2 Kings 20 5

2 Kings 20:5 kjv

Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

2 Kings 20:5 nkjv

"Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.

2 Kings 20:5 niv

"Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD.

2 Kings 20:5 esv

"Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD,

2 Kings 20:5 nlt

"Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the LORD.

2 Kings 20 verses

2 Kings 20 5 Meaning

This verse is a profound message of God's immediate and compassionate response to King Hezekiah's desperate prayer for healing. It signifies God's direct intervention, demonstrating His attentiveness to the cries of His faithful, even to the point of reversing a prior decree. The message through the prophet Isaiah guarantees Hezekiah's restoration to health and strength within three days, culminating in his return to the Temple to worship, symbolizing complete physical and spiritual recovery.

2 Kings 20 5 Context

King Hezekiah of Judah was facing imminent death due to a severe illness, having already received a definitive prophetic word from Isaiah stating he would die and should put his house in order (2 Ki 20:1; Isa 38:1). Devastated, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed fervently, weeping bitterly (2 Ki 20:2-3; Isa 38:2-3). This verse immediately follows his prayer, detailing God's remarkably swift response to Isaiah, instructing him to turn back and deliver a message of life and healing. The historical setting is one of intense political and spiritual tension for Judah, having just survived the Assyrian siege under Sennacherib by God's miraculous intervention, a deliverance likely deepening Hezekiah's reliance on the Lord. His illness occurs shortly after this major national deliverance.

2 Kings 20 5 Word analysis

• Turn again (שׁוּב – shuv): This imperative emphasizes the urgency and immediacy of God's response. Isaiah was already leaving, signifying God's decision was made before the prophet had completed his initial instruction. It illustrates divine speed and attentiveness to sincere prayer.

• tell Hezekiah (וְאָמַרְתָּ אֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּ – v'amarta el Hizqiyyahu): Highlights the prophet's role as a divine messenger. God communicates His will and action directly through His appointed spokesperson.

• the captain of my people (נָגִיד עַמִּי – nagid ammi): "Captain" translates nagid, a significant Hebrew term. It denotes a leader, prince, or chosen one, divinely appointed to rule over God's people. This title emphasizes God's personal covenant relationship with Hezekiah and his pivotal role in leading Judah. It underscores that Hezekiah's well-being is intrinsically linked to the well-being and divinely appointed guidance of God's chosen nation.

• Thus saith the LORD (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה – koh amar YHWH): This standard prophetic formula establishes the divine authority and veracity of the message. It is not Isaiah's word, but the very word of Yahweh, the sovereign, covenant-keeping God.

• the God of David thy father (אֱלֹהֵי דָּוִד אָבִיךָ – Elohei David avikha): A powerful reminder of God's covenant faithfulness. By referring to Himself as the God of David, Yahweh invokes His enduring promise to David's lineage, assuring Hezekiah that his personal deliverance is an expression of this broader, unwavering divine commitment to his royal house and the nation.

• I have heard thy prayer (שָׁמַעְתִּי אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֶךָ – shamati et-tefillatekha): God confirms He has directly attended to Hezekiah's plea. This emphasizes God's omniscient awareness and personal involvement in the lives of His children.

• I have seen thy tears (רָאִיתִי אֶת־דִּמְעָתֶךָ – raiti et-dim'atekha): Reveals God's profound compassion and intimate knowledge of Hezekiah's deep sorrow and fervent appeal. It illustrates that God sees beyond mere words into the heart's desperation, moved by sincere contrition and trust.

• behold, I will heal thee (הִנְנִי רֹפֵא לָךְ – hin'ni rophe lak): "Behold I" (hin'ni) indicates a firm, imminent divine action. "Heal" (rapha) denotes comprehensive restoration to health. This is a direct declaration of miraculous intervention, demonstrating God's power over life and death.

• on the third day (בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי – bayyom hash'lishi): This specific timeframe carries significant biblical resonance. The "third day" often marks a moment of divine completion, deliverance, revelation, or resurrection. Here, it denotes certainty, proximity, and God's sovereign timing for complete recovery.

• thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD (תַּעֲלֶה בֵּית־יְהוָה – ta'aleh beit-YHWH): "Going up" to the Temple in Jerusalem implies ascent both physically (geographical elevation) and spiritually (entering God's presence for worship). This is the ultimate proof of his healing: Hezekiah will be strong enough to participate actively in corporate worship, offering thanksgiving and praise for his miraculous recovery, signifying a restored life connected to God's presence.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people": This phrase highlights God's sovereignty over His prophet and His people. It shows the speed of God's intervention—the message of life catches the prophet on his way out, before he has even left the palace courtyard. It elevates Hezekiah from just "king" to "captain," implying his God-ordained role in leading the people.
  • "Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father": This group reinforces the divine authority and roots God's present act of grace in His foundational covenant promises. God acts not just out of compassion, but out of His unchanging covenant fidelity.
  • "I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears": This powerfully connects God's active response to Hezekiah's earnest, vulnerable supplication. It reveals God's deep empathy and attentive care for His servants.
  • "behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD": This is the core promise and its confirmation. The swift healing and the subsequent ability to worship publicly are irrefutable evidence of God's miracle, validating His word and Hezekiah's restoration.

2 Kings 20 5 Bonus section

• The detail that Isaiah "had not gone out into the middle court" (2 Ki 20:4) when God spoke to him emphasizes the perpendicularity of God's immediate response. It illustrates that prayer, especially desperate, humble prayer, can invoke a sudden change in divine decree.
• Hezekiah's fervent prayer and tears signify more than mere sorrow; they indicate a deep dependence on God and an honest, vulnerable cry from the heart, which God honors.
• The connection between "seeing tears" and "healing" highlights that God responds not just to articulate requests but to the silent anguish of the soul. His empathy precedes and often accompanies His restorative power.
• This account contrasts with other situations where prophetic word was immutable. It teaches about the dynamic interaction between human prayer and divine sovereignty, suggesting that while God's ultimate plan is unchangeable, some aspects of His temporal decree can be influenced by prayer and repentance.

2 Kings 20 5 Commentary

2 Kings 20:5 encapsulates a profound demonstration of God's responsiveness to earnest prayer. Isaiah's immediate return before he even left the court highlights the dramatic immediacy of divine intervention. God not only hears Hezekiah's fervent plea, symbolized by his "tears," but also acts on it with compassion. The designation "captain of my people" underscores Hezekiah's special position as a God-appointed leader, signifying that God's grace extends to the well-being of the one leading His chosen nation. God's self-identification as "the God of David thy father" anchors this personal miracle within the larger framework of His steadfast covenant with David, reminding Hezekiah of the unshakeable promises linked to his lineage and the enduring nature of God's faithfulness. The assurance of healing "on the third day" carries rich biblical significance, pointing to a divinely ordained completion and foreshadowing ultimate resurrection and new life. The promised return to the "house of the LORD" signifies full restoration, not just physically but also spiritually, enabling Hezekiah to fulfill his priestly duty of thanksgiving and public worship, acknowledging God's miraculous power. This episode serves as a powerful testament to the efficacy of prayer and God's readiness to interact intimately with His people, sometimes even altering a declared course of events in response to genuine repentance and heartfelt petition.