2 Kings 20 3

2 Kings 20:3 kjv

I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

2 Kings 20:3 nkjv

"Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

2 Kings 20:3 niv

"Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

2 Kings 20:3 esv

"Now, O LORD, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

2 Kings 20:3 nlt

"Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you." Then he broke down and wept bitterly.

2 Kings 20 verses

2 Kings 20 3 Meaning

Hezekiah's plea to God, expressing deep anguish and lament over the prophecy of his impending death. He earnestly appeals to God to recall his consistent and faithful conduct, his wholehearted devotion, and his commitment to performing righteous actions solely according to God's standard. His intense weeping underscores his desperation and profound reliance on divine mercy in this crisis.

2 Kings 20 3 Context

The opening of 2 Kings 20 presents King Hezekiah receiving a death sentence from the prophet Isaiah, who states he will not recover. This dire pronouncement throws Hezekiah into a profound state of crisis, as indicated by his immediate turning of his face to the wall and fervent prayer. His concern was heightened because, at this time, he had no royal heir, meaning the Davidic line could potentially end with him, which held significant implications for God's covenant promises to David. Historically, Hezekiah was a notable king of Judah, widely recognized for his sweeping religious reforms that cleansed the land of idolatry and redirected Judah's worship back to the one true God, YHWH. He also demonstrated immense trust in God during the Assyrian invasion, leading Judah through a period of great national threat and deliverance recounted in the preceding chapters. His prayer, therefore, emerges from a background of devoted service and covenant faithfulness.

2 Kings 20 3 Word analysis

• Remember now, O Lord (זְכָר־נָא יְהוָה / zakhar-na Adonai):

  • zakhar (זָכַר): "to remember, recall." In the biblical context, God "remembering" is not a retrieval of forgotten information but implies an active consideration, engagement, and subsequent action based on His covenant and character.
  • na (נָא): "please, now, I beseech." An particle of intense request or supplication, conveying urgency and humility in the plea.
  • Yehovah (יְהוָה / LORD): The covenant name of God, indicating Hezekiah's appeal is rooted in the established relationship between God and His people, particularly through the Davidic covenant.
  • Significance: Hezekiah appeals not to human merit as entitlement, but to God's faithful character and His own covenant principles concerning obedience.

• I have walked (הָלַכְתִּי / halakti):

  • halak (הָלַךְ): "to walk." Used metaphorically to denote one's entire conduct, manner of life, or the consistent path one chooses in their spiritual and moral journey.
  • Significance: Refers to a sustained, lived experience of obedience, not merely isolated instances.

• before thee (לְפָנֶיךָ / l'faneyka):

  • paniym (פָּנִים): "face, presence." Denotes a life lived directly in God's presence, under His scrutiny, implying accountability and a conscious awareness of God's watchful eye.
  • Significance: His actions were not hidden but openly conducted in full awareness of divine observation.

• in truth (בֶּאֱמֶת / b'emet):

  • 'emet (אֱמֶת): "truth, faithfulness, steadfastness, integrity." Signifies sincerity, reliability, and moral uprightness. It implies a genuine devotion without pretense or hypocrisy.
  • Significance: His devotion was authentic and sincere, reflective of inner conviction rather than mere external conformity.

• and with a perfect heart (וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם / u'v'lev shalem):

  • lev (לֵב): "heart." The biblical understanding of the heart encompasses one's intellect, will, emotions, and moral core—the seat of one's deepest desires and intentions.
  • shalem (שָׁלֵם): "complete, whole, sound, sincere, undivided." It signifies an undivided loyalty and exclusive devotion to God. It does not mean sinless perfection but rather full, consistent, and singular commitment to YHWH, in contrast to partial or hypocritical allegiance.
  • Significance: Hezekiah’s allegiance was exclusive and fully devoted to God, unmixed with idolatry or worldly allegiances, fulfilling the demand for single-mindedness in devotion.

• and have done that which is good in thy sight (וְהַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ עָשִׂיתִי / v'hatov b'eineykha asiti):

  • tov (טוֹב): "good, right, pleasing." Refers to actions that are morally appropriate and meet God's standard of righteousness, found in His Law.
  • 'ayin (עַיִן): "eye, sight." Reinforces the idea of divine perspective; his actions were genuinely good as judged by God, not by human standards.
  • Significance: He actively performed deeds aligned with God's will, manifesting his inner commitment in tangible actions, particularly in his reign marked by widespread reforms.

• And Hezekiah wept sore (וַיֵּבְךְּ חִזְקִיָּהוּ בֶּכִי גָּדוֹל / va'yevkh chizqiyyahu bekhi gadol):

  • bakha (בָּכָה): "to weep, cry." Indicates deep emotional distress, anguish, and sorrow.
  • gadol (גָּדוֹל): "great, intense, abundant." Intensifies the verb "wept," describing a profound outpouring of grief and desperation.
  • Significance: This intense, raw emotional display shows Hezekiah's deep human vulnerability, fear, and urgent reliance on God as his sole hope. His earnestness underscores the sincerity of his prayer.

2 Kings 20 3 Commentary

Hezekiah's plea in 2 Kings 20:3 is a profound example of a believer appealing to God based on a life of covenant faithfulness. Faced with an immediate death sentence, he does not passively accept it but pours out his heart in sincere lament. His argument centers on his consistent lifestyle: "I have walked before You in truth and with a perfect heart." This is not self-righteous boasting, but a humble invocation of God’s own principles—that He remembers and honors those who live devoted to Him. "In truth" signifies genuine sincerity and integrity, while "perfect heart" indicates undivided loyalty and devotion to God, excluding all idolatry and compromise. His actions, having "done that which is good in thy sight," corroborate this internal state. The phrase "in thy sight" emphasizes that his walk was under God’s direct observation and approval. The "wept sore" signifies his intense, desperate prayer, underscoring that his appeal for life came from the depth of his soul and an unshakeable belief that God would hear his cry, turning His attention to the fervent supplication of His servant. God's immediate response (v.4) validates the power of a faithful life and a fervent prayer.

Bonus Section

• This passage highlights that even direct prophetic pronouncements can be contingent on human response and prayer, revealing God's merciful willingness to adjust His decree in response to sincere repentance and fervent supplication.
• Hezekiah's prayer is a deeply human moment, revealing the natural desire for life and the continuation of purpose, particularly for a king who understood the dynastic implications of his death.
• The Hebrew concept of "perfect heart" (lev shalem) does not imply sinlessness, but singular and undivided devotion, crucial for kings in Judah where idolatry was a constant temptation. Hezekiah's reforms, clearing the land of foreign altars and restoring temple worship, were direct manifestations of this perfect heart.