power over all of creation. |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind... | God's faithfulness and the certainty of His promises. |
| Titus 1:2 | ...in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised... | God's unwavering faithfulness and reliability. |
| Judg 6:36-40 | Gideon said to God, "If You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said... | God grants signs to confirm His word to those of weak faith or for reassurance. |
| Mark 13:24 | But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened... | Implies that the sun's natural course can be altered by divine decree. |
| Matt 12:38-39 | Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said... "Teacher, we want to see a sign... | Contrast to those seeking signs from ill motives; Hezekiah's request was based on seeking divine confirmation for a promise. |
| 2 Chr 32:24 | In those days Hezekiah was sick to the point of death, and he prayed... | Parallel account highlighting God granting a sign to Hezekiah. |
| Jas 5:16 | The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. | Relates to Hezekiah's passionate prayer that moved God to act. |
| Ps 90:12 | So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. | Context for Hezekiah's extended lifespan. |
| Acts 17:28 | For in Him we live and move and have our being... | God's encompassing power and involvement in all aspects of existence. |
| Isa 7:11 | "Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven." | God offering a sign, showing His willingness to confirm His word. |
| Exod 4:1-9 | Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me..." | God provides miraculous signs to Moses to authenticate his divine message. |
| Ps 74:16 | The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have established the light and the sun. | God as the sovereign controller of day and night, the source of light. |
2 Kings 20 verses
2 Kings 20 10 Meaning
The verse records King Hezekiah's reply to the prophet Isaiah regarding the miraculous sign offered by God. Hezekiah states that it would be an insignificant matter for the shadow on the sundial to simply move forward ten steps, as this is the natural course of time. Instead, he requests the more extraordinary and undeniable miracle: for the shadow to turn backward ten steps, signifying a supernatural reversal of the natural order and an indisputable act of divine power to confirm God's promise of healing and extending his life.
2 Kings 20 10 Context
King Hezekiah, nearing death from illness, receives a prophecy from Isaiah that he will die. Hezekiah pleads with God, crying bitterly, and God, seeing his tears, immediately sends Isaiah back with a message: Hezekiah will be healed in three days and fifteen years will be added to his life. To confirm this extraordinary promise, Isaiah offers Hezekiah a sign on "the dial of Ahaz." Hezekiah's response in 2 Kings 20:10 reflects his understanding of the profundity of the promised miracle and his desire for an undeniable divine attestation.
2 Kings 20 10 Word analysis
- And Hezekiah answered: Indicates an immediate response to Isaiah's offer of a sign, showing Hezekiah's engagement and clarity of thought despite his illness.
- 'It is a light thing': The Hebrew word is qal (קַל), meaning "easy," "light," or "insignificant." Hezekiah recognizes that the shadow moving forward is merely the sun's natural progression, making it a "light" or ordinary occurrence, thus not a strong indicator of a unique divine intervention.
- 'for the shadow': The Hebrew word is tzel (צֵל), referring specifically to the shadow cast by the sun on the sundial or stairs of Ahaz. This indicates a physical, observable phenomenon.
- 'to go forward': The natural movement of the shadow as time progresses through the day. Hezekiah implies this is unremarkable and could be dismissed as coincidence.
- 'ten steps': The Hebrew term ma'alot (מַעֲלֹת) literally means "steps" or "degrees." It refers to the divisions or markers on the "dial of Ahaz," which was likely a set of steps or a graduated instrument functioning as a sundial. The specific number highlights precision in the miraculous intervention.
- 'no, but': A clear, emphatic negation and contrast, showing Hezekiah's decisive preference for the truly miraculous.
- 'let the shadow turn back': The Hebrew word is shuv (שׁוּב), meaning "to return," "to turn back." This is the core of the demanded miracle. It is an act that defies the natural, observable order of the universe, signifying supernatural intervention.
- 'ten steps': Repetition of the measurement emphasizes the specific, quantifiable nature of the reversed movement, making the miracle unambiguous and precise.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- 'It is a light thing for the shadow to go forward ten steps': This phrase reveals Hezekiah's astute perception. He distinguishes between what is naturally plausible (the sun moving forward) and what demands divine power. He's not asking for a sign that could be naturally explained away, but one that is unambiguously supernatural.
- 'no, but let the shadow turn back ten steps': This highlights Hezekiah's desire for a profound and undeniable confirmation of God's word. By choosing the more difficult, physically impossible option, he demonstrates faith in God's ultimate power over creation. The choice underscores his need for absolute certainty regarding his extended life, knowing that only God could cause such a cosmic reversal.
2 Kings 20 10 Bonus section
This incident served as a potent polemic against contemporary pagan beliefs that deified celestial bodies or attributed their movements to lesser gods. By manipulating the shadow on the sundial, God unmistakably demonstrated His unique sovereignty over the sun and the natural order, revealing Himself as the true and sole controller of the cosmos. Furthermore, Hezekiah's earnest prayer and the subsequent granting of this extraordinary sign highlight God's personal attentiveness to the fervent cries of His righteous servants and His willingness to work outside natural laws to fulfill His merciful purposes. It signifies that divine pronouncements are not rigid destinies but can be altered by sincere prayer and repentance, emphasizing God's compassion.
2 Kings 20 10 Commentary
Hezekiah's request for the shadow to recede rather than advance reveals a profound spiritual insight and a deep trust in God's omnipotence. He sought an indisputable miracle that could not be attributed to natural occurrences or chance. The sun's backward movement on a sundial was not only physically impossible but also cosmically significant, symbolizing God's reversal of Hezekiah's fate from death to life. This sign was not simply a show of power but a clear, visible seal on God's personal promise of healing and life extension to Hezekiah, affirming the reliability of the divine word conveyed through His prophet, Isaiah. It underscores God's sovereignty over creation, time, and human destiny.