2 Kings 20 11

2 Kings 20:11 kjv

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.

2 Kings 20:11 nkjv

So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.

2 Kings 20:11 niv

Then the prophet Isaiah called on the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.

2 Kings 20:11 esv

And Isaiah the prophet called to the LORD, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.

2 Kings 20:11 nlt

So Isaiah the prophet asked the LORD to do this, and he caused the shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!

2 Kings 20 verses

2 Kings 20 11 Meaning

This verse describes a miraculous event orchestrated by God through the prophet Isaiah as a sign for King Hezekiah. After Hezekiah prayed for healing and had fifteen years added to his life, he requested a tangible sign to confirm God's word. The sign given was the reversal of the sun's shadow on a specific sundial (the "dial of Ahaz") by ten steps. This unprecedented event demonstrated God's absolute sovereignty over creation, including the fundamental laws of nature and time, affirming the veracity of His promise to Hezekiah.

2 Kings 20 11 Context

The events of 2 Kings 20 immediately follow Hezekiah's miraculous deliverance from the Assyrian invasion under Sennacherib in chapter 19. At this point, Hezekiah is gravely ill, "at the point of death." The prophet Isaiah comes to him with God's word, instructing him to set his house in order because he will die. Hezekiah responds with fervent prayer, turning his face to the wall and weeping bitterly, reminding God of his faithfulness. In response, God sends Isaiah back to Hezekiah before the prophet even leaves the palace courtyard, informing him that his prayer has been heard, he will be healed in three days, and fifteen years will be added to his life. Furthermore, God promises to deliver him and Jerusalem from Assyria. The miraculous sign of the sun's shadow moving backward ten steps is then given at Hezekiah's request as a tangible confirmation of God's word, particularly concerning his healing. This miraculous intervention underscores God's personal attention to His faithful servants and His absolute control over the cosmos. Later in the chapter, the Babylonians visit Hezekiah, an event connected to this miraculous healing and a pivotal point leading to future prophecies of exile.

2 Kings 20 11 Word analysis

• And Isaiah: Isaiah (יְשַׁעְיָהוּ - Yesha'yahu) means "Yahweh is salvation." His role here as a prophet of God, acting as the intermediary through whom God's will and power are made manifest, is crucial. He is not merely reporting but actively participating as a spiritual authority.
• the prophet: Signifies Isaiah's divinely appointed office and authority. He speaks and acts on behalf of the LORD.
• cried: (וַיִּקְרָא - vayyiqra). From the root קָרָא (qara'), meaning "to call, cry out, proclaim, summon." This isn't a mere whisper but an earnest, possibly formal, invocation or appeal to God. It highlights the direct communication and intercessory role of the prophet.
• to the LORD: (יְהוָה - Yahweh). Refers to the personal, covenantal God of Israel. It emphasizes that this miracle is not some magical feat, but a direct act of the supreme, sovereign God of the universe in response to His prophet's earnest plea.
• and He: Refers to the LORD (Yahweh), indicating that God Himself, not Isaiah, performed the miracle. Isaiah was the instrument, but God was the doer.
• brought the shadow back: (וַיָּשֶׁב הַצֵּל - vayyashuv ha'tsel). Shuv (שׁוּב) means "to turn back, return, restore." This action signifies a direct reversal of a natural phenomenon—the movement of a shadow that marks the passage of time. This is an overt manipulation of creation by the Creator.
• ten steps: (עֶשֶׂר מַעֲלוֹת - 'eser ma'alot). The number "ten" signifies completion or divine order, but here it provides a precise, quantifiable measure of the miracle. It was not a subtle shift but a significant and unmistakable reversal.
• on the dial of Ahaz: (בַּמַּעֲלוֹת אָחָ֑ז - bamma'alot Achaz). Ma'alot (מַעֲל֣וֹת) means "steps" or "degrees," commonly referring to a sundial, often conceived of as a set of ascending or descending steps on which the shadow would move throughout the day. This specifies the exact location and instrument where the miracle occurred, making it a concrete, observable event. It also links to King Ahaz, Hezekiah's idolatrous father, ironically showing God's power manifest even on an object potentially built or associated with a wicked king's reign.
• the steps by which it had gone down: This further clarifies that the shadow was reversed along the same path it normally traveled, making the backward movement explicitly counter-natural and therefore clearly miraculous.

2 Kings 20 11 Bonus section

The nature of the "dial of Ahaz" has been a subject of scholarly discussion. While some ancient sundials were simple poles casting shadows, others were intricate structures with marked steps or levels, allowing for more precise time-telling. The phrase ma'alot ("steps" or "degrees") supports the idea of a physical set of steps or a staircase-like structure acting as a gnomon or measurement device for the sundial. This specificity makes the miracle even more precise and observable. This miracle stands as one of the very few biblical instances where the rotation of the earth or the sun's apparent movement is visibly altered, comparable only to Joshua's long day. Such an event would require a momentary suspension or reversal of the earth's rotation, a cosmic-level act confirming God's omnipotence to an extraordinary degree. Some interpret the "reversal" not as a universal physical event but as a localized optical illusion or specific light manipulation, however, the parallelism with Joshua's miracle and the language of God "bringing back" the shadow suggests a direct, physical intervention that indeed affected the apparent sun's movement. It reinforces that nothing is too difficult for God, who spoke the universe into existence and sustains it.

2 Kings 20 11 Commentary

2 Kings 20:11 details one of the Bible's most profound demonstrations of God's power over creation. This sign, occurring shortly after Hezekiah's fervent prayer and divine promise of extended life, serves as irrefutable confirmation of God's word. It highlights several key theological truths. Firstly, it underscores the efficacy of believing prayer: God responds to the heartfelt pleas of His righteous servants. Secondly, it displays God's absolute sovereignty, extending even to the fundamental laws of the cosmos, such as the predictable movement of celestial bodies that governs time. The "dial of Ahaz" was likely a sophisticated sundial, and to reverse its shadow by a specified "ten steps" was an unprecedented astronomical and temporal miracle, making it undeniably a supernatural act. This sign provided not only personal assurance for Hezekiah but also a powerful testimony to Judah of Yahweh's unique identity as the Almighty God, contrasting sharply with the impotent deities of surrounding nations who held no sway over the sun itself. It reaffirms that God is the Master of time and space, capable of altering the very fabric of His creation to fulfill His word and purpose.