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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And I will add {H3254} unto thy days {H3117} fifteen {H2568}{H6240} years {H8141}; and I will deliver {H5337} thee and this city {H5892} out of the hand {H3709} of the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}; and I will defend {H1598} this city {H5892} for mine own sake, and for my servant {H5650} David's {H1732} sake.

Complete Jewish Bible

I will add fifteen years to your life. Also I will rescue you and this city from the power of the king of Ashur; I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.'"

Berean Standard Bible

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.’”

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 20:6 records a pivotal moment of divine intervention in the life of King Hezekiah of Judah, reversing a decree of death and reaffirming God's unwavering commitment to protect Jerusalem. Through the prophet Isaiah, God not only grants Hezekiah an additional fifteen years of life but also pledges to deliver the king and the city from the formidable Assyrian threat. This profound promise underscores God's absolute sovereignty, His compassionate responsiveness to fervent prayer, and His steadfast faithfulness to His own glory and the covenant established with His servant David.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the dramatic climax of a short but intensely significant narrative within 2 Kings 20. It immediately follows Isaiah's initial, stark pronouncement of Hezekiah's terminal illness and the king's subsequent, deeply earnest prayer of lament and appeal to the Lord, recounted in [2 Kings 20:1-3](/2_kings/20-1-3 "2 Kings 20:1-3 - Hezekiah's Illness and Prayer"). The narrative emphasizes the extraordinary speed of God's response: "Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him" ([2 Kings 20:4](/2_kings/20-4 "2 Kings 20:4 - God's Immediate Response")). This swift divine reversal highlights God's attentiveness to His people's cries and His sovereign power to alter even His own declared will. While chronologically placed after the miraculous deliverance from Sennacherib's siege in [2 Kings 19](/2_kings/19 "2 Kings 19 - Jerusalem's Deliverance from Assyria"), the renewed promise of deliverance from Assyria in this verse suggests either an ongoing or renewed threat, reinforcing the theme of God's continuous protection. The narrative then proceeds to describe the miraculous sign of the sundial, confirming the divine promise to Hezekiah ([2 Kings 20:8-11](/2_kings/20-8-11 "2 Kings 20:8-11 - The Sign of the Sundial")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Hezekiah's reign (c. 715-686 BC) was a tumultuous period dominated by the expansionist Assyrian Empire. Under Sennacherib, Assyria had already devastated much of Judah, capturing fortified cities and laying siege to Jerusalem, demanding tribute and threatening its complete annihilation ([2 Kings 18:13](/2_kings/18-13 "2 Kings 18:13 - Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah")). In the ancient Near East, the health and longevity of a king were intimately linked to the stability and prosperity of his kingdom; a king's illness could signal divine displeasure or portend national disaster. Hezekiah's posture of turning his face to the wall while praying was a common expression of profound distress and earnest, private supplication to God. The reference to "my servant David's sake" is profoundly significant, grounding God's actions in the enduring Davidic Covenant ([2 Samuel 7:12-16](/2_samuel/7-12-16 "2 Samuel 7:12-16 - The Davidic Covenant")), which promised an eternal dynasty for David's descendants and a secure dwelling for God's people in Jerusalem. This covenant served as a foundational theological pillar for the kingdom of Judah, assuring God's continued faithfulness despite the challenges.

* **Key Themes:** Second Kings 20:6 encapsulates several profound themes central to the Deuteronomistic History and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it powerfully demonstrates God's **responsiveness to prayer**, illustrating that sincere, humble, and covenantally-informed supplication can indeed move God to alter circumstances, even a divine decree of death, as vividly seen in Hezekiah's plea in [2 Kings 20:2-3](/2_kings/20-2-3 "2 Kings 20:2-3 - Hezekiah's Earnest Prayer"). Secondly, the verse highlights God's **absolute sovereignty over life and death**, affirming His ultimate authority to extend life and grant miraculous deliverance. He is the Giver and Sustainer of life. Thirdly, it underscores God's **unwavering faithfulness to His covenants**, specifically the unconditional Davidic Covenant, by promising to defend Jerusalem "for my servant David's sake." This commitment to His covenant with David ensured the continuity of the Davidic line and the security of Jerusalem, the city chosen by God as His dwelling place. Finally, the passage emphasizes God's **divine protection of Jerusalem**, reinforcing its status as a sacred city under God's special care, a theme consistently echoed throughout the prophetic books, such as in [Isaiah 37:35](/isaiah/37-35 "Isaiah 37:35 - God's Promise to Defend Jerusalem").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Add (Hebrew, _yâçaph'_):** This verb (H3254) signifies "to add," "to increase," or "to continue." In this context, it denotes a supernatural reversal of the previously declared divine decree of death. God is not merely extending a pre-determined lifespan but actively intervening to supernaturally lengthen Hezekiah's days, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over life and death and His ability to alter His declared will in response to human intercession. It implies a continuation of life that was otherwise destined to end.
* **Deliver (Hebrew, _nâtsal'_):** Meaning "to snatch away," "to rescue," or "to save" (H5337), this word emphasizes a powerful, active intervention by God to protect Hezekiah and Jerusalem from a dangerous threat. It implies a forceful removal from peril, not just a passive avoidance of harm. This term highlights God's role as the ultimate rescuer and protector of His people and His city, acting decisively to extract them from the clutches of an enemy.
* **Defend (Hebrew, _gânan'_):** This verb (H1598) means "to hedge about," "to cover," or "to protect." It evokes the imagery of a shield or a protective barrier, suggesting an active, encompassing safeguard. When God states He will "defend" Jerusalem, it signifies His vigilant and encompassing protection, ensuring the city's safety against external aggression and internal threats. This divine defense is not passive but an active, vigilant safeguarding of His chosen dwelling place and His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I will add unto thy days fifteen years":** This clause reveals God's direct, merciful, and immediate response to Hezekiah's fervent prayer. Despite the prophet Isaiah's earlier, definitive pronouncement of death, God, in His sovereign compassion and responsiveness, reverses the decree. This grants Hezekiah a significant and specific extension of life, demonstrating God's personal engagement with human suffering and His willingness to intervene supernaturally in the natural course of events, extending grace beyond expectation.
* **"and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria":** This part of the promise addresses the immediate geopolitical and existential threat faced by Judah. The Assyrian Empire, under Sennacherib, was the dominant regional power, having already devastated much of Judah and besieged Jerusalem. God pledges not only to save Hezekiah personally from the threat of death but also to liberate Jerusalem from the formidable and overwhelming Assyrian military might, reaffirming His commitment to His people and His chosen city, ensuring their physical security and national survival.
* **"and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake":** This concluding clause provides the dual theological motivations for God's actions, revealing the divine rationale behind His intervention. "For mine own sake" emphasizes God's commitment to His own glory, reputation, and holy character. His defense of Jerusalem is ultimately a vindication of His power, faithfulness, and the sanctity of His name. "And for my servant David's sake" highlights God's unwavering faithfulness to the unconditional Davidic Covenant ([2 Samuel 7](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant")), which promised an enduring dynasty and a secure dwelling for His people in Jerusalem. This demonstrates that God's actions are rooted in His eternal purposes and His covenantal promises, not merely in human merit or Hezekiah's personal righteousness, underscoring the steadfastness of His redemptive plan.

#### Literary Devices
Second Kings 20:6 employs several significant literary devices that amplify its theological weight and dramatic impact. The most prominent is **Divine Fiat**, where God's will is declared directly, authoritatively, and irrevocably through the prophet Isaiah, signifying an immediate and unchallengeable decree. The repeated phrase "I will" (used three times) emphasizes God's **Sovereignty** and active **Intervention**, powerfully highlighting His personal commitment and direct agency in the actions described. The phrase "for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake" utilizes **Covenantal Language**, grounding God's present actions in His historical and theological commitments. This also functions as a form of **Parallelism**, presenting two distinct but complementary reasons for God's defense of Jerusalem: His own glory and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant with David. The entire narrative surrounding this verse, where Isaiah delivers a message of death only to be sent back immediately with a message of life, functions as **Dramatic Irony**, underscoring God's swift, unexpected, and merciful alteration of His initial decree, highlighting His relational and compassionate nature.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Second Kings 20:6 stands as a profound testament to the multifaceted character of God, revealing His compassionate responsiveness to earnest prayer, His absolute sovereignty over life and death, and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenantal promises. It demonstrates that while God's initial declarations can be definitive, His mercy can lead to a reversal of judgment in response to genuine repentance and humble supplication. The dual motivation for defending Jerusalem—for His own glory and for David's sake—underscores that God's actions are ultimately driven by His divine nature and His eternal purposes, ensuring the continuity of His redemptive plan despite human failings or overwhelming external threats. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that God is intimately and actively involved in the affairs of His people, upholding His promises and demonstrating His power in miraculous ways that transcend human expectation or capability.

* [Psalm 66:19-20](/psalms/66-19-20 "Psalm 66:19-20 - God Hears Prayer and Shows Mercy")
* [2 Samuel 7:12-16](/2_samuel/7-12-16 "2 Samuel 7:12-16 - The Enduring Davidic Covenant")
* [Isaiah 38:5](/isaiah/38-5 "Isaiah 38:5 - God's Promise of Extended Life to Hezekiah")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of Hezekiah's extended life and Jerusalem's miraculous deliverance offers profound encouragement and timeless lessons for believers today. It powerfully illustrates that God hears and responds to the earnest, heartfelt prayers of His people, even when circumstances seem dire, a diagnosis is terminal, or a decree appears irreversible. Hezekiah's example challenges us to bring our deepest concerns—our illnesses, our fears, our national crises—before God with humility, sincerity, and unwavering faith, trusting in His sovereign power and boundless mercy. This passage reminds us that our God is not distant or unfeeling but intimately involved in our lives, capable of miraculous intervention that defies human logic. It encourages us to lean on His unwavering faithfulness, knowing that His commitment to His own glory and His people remains steadfast, just as He defended Jerusalem against an overwhelming enemy. In moments of personal crisis or societal threat, we are called to pray with confidence, believing that God can bring about deliverance and extend grace beyond our expectations, always aligning with His ultimate good and perfect will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Hezekiah's fervent prayer and God's immediate, merciful response challenge or affirm your understanding of the power and purpose of prayer?**
* **In what specific areas of your life do you need to trust God's sovereignty over seemingly irreversible circumstances, such as illness, financial hardship, or relational brokenness?**
* **How does God's faithfulness "for His own sake and for David's sake" encourage you about His commitment to His promises and covenants in your own life and in the broader sweep of redemptive history?**
* **What "Assyrian threats" (overwhelming challenges, personal illnesses, societal fears) are you currently facing, and how can this passage inspire you to seek God's divine deliverance and protection with renewed faith?**

### FAQ
**Did God change His mind about Hezekiah's death?**

Answer: This passage presents a powerful and often debated example of God's dynamic interaction with humanity and His responsiveness to prayer. While God's initial message through Isaiah was definitive ("You are to die; you will not recover"), Hezekiah's fervent prayer and humble appeal led to an immediate divine reversal. This does not imply that God is capricious or that His ultimate, eternal plans are thwarted. Rather, it reveals His compassion, His relational nature, and His willingness to exercise mercy within His sovereign will when His people turn to Him in faith and repentance. It highlights that certain divine decrees can be conditional, allowing for human intercession to influence outcomes, especially when those prayers align with His broader purposes, such as His covenantal faithfulness to David and His desire to display His glory. God's response to Hezekiah demonstrates that genuine repentance and heartfelt prayer can indeed move the heart of God, leading to a gracious alteration of a declared judgment.

**What is the significance of God defending Jerusalem "for my servant David's sake"?**

Answer: The phrase "for my servant David's sake" is profoundly significant, pointing directly to the enduring power and faithfulness of the unconditional Davidic Covenant established in [2 Samuel 7](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant"). In this covenant, God unconditionally promised David an eternal dynasty, a secure throne, and a lasting kingdom, ensuring that a descendant of David would always rule. Jerusalem, as the "City of David" and the place where God chose to dwell, became intrinsically linked to this covenant. By defending Jerusalem for David's sake, God was reaffirming His unwavering commitment to this eternal promise, ensuring the continuity of the Davidic line from which the Messiah would ultimately come. It signifies that God's protection of His people and His city is not solely based on their current righteousness or merit, but fundamentally on His own faithfulness to His prior, unconditional promises. This covenantal faithfulness underscores God's steadfast character and His long-term redemptive plan for humanity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The divine intervention in [2 Kings 20:6](/2_kings/20-6 "2 Kings 20:6 - God's Promise to Hezekiah")—extending Hezekiah's life and delivering Jerusalem—finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Hezekiah's temporary reprieve from death, a mere fifteen years, foreshadows Christ's absolute and eternal victory over death, not just for a single individual, but for all humanity. Jesus, the true Son of David and the promised Messiah, is the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant, as proclaimed by the angel Gabriel in [Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32-33 "Luke 1:32-33 - The Angel Gabriel's Prophecy to Mary"), establishing a kingdom that will have no end. God's promise to defend Jerusalem "for my servant David's sake" points forward to Christ, who is the true King and the one who establishes an eternal, spiritual kingdom—the New Jerusalem ([Revelation 21:2-4](/revelation/21-2-4 "Revelation 21:2-4 - The New Jerusalem Descends"))—which will never be threatened or overthrown by any enemy. While Hezekiah was delivered from a physical illness and a human enemy, Christ delivers humanity from the ultimate enemies: sin and death, through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, as powerfully articulated in passages like [Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ's Victory Over Death and the Devil"). The "sake" for which God acts is supremely revealed in Christ, for it is through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection that God's glory is supremely manifested and His covenantal promises are perfectly fulfilled, securing not merely a city, but eternal life and spiritual deliverance for all who believe in Him ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love for the World")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 19:34

For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

Isaiah 10:24

¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.

Psalms 116:15

Precious in the sight of the LORD [is] the death of his saints.

Acts 27:24

Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

2 Chronicles 32:22

Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all [other], and guided them on every side.