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, through the prophet Isaiah, declared to King Hezekiah a specific sign as assurance of his recovery and an extension of his life: He would cause the shadow on the unique sundial of Ahaz to recede by ten observable steps or degrees. This was not an illusion but an actual, observable cosmic event, wherein the apparent movement of the sun was reversed, thereby turning back time by ten measured increments. This miraculous reversal demonstrated God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His faithful commitment to His word.

Isaiah 38 8 Context

Isaiah 38:8 is nestled within an account of King Hezekiah's near-fatal illness, his earnest prayer to God, and God's merciful response. Prior to this verse, Isaiah had informed Hezekiah of his impending death (Isa 38:1). Following Hezekiah's tearful prayer, God, through Isaiah, not only promised healing and an additional fifteen years of life but also deliverance from the Assyrian threat (Isa 38:2-7). Hezekiah, seeking concrete assurance for such an extraordinary promise, requested a sign (2 Kgs 20:8). The specific sign chosen, documented in Isa 38:8, was the reversal of the shadow on Ahaz's sundial. Historically, this event occurs around the 14th year of Hezekiah's reign, marking a profound demonstration of God's power amidst a time of national vulnerability and the king's personal crisis. The "sundial of Ahaz" suggests an instrument or a set of marked steps likely built or acquired by Hezekiah's idolatrous father, Ahaz, perhaps indicative of foreign astronomical interests. God choosing this specific, measurable device linked to a past apostate reign further underscores His sovereignty over time, creation, and even items associated with ungodliness.

Isaiah 38 8 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה, hinnêh): An emphatic interjection. It signals the momentous and supernatural nature of the divine pronouncement, urging immediate and keen attention to the upcoming miraculous event.
• I will bring again (מֵשִׁיב אֲנִי, meshib ani): Literally "I am causing to return." Emphasizes God's active, direct, and present-tense involvement. This is an act of deliberate divine intervention, showing control over the laws of nature.
• the shadow (צֵל, tsel): The visible indicator on the sundial. This tangible element allowed Hezekiah to physically witness the supernatural reversal, making the miracle undeniable.
• of the degrees (הַמַּעֲלוֹת, hamma‘ălōt): Refers to the "steps" or "graduations" marked on the sundial. The term suggests an instrument perhaps involving steps or stairs marked for time, a unique and precise way to measure the celestial movement.
• which is gone down (אֲשֶׁר יָרְדָה, asher yardah): "That has descended." This describes the natural, forward progression of the shadow from its morning position towards midday/evening, indicating the regular passage of time.
• in the sundial of Ahaz (בְּמַעֲלוֹת אָחָז, bəma‘ălōt ’āḥāz): "On the steps/degrees of Ahaz." This ties the specific instrument to Hezekiah's ungodly father, Ahaz, possibly a structure he commissioned. It highlights that God can reclaim and utilize objects connected to a profane past for His holy purposes.
• ten degrees (עֶשֶׂר מַעֲלוֹת, ‘eser ma‘ălōt): A specific, measurable quantity. The precise numerical detail underscores the verifiability and exactness of the divine act, making it indisputably miraculous.
• backward (אָחוֹר, ’aḥôr): This crucial adverb signifies the reversal of the natural course. It’s an inversion of the normal flow of time/celestial mechanics, demonstrating God's supreme authority over creation.
• So the sun returned (וַתָּשָׁב הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, wattâshāḇ haššēmeš): "And the sun itself returned." This statement clarifies that the miracle was not merely a localized shadow play or optical illusion, but a cosmic event affecting the apparent position of the sun, perceptible on Earth.
• by which degrees it was gone down (בַּמַּעֲלוֹת אֲשֶׁר יָרָדָה, bamma‘ălōt ’asher yaradah): Reinforces the exactness and full reversal, implying the same degrees previously descended were precisely retraced, removing any doubt about the divine intervention.

• "I will bring again the shadow... backward": This phrase group emphasizes divine command over the natural order, clearly stating God's active reversal of a physical phenomenon, showing His unparalleled power to defy normal expectations.
• "in the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees": These words locate the miracle with precise, measurable detail, connecting it to a specific historical object and quantification. It authenticates the event as verifiable and impactful within its historical context, even redeeming an instrument of a previous apostate king.
• "So the sun returned ten degrees": This directly links the movement of the shadow to an actual cosmic adjustment. It asserts that the celestial body itself was supernaturally affected from an earthly perspective, showcasing God's authority over the universe.

Isaiah 38 8 Bonus section

The miracle of the sundial raises profound questions about the nature of time and God's interaction with the physical universe. While scripture describes the "sun returned," the exact scientific mechanism is not explained. This suggests either a literal reversal of the Earth's rotation, a temporary shift in its orbit, or an advanced localized light refraction phenomenon that made the sun appear to recede from Judah's perspective. Regardless of the mechanism, the biblical emphasis is on God's direct agency and the clear observation of the event, confirming divine power beyond human comprehension. This stands as one of the most remarkable examples of God altering the cosmos, comparable in scale to the sun standing still for Joshua (Josh 10:12-14), yet distinct in its 'reversal' aspect. It underscores that God, as Creator and Sustainer, is not bound by the natural laws He instituted but can supervene upon them to reveal His glory and fulfill His purposes. The "degrees of Ahaz" being a public or easily accessible marker likely meant that other people beyond Hezekiah and Isaiah could also witness this cosmic anomaly. Later, Babylonian envoys came to inquire about the "sign that was done in the land" (2 Chr 32:31), implying widespread knowledge of this extraordinary event.

Isaiah 38 8 Commentary

Isaiah 38:8 captures a singular moment of divine power and mercy. It is not just the recounting of a miraculous event, but a profound theological statement: God, who established the natural laws, retains absolute sovereignty over them, capable of altering cosmic patterns at will to fulfill His word. For Hezekiah, gravely ill and praying for his life, this precise reversal of the sun's shadow by "ten degrees backward" served as an undeniable, visible assurance of God's promise of healing and extended life. The choice of "Ahaz's sundial" adds a layer of depth; it shows God's capacity to sanctify and use even objects linked to a former reign's idolatry for His glory. This miracle underscored God's faithfulness and ability to act outside natural limitations, not just to Hezekiah, but to all who would hear of it.

This event practically reminds us that:

1. God hears prayer: Hezekiah's plea moved God to act miraculously.
2. God's word is sure: The sign guaranteed the fulfillment of His promise.
3. God controls all things: Even the cosmic order bends to His will.
4. Assurance is given: God provides signs for His children when necessary.