2 Kings 20 7

2 Kings 20:7 kjv

And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

2 Kings 20:7 nkjv

Then Isaiah said, "Take a lump of figs." So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

2 Kings 20:7 niv

Then Isaiah said, "Prepare a poultice of figs." They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.

2 Kings 20:7 esv

And Isaiah said, "Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil, that he may recover."

2 Kings 20:7 nlt

Then Isaiah said, "Make an ointment from figs." So Hezekiah's servants spread the ointment over the boil, and Hezekiah recovered!

2 Kings 20 verses

2 Kings 20 7 Meaning

This verse details the physical action commanded by the prophet Isaiah as a conduit for Hezekiah's divinely promised healing. It reveals that God chose to use a simple, earthly substance—a poultice of figs—as the tangible means through which His life-restoring power would manifest. The recovery was immediate and complete, highlighting that the true efficacy lay not in the figs themselves, but in God's miraculous intervention, performed in response to Hezekiah's plea and conveyed through Isaiah's prophetic instruction.

2 Kings 20 7 Context

2 Kings chapter 20 primarily narrates the story of King Hezekiah's terminal illness, his fervent prayer to the Lord, and God's miraculous response through the prophet Isaiah. Before this verse, Isaiah had delivered God's word pronouncing Hezekiah's imminent death (2 Kgs 20:1). Hezekiah, deeply distressed, prayed tearfully to God (2 Kgs 20:2-3). Remarkably, God immediately responded to his prayer before Isaiah had even left the palace court, instructing the prophet to inform Hezekiah of a fifteen-year extension to his life and deliverance from the king of Assyria (2 Kgs 20:4-6). Verse 7, therefore, describes the practical, observable step that was taken as part of God's healing process. It immediately precedes the account of the miraculous sign of the sundial's shadow reversing ten steps, which was granted to Hezekiah as assurance (2 Kgs 20:8-11). The "boil" (שְׁחִין, shechin) was a severe, life-threatening abscess, indicating a grave illness.

2 Kings 20 7 Word analysis

• And Isaiah (וַיְּשַׁעְיָהוּ, vayish’ayahu):

  • Isaiah (יְשַׁעְיָהוּ): The prophet whose name means "Yahweh is salvation." His role here is as God's messenger and instrument, mediating God's instruction for Hezekiah's healing. He had previously pronounced Hezekiah's death, and now, on God's immediate reversal, conveys life and the means for healing.

• said, (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayyo'mer):

  • An imperfect verb with waw-conversive, indicating a sequential action, emphasizing that Isaiah's command directly follows and implements God's revealed will. This is a divine instruction delivered through the prophet.

• "Take (קְחוּ, qeḥū):

  • An imperative plural verb, "take you." Isaiah addresses the king's servants or attendants, not Hezekiah directly. This implies a need for assistance in administering the remedy. It's a clear command, not a suggestion, showing divine authority.

• a lump of figs." (דְּבֶלֶת תְּאֵנִים, develet te'enim):

  • Lump/Cake (דְּבֶלֶת, develet): A pressed cake or mass, typically of dried figs. These were common in the ancient Near East as food (e.g., 1 Sam 25:18, 1 Sam 30:12) and occasionally as a drawing or poulticing agent in folk medicine.
  • Figs (תְּאֵנִים, te'enim): The fruit of the fig tree. Figs contain enzymes and sugars that can have a drawing effect and mild antiseptic properties. However, for a mortal boil as described, a simple fig poultice alone would be entirely insufficient for healing without a divine miracle. Its very commonness and simplicity highlight that the power was not in the remedy but in God who commanded its use.

• So they took (וַיִּקְחוּ, vayyiqḥū):

  • Waw-conversive perfect verb, denoting immediate and direct action in response to the command. It signifies obedience on the part of the servants.

• and laid it on (וַיָּשִׂמוּ עַל, vayyāśimu ʿal):

  • Another waw-conversive perfect, showing continuous, prompt action. "They placed it upon."

• the boil, (הַשְּׁחִין, hashshechin):

  • Boil (שְׁחִין, shechin): This term in Hebrew describes a virulent, inflammatory sore or ulcer. It is used in Exo 9:9-11 for the plague of boils on Egypt and in Job 2:7 for Job's affliction, both indicating severe, often life-threatening conditions. Hezekiah's "boil" was evidently terminal, confirmed by the preceding divine decree.

• and he recovered. (וַיֶּחִי, vayyeḥi):

  • Waw-conversive perfect, "and he lived/recovered." This indicates a direct, immediate, and complete restoration to life and health. It’s a miraculous outcome, demonstrating God's sovereign power over sickness and death, not merely a natural medicinal effect. The "he" refers to Hezekiah.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And Isaiah said, 'Take a lump of figs.'": This phrase underscores God's chosen method of healing delivered through His prophet. It highlights the divine source of the instruction, contrasting with common human medical practices. God directs specific, tangible actions even for miraculous interventions.
  • "So they took and laid it on the boil,": This emphasizes the act of obedience and faith in carrying out the divine instruction. The action itself is mundane, but its significance lies in its compliance with God's word, which serves as the conduit for His power.
  • "and he recovered.": This is the culmination and proof of God's power and faithfulness. The result—Hezekiah's recovery from a fatal illness—was entirely supernatural, showcasing God's ability to restore life even through seemingly ordinary means.

2 Kings 20 7 Bonus section

This incident showcases God's engagement with the physical world through tangible actions, akin to how He would later institute sacraments or ordinances in the New Testament. The fig poultice wasn't magical, nor was it a powerful medication; it was a physical point of contact, a divinely ordained 'sacrament' of sorts, through which God's power flowed. It reminds us that God is not limited to either entirely natural processes or completely abstract divine intervention; He often integrates His miraculous power with visible, physical elements as an act of grace and a demonstration of His presence. This also subtly argues against the magical practices prevalent in the ancient Near East, where power was attributed to specific charms or elaborate rituals. Here, a simple command, coupled with obedience, unleashes divine healing.

2 Kings 20 7 Commentary

2 Kings 20:7 serves as a powerful testament to God's methods of divine healing. It's crucial to understand that while figs possessed some medicinal properties known in the ancient world, they were wholly inadequate to cure a mortal boil as Hezekiah suffered. This makes the recovery a clear miracle, not a medical cure. God deliberately used a simple, commonplace substance, a lump of figs, as the commanded action, thus underscoring that the power resided entirely in His divine will, not in the poultice itself. This mirrors other biblical accounts where God works through humble means (e.g., Moses' staff, Naaman washing in the Jordan, Jesus' spit and mud) to accomplish extraordinary feats, emphasizing His sovereignty and His expectation of obedience to His instructions. The verse highlights the active role of the prophet as God's mouthpiece and the necessity of immediate obedience for God's promised deliverance to materialize. It demonstrates God's mercy and willingness to respond to the earnest prayers of His people.