2 Kings 20:8

KJV

And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What [shall be] the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?

KJV (with Strong's)

And Hezekiah {H2396} said {H559} unto Isaiah {H3470}, What shall be the sign {H226} that the LORD {H3068} will heal {H7495} me, and that I shall go up {H5927} into the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068} the third {H7992} day {H3117}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Hizkiyahu said to Yesha'yahu, "What sign will there be that ADONAI will heal me and that I will be able to go up to the house of ADONAI on the third day?"

Berean Standard Bible

Now Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?”

American Standard Version

And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that Jehovah will heal me, and that I shall go up unto the house of Jehovah the third day?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
King Hezekiah, having just received a miraculous promise from the LORD through the prophet Isaiah—an extension of his life by fifteen years and deliverance from the Assyrians—seeks a tangible confirmation of this extraordinary divine intervention. His question to Isaiah, "What [shall be] the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?", reveals a human desire for assurance in the face of an incredible promise, while also highlighting his deep longing for complete restoration, particularly to resume worship in the Jerusalem Temple.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment following a dramatic narrative in [2 Kings 20](/2_kings/20 "2 Kings 20 - Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery"). Immediately preceding [2 Kings 20:8](/2_kings/20-8 "2 Kings 20:8 - Hezekiah's Request for a Sign"), King Hezekiah is gravely ill, "unto death" ([2 Kings 20:1](/2_kings/20-1 "2 Kings 20:1 - Hezekiah's Illness")). The prophet Isaiah delivers a divine message that Hezekiah should prepare for his demise. However, Hezekiah responds with fervent prayer and weeping before the LORD ([2 Kings 20:2-3](/2_kings/20-2 "2 Kings 20:2-3 - Hezekiah's Prayer")). Remarkably, before Isaiah even leaves the middle court, God sends him back with a new message: Hezekiah's prayer has been heard, his tears seen, and he will be healed. God promises to add fifteen years to his life and deliver him and Jerusalem from the hand of the king of Assyria ([2 Kings 20:4-6](/2_kings/20-4 "2 Kings 20:4-6 - God's Promise to Hezekiah")). This immediate reversal of a divine decree underscores God's compassion and responsiveness to prayer. Hezekiah's request for a sign in [2 Kings 20:8](/2_kings/20-8 "2 Kings 20:8 - Hezekiah's Request for a Sign") is a natural human response to such an overwhelming and unexpected promise.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Hezekiah reigned over Judah from approximately 715-686 BC, a period marked by significant political and spiritual challenges. The dominant world power was the Neo-Assyrian Empire, which had already conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and was threatening Judah. Just prior to this illness, Jerusalem had been miraculously delivered from the siege of Sennacherib, the Assyrian king ([2 Kings 19](/2_kings/19 "2 Kings 19 - Sennacherib's Defeat")). Hezekiah was known for his religious reforms, purging idolatry and restoring proper worship of Yahweh in the Temple ([2 Kings 18:3-6](/2_kings/18-3 "2 Kings 18:3-6 - Hezekiah's Reforms")). In ancient Near Eastern cultures, illness was often perceived as a sign of divine displeasure or a consequence of sin, though this was not always the case (e.g., [Job](/job/1 "The Book of Job")). For a king, illness carried political implications, as it could signal weakness or God's withdrawal of favor. Therefore, Hezekiah's healing and his ability to return to the Temple "the third day" would have been a powerful public affirmation of God's favor upon him and his kingdom.

* **Key Themes:** [2 Kings 20:8](/2_kings/20-8 "2 Kings 20:8 - Hezekiah's Request for a Sign") contributes to several major themes within [2 Kings](/2_kings/1 "The Book of 2 Kings") and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Responsiveness to Prayer**. God, who had decreed Hezekiah's death, demonstrates His ultimate authority over life and death, and His willingness to alter His decree in response to fervent, humble prayer ([2 Kings 20:5](/2_kings/20-5 "2 Kings 20:5 - God Hears Hezekiah's Prayer")). Secondly, it explores the theme of **Divine Assurance and the Role of Signs**. Hezekiah's request for a sign is not necessarily a lack of faith but a human desire for tangible confirmation of an extraordinary promise, a pattern seen throughout Scripture (e.g., Gideon's fleece in [Judges 6:36-40](/judges/6-36 "Judges 6:36-40 - Gideon's Fleece")). God, in His grace, often accommodates such requests to strengthen faith. Thirdly, the verse underscores the **Centrality of Worship and the Temple**. For Hezekiah, full recovery meant not just physical health but the ability to return to the "house of the LORD" to worship, signifying a complete restoration of his spiritual life and public devotion. The "third day" also subtly introduces a theme of **Swift and Complete Restoration**, often signifying a decisive and miraculous turnaround in biblical narratives.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sign (Hebrew, _'oth'_):** This Hebrew word (אוֹת) carries a rich semantic range, meaning a sign, mark, token, or miracle. It often denotes something that serves as a proof or confirmation of a promise, a divine communication, or a covenant. In this context, Hezekiah is not asking for a random wonder, but a specific, undeniable attestation from God that His promise of healing and extended life is true and will be fulfilled. It's a request for a divine guarantee.
* **Heal (Hebrew, _rapha'_):** The verb (רָפָא) means to heal, to restore, or to make whole. It is used here to describe God's direct intervention in Hezekiah's physical condition, transforming him from being "unto death" to complete health. The passive voice ("will heal me") emphasizes that the LORD is the active agent in this miraculous restoration, not any human physician or remedy.
* **Third Day (Hebrew, _hayyom hashshelishi'_):** This phrase (הַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי) emphasizes the immediacy and certainty of the healing. It indicates a swift and complete recovery, not a prolonged convalescence. In biblical narrative, "the third day" often carries significant weight, marking a decisive turning point, a completion of a process, or a divine intervention that brings about a new state of being (e.g., Abraham's journey to Moriah in [Genesis 22:4](/genesis/22-4 "Genesis 22:4 - Abraham Sees the Place"), Jonah's deliverance from the fish in [Jonah 1:17](/jonah/1-17 "Jonah 1:17 - Jonah in the Fish")).

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah":** This establishes the direct dialogue between the king and the prophet, highlighting Isaiah's role as God's messenger. Hezekiah, having just received the incredible news of his extended life, now engages Isaiah, seeking further clarification or confirmation.
* **"What [shall be] the sign":** Hezekiah's question for a "sign" is a request for tangible evidence. It's not necessarily an expression of doubt in God's power, but rather a human desire for concrete assurance in the face of an extraordinary and life-altering promise. It reflects a need for something observable to confirm the divine word.
* **"that the LORD will heal me":** This clause emphasizes the divine origin of the healing. Hezekiah acknowledges that his recovery is entirely dependent on the LORD's intervention, not on medical treatments or natural processes. It underscores God's sovereign power over life and death.
* **"and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?":** This part of the request reveals Hezekiah's priorities. His desire is not merely for physical recovery but for the restoration of his ability to participate in public worship in the Temple. The phrase "the third day" signifies the miraculous speed and completeness of the healing, indicating that he would be well enough to resume his duties as king and worshipper almost immediately, a testament to God's swift and powerful work.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Dialogue** is central, as the verse records a direct question from King Hezekiah to the prophet Isaiah, propelling the narrative forward and revealing the king's inner state. The request for a "sign" itself functions as a **motif** that recurs throughout Scripture, representing divine authentication or confirmation of a promise or a messenger. The phrase "the third day" serves as **foreshadowing** and **symbolism**. While immediately signifying the speed of Hezekiah's recovery, its recurring use in biblical narratives to denote a decisive turning point, often involving divine intervention and a new beginning (e.g., resurrection), subtly points towards greater redemptive acts. Furthermore, the mention of "the house of the LORD" is **symbolic** of restored fellowship with God and the resumption of spiritual duties, highlighting that Hezekiah's ultimate desire was not just physical health but spiritual vitality and access to God's presence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Kings 20:8 powerfully illustrates God's compassionate responsiveness to prayer and His willingness to provide tangible assurance to His people. Hezekiah's request for a sign, far from indicating a lack of faith, reveals a human need for confirmation when faced with an overwhelming divine promise. God, in His grace, often accommodates such requests, not to validate Himself, but to strengthen the faith of His servants and provide a public testimony to His power and faithfulness. This episode reaffirms that God is sovereign over life and death, and that His purposes can be influenced by the earnest petitions of His devoted followers. Moreover, Hezekiah's fervent desire to return to the Temple underscores the profound importance of worship and communal fellowship with God as integral to true well-being and spiritual restoration.

* [Exodus 4:8](/exodus/4-8 "Exodus 4:8 - Moses' Signs")
* [Psalm 65:2](/psalm/65-2 "Psalm 65:2 - God Hears Prayer")
* [Isaiah 7:14](/isaiah/7-14 "Isaiah 7:14 - The Sign of Immanuel")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hezekiah's story in [2 Kings 20:8](/2_kings/20-8 "2 Kings 20:8 - Hezekiah's Request for a Sign") offers profound lessons for believers today. It reminds us that even righteous individuals face moments of profound crisis and uncertainty. Hezekiah's initial despair, followed by fervent prayer, and then his request for a sign, paints a picture of a relatable human experience of faith. It teaches us that God hears and responds to the sincere cries of His people, often in ways that transcend our expectations. While we are called to walk by faith and not by sight ([2 Corinthians 5:7](/2_corinthians/5-7 "2 Corinthians 5:7 - Walk by Faith")), there are times when God, in His mercy, provides specific assurances or confirmations to bolster our trust and deepen our understanding of His promises. Furthermore, Hezekiah's immediate desire to return to the "house of the LORD" upon his recovery challenges us to examine our own priorities. Is our ultimate goal in healing or deliverance merely physical comfort, or is it a renewed commitment to worship, fellowship, and service in God's presence? True restoration encompasses not only physical well-being but also spiritual vitality and an unhindered relationship with our Creator.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently seeking a "sign" or assurance from the LORD?**
* **How does Hezekiah's fervent prayer and God's immediate response encourage your own prayer life, especially in desperate situations?**
* **What does Hezekiah's desire to return to the "house of the LORD" teach you about the importance of worship and spiritual fellowship in your own life?**
* **Can you recall a time when God provided a specific confirmation or assurance that strengthened your faith? How did that experience impact you?**

### FAQ
**Was Hezekiah's request for a sign an indication of a lack of faith?**

Answer: Not necessarily. While faith is about trusting God without always seeing, Hezekiah's request for a sign (Hebrew: _'oth'_) was more likely a human desire for tangible confirmation of an extraordinary promise, rather than outright doubt. In the Old Testament, God often provided signs to authenticate His messages or strengthen the faith of His servants (e.g., Moses asking for signs in [Exodus 4:1-9](/exodus/4-1 "Exodus 4:1-9 - Signs for Moses"), Gideon's fleece in [Judges 6:36-40](/judges/6-36 "Judges 6:36-40 - Gideon's Fleece"), or even the sign of Immanuel given to Hezekiah himself in [Isaiah 7:14](/isaiah/7-14 "Isaiah 7:14 - The Sign of Immanuel")). God, in His grace, often accommodates such requests to bolster faith and provide public testimony to His power. Hezekiah had just been told he would die, then that he would live for 15 more years; it's understandable that he sought a concrete assurance.

**What is the significance of "the third day" in this verse?**

Answer: The phrase "the third day" (Hebrew: _hayyom hashshelishi_) emphasizes the miraculous speed and completeness of Hezekiah's healing. It signifies that his recovery would not be a gradual process but a swift and decisive divine intervention, allowing him to return to public worship in the Temple almost immediately. In biblical narratives, "the third day" often marks a significant turning point or a divine act of completion and new beginning. While not directly a prophecy, it certainly resonates with other "third day" events of divine deliverance and restoration in Scripture, including the ultimate "third day" event of Christ's resurrection ([1 Corinthians 15:4](/1_corinthians/15-4 "1 Corinthians 15:4 - Christ Rose on the Third Day")).

**How does this story of healing relate to modern believers and divine healing today?**

Answer: Hezekiah's healing in [2 Kings 20](/2_kings/20 "2 Kings 20 - Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery") serves as a powerful testament to God's sovereignty over life and death, and His compassionate responsiveness to fervent prayer ([Psalm 103:3](/psalm/103-3 "Psalm 103:3 - God Heals All Diseases")). It affirms that God can and does intervene miraculously in physical ailments. While not every illness today results in a miraculous "third day" healing, this account encourages believers to pray boldly for healing, trusting in God's power and perfect will. It also reminds us that God's ultimate concern is our spiritual well-being and our relationship with Him, as evidenced by Hezekiah's desire to return to the "house of the LORD" for worship. This story provides a biblical precedent for seeking God's intervention in sickness, while also acknowledging that His ways and timing are sovereign.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The miraculous healing of Hezekiah and his swift restoration to the "house of the LORD" on "the third day" serves as a profound foreshadowing of the ultimate healing and restoration found in Jesus Christ. Hezekiah's physical illness, leading to a death sentence, points to humanity's spiritual sickness and the universal death sentence imposed by sin ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")). Just as God extended Hezekiah's life, Christ offers eternal life to all who believe, conquering not just physical death but spiritual death ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). The "third day" motif, signifying Hezekiah's complete recovery and return to worship, finds its supreme fulfillment in the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day ([Luke 24:46](/luke/24-46 "Luke 24:46 - Christ's Resurrection on the Third Day")). Through His resurrection, Christ provided the ultimate "sign" ([Matthew 12:39](/matthew/12-39 "Matthew 12:39 - The Sign of Jonah")) of His victory over sin and death, guaranteeing our own future resurrection and spiritual healing. Furthermore, Hezekiah's desire to "go up into the house of the LORD" reflects the yearning for unhindered fellowship with God. Christ, through His atoning sacrifice, has opened the way for all believers to enter God's presence, not merely into a physical temple, but into the very Holy of Holies by His blood, becoming our great High Priest ([Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Access to God Through Christ")). Thus, Hezekiah's physical healing and return to worship prefigure the spiritual healing and eternal fellowship with God that is fully realized in Christ.

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

Isaiah 7:11

Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.

Judges 6:17

And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

2 Kings 20:5

Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

Hosea 6:2

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

2 Kings 19:29

And this [shall be] a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 38:22

Hezekiah also had said, What [is] the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?