Isaiah 38 8

Isaiah 38:8 kjv

Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.

Isaiah 38:8 nkjv

"Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward." So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down.

Isaiah 38:8 niv

I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.'?" So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.

Isaiah 38:8 esv

Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps." So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined.

Isaiah 38:8 nlt

I will cause the sun's shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!'" So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.

Isaiah 38 verses

Isaiah 38 8 Meaning

The Lord signifies His imminent intervention by returning King Hezekiah from his deathly illness, a visible sign of God’s power. The text marks this divine action as a token, a pledge or proof of God's faithfulness to Hezekiah and his people, demonstrating His attentiveness to his prayer and tears. This event directly relates to the sun's movement, specifically indicating the repetition of a process or cycle.

Isaiah 38 8 Context

This verse is situated within a dramatic account of King Hezekiah’s life-threatening illness and subsequent miraculous recovery. Following a prayer of deep anguish and supplication by Hezekiah, recorded just prior in Isaiah 38:1-3, God sends the prophet Isaiah with a message of hope. The specific promise of the shadow moving backward ten steps on the sundial of Ahaz is given as a sign, a tangible proof of God's intervention and healing. Historically, this occurred during a period when Assyria posed a significant threat to Judah, and Hezekiah's faithfulness and reliance on God were crucial. This sign demonstrates God’s power over time and the natural order, affirming His covenant with His people.

Isaiah 38 8 Word Analysis

• Behold (Hebrew: הִנֵּה - hinneh):

  • An interjection used to draw attention. It signifies the presentation of something important or a call to notice.
  • Implies immediate and significant action by God.

• I will make (Hebrew: אָשִׁיב - ashiv):

  • From the root שׁוּב (shuv), meaning to return, turn back, or bring back.
  • Indicates a purposeful action by God, reversing a natural or chronological progression.

• the shadow (Hebrew: הַצֵּל - haTzel):

  • The dark area or shape cast by an opaque object.
  • Refers specifically to the shadow cast by the sun, moving across a dial or steps.

• on the steps (Hebrew: בַּמַּעֲלֹות - baMa'alot):

  • Refers to steps, stairs, or degrees.
  • Likely points to the steps of a staircase or a structure used for measuring time by the sun's shadow, such as a sundial or a stairway designed to cast a shadow. The reference is likely to the sundial of Ahaz, as mentioned in 2 Kings 20:11.

• which is going down (Hebrew: הַיֹּרְדָה - haYoredah):

  • Present participle of the verb יָרַד (yarad), meaning to go down, descend.
  • Describes the normal, progressive movement of the shadow as the sun descends or moves across the sky.

• ten steps (Hebrew: עֶשֶׂר - eser):

  • The number ten.
  • This is the specific measure of reversal. The significance of ten might relate to a tenth part or a full set of measures, but the primary meaning is a clear, discernible, and divinely controlled change.

• backward (Hebrew: אָחוֹר - achor):

  • An adverb indicating reversal or moving in the opposite direction.
  • Emphasizes the unnaturalness and supernatural aspect of the event.

• Go backward (Hebrew: תָּשׁוּב - tashuv):

  • Second person masculine singular future tense of שׁוּב (shuv), meaning to return or turn back.
  • A direct command or statement of action to the shadow.

• ten steps (Hebrew: עֶשֶׂר - eser):

  • The specific quantity of recession.

Word Group Analysis:

• "Behold, I will make the shadow on the steps which is going down backward ten steps": This entire phrase signifies God's direct, powerful intervention to alter the course of time or its measurement. It's a physical manifestation of God responding to Hezekiah's plea and affirming His covenantal power over creation. The reversal of the shadow is a reversal of a natural progression, highlighting the miraculous nature of the sign.

Isaiah 38 8 Bonus Section

The account of the receding shadow is also found in 2 Kings 20:8-11, corroborating Isaiah's record. Scholars debate the exact mechanism, with some proposing a physical alteration of the sun's apparent position or a supernatural event affecting the shadow-casting mechanism, while others suggest it was a highly visible phenomenon involving celestial bodies. The theological significance lies not in the scientific explanation, but in God's sovereign power displayed to confirm His promise of healing. This event demonstrates God’s power to reverse decrees and the finality of death itself, mirroring Christ's resurrection which Hezekiah's recovery foreshadowed. It emphasizes that life and death are ultimately in God's hands, and His faithfulness can manifest in astounding ways.

Isaiah 38 8 Commentary

This verse presents one of the most extraordinary signs recorded in the Old Testament – the miraculous regression of the sun's shadow. It is given by God as a divine guarantee to King Hezekiah that his prayer for healing from a fatal illness will be answered. The sign, the movement of the shadow backward ten steps on the sundial of Ahaz, is not merely a cosmic spectacle; it is a personal assurance of God's attentiveness, His mercy, and His supreme authority over the laws of nature. It reinforces the prophet's message and validates God's commitment to Hezekiah and his plea. The event underscores the theme of divine intervention in human affairs and serves as a powerful reminder that God responds to the earnest prayers of His people, even in the face of death.