2 Kings 20 6

2 Kings 20:6 kjv

And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

2 Kings 20:6 nkjv

And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David." ' "

2 Kings 20:6 niv

I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.'?"

2 Kings 20:6 esv

and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake."

2 Kings 20:6 nlt

I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.'"

2 Kings 20 verses

2 Kings 20 6 Meaning

2 Kings 20:6 presents God's direct, multi-faceted response to King Hezekiah's fervent prayer during his mortal illness. It declares that God will add fifteen years to Hezekiah's life, simultaneously promising the deliverance of both the king and Jerusalem from the powerful Assyrian threat. The verse emphasizes that this divine intervention is not merely due to human piety, but primarily "for mine own sake" (God's glory and commitment to His Word) and "for my servant David's sake" (God's faithfulness to His eternal covenant with David).

2 Kings 20 6 Context

This verse is situated in 2 Kings chapter 20, detailing King Hezekiah's severe illness, which was pronounced terminal by the prophet Isaiah. Overwhelmed with grief, Hezekiah turned to God in desperate prayer, reminding the Lord of his righteous walk. While Isaiah was still in the middle court of the palace on his way out, the word of the Lord came to him, commissioning him to return to Hezekiah with this message of immediate healing and deliverance. This event occurred during the turbulent period when Sennacherib, King of Assyria, was campaigning against Judah, having already captured many fortified cities and putting Jerusalem under severe threat (2 Kings 18-19). God's promise here—both to heal Hezekiah and to defend Jerusalem—precedes the miraculous destruction of the Assyrian army (2 Kings 19:35) which directly fulfilled the promised national deliverance.

2 Kings 20 6 Word analysis

• And I will add: The Hebrew wəhōsaftî (וְהֹסַפְתִּי) from the root יָסַף (yasaf), meaning "to increase" or "to add." This highlights God as the active agent, possessing absolute sovereignty over life itself. It demonstrates a reversal of a divinely decreed judgment (of death), showing God's compassion in response to heartfelt prayer.

• unto thy days: Refers specifically to Hezekiah's lifespan. His life was predetermined by God, but in His mercy, God extended it. This illustrates God's intimate knowledge and control over the very duration of human existence.

• fifteen years: The precision of this number (fifteen) underscores the specificity and certainty of God's promise. It's not a vague blessing but a concrete, measurable extension, confirmed later by a miraculous sign (the sun's shadow going back). This tangible promise provides direct comfort and reassurance.

• and I will deliver thee: The Hebrew wəhiṣṣaltî (וְהִצַּלְתִּי) from נָצַל (natsal), "to rescue," "to snatch away." This verb implies intervention to free someone from imminent danger or an oppressor's grasp. It speaks of divine rescue from death and oppression.

• and this city: Referring to Jerusalem. The promise extends beyond Hezekiah's personal well-being to the safety of the capital, the seat of the Davidic dynasty, and the place of God's temple. This underlines the corporate aspect of God's blessings and His commitment to His chosen dwelling place.

• out of the hand of the king of Assyria: The phrase "out of the hand" (מִכַּף֙) signifies deliverance from the absolute power, control, or destructive grip of a formidable enemy. The Assyrian king, Sennacherib, represented the era's supreme military threat, having overwhelmed many nations and brought Judah to its knees. This promise directly opposes Assyria's perceived invincibility and showcases God's ultimate power over human empires. This served as a potent polemic against Assyrian claims of divine favor for their conquests.

• and I will defend this city: The Hebrew wəġannōtî (וְגַנֹּותִ֛י) from גָּנַן (ganan), meaning "to surround," "to protect," or "to cover" as with a shield. It implies an active, powerful act of safeguarding. God would not merely prevent defeat but actively shield Jerusalem.

• for mine own sake: (לְמַֽעֲנִ֑י - lema'ani) - This phrase is paramount. While Hezekiah prayed sincerely, God states that the ultimate motive for His action is His own character, honor, glory, and commitment to His Word. God's reputation was at stake before the nations. It emphasizes that divine intervention often stems from God's intrinsic faithfulness and not solely from human merit.

• and for my servant David's sake: (וּלְמַעַן עַבְדִּי דָוִיד - ūlema'an ‘abdî dāwid) - This highlights God's unwavering faithfulness to the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7). God promised David an eternal dynasty and an enduring kingdom. Protecting Jerusalem, the Davidic capital, and preserving Hezekiah, a Davidic king, was essential for the continuation of that divine promise, through which the Messiah would eventually come. Even amidst the sins of the kings, God's covenant with David remains a basis for His grace and preservation of the line.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And I will add unto thy days fifteen years": This group expresses a direct, precise, and immediate personal miracle reversing the natural course of life and death, an act unique to the Creator.
  • "and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria": This dual deliverance, both personal (the king) and national (Jerusalem), from an overwhelming geopolitical threat, highlights God's absolute sovereignty over nations and His capacity to intervene decisively in world affairs.
  • "and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake": This crucial explanatory clause reveals the foundational motivations for God's actions: His intrinsic glory, His unblemished reputation, and His unchangeable commitment to His eternal covenants, especially the Davidic Covenant. This transcends human merit, pointing to God's broader redemptive plan for humanity through the Messiah's lineage.

2 Kings 20 6 Bonus section

The close connection between Hezekiah's physical healing and Jerusalem's political deliverance underscores that God's lordship is comprehensive, spanning all spheres of existence—from individual life to national destiny. This event is a powerful demonstration of how divine power can manifest directly in response to prayer, even altering a previous divine decree (the pronouncement of death in 2 Kings 20:1). The immediate subsequent fulfillment of the Assyrian army's destruction (2 Kings 19:35, often chronologically placed after Hezekiah's healing in literary narrative but linked in divine purpose here) served as irrefutable evidence of God's word being perfectly true. The specificity of "fifteen years" highlighted not just a general promise, but a precise, personal interaction, followed by a tangible sign (the sun's shadow reversing) which removed all doubt for Hezekiah and future generations. The repeated mention of "for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake" emphasizes the overarching theme of God's covenant faithfulness driving historical events, culminating ultimately in the secure coming of the promised Seed through David's lineage.

2 Kings 20 6 Commentary

2 Kings 20:6 encapsulates a pivotal moment showcasing God's multifaceted power, covenant faithfulness, and responsive mercy. Faced with imminent death and national devastation, King Hezekiah's earnest prayer tapped into the divine will. God's promise to extend Hezekiah's life by fifteen years demonstrates His absolute dominion over life and death, illustrating that no human condition is beyond His power. Simultaneously, the assurance of Jerusalem's deliverance from Assyria reveals His sovereign control over nations and their kings. What makes this promise profound is the stated motivation: God acts primarily "for mine own sake" and "for my servant David's sake." This teaches us that while prayer is powerful, God's ultimate basis for intervention often lies in preserving His own glory, fulfilling His prior divine declarations, and maintaining His sacred covenants. He is not bound by human worthiness alone but acts consistently with His nature and word. This deliverance not only saved a king and a city but critically preserved the lineage through which the Messiah would come.

• Examples:
  • Just as God reversed Hezekiah's death sentence, so He can intervene in seemingly impossible situations, be it personal illness, financial distress, or relational brokenness, often responding to heartfelt prayer.
  • Similar to how God defended Jerusalem against an overwhelming foe for His own Name and David's covenant, we can trust that He works providentially in history, protecting His people and upholding His kingdom agenda for His own glory, even when circumstances seem dire.