2 Kings 20:9

And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?

And Isaiah {H3470} said {H559}, This sign {H226} shalt thou have of the LORD {H3068}, that the LORD {H3068} will do {H6213} the thing {H1697} that he hath spoken {H1696}: shall the shadow {H6738} go forward {H1980} ten {H6235} degrees {H4609}, or go back {H7725} ten {H6235} degrees {H4609}?

Yesha'yahu said, "Here is the sign for you from ADONAI that ADONAI will do what he said: do you want the shadow [of the sundial] to go forward ten intervals or backward ten intervals?

And Isaiah had replied, “This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?”

And Isaiah said, This shall be the sign unto thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?

Commentary

2 Kings 20:9 presents a pivotal moment in the narrative of King Hezekiah, where the prophet Isaiah offers a miraculous sign to confirm God's promise of healing and extended life.

Context

This verse is part of the account of King Hezekiah's severe illness, which brought him to the brink of death. The prophet Isaiah had initially delivered a message from the LORD that Hezekiah would die (2 Kings 20:1). However, Hezekiah prayed fervently, weeping bitterly before the LORD. In response to his heartfelt prayer, God sent Isaiah back with a new message: Hezekiah would be healed and have fifteen more years added to his life (2 Kings 20:5). Hezekiah then requested a sign to assure him that the LORD would indeed fulfill this extraordinary promise. The "shadow" and "degrees" refer to a sundial, specifically "the dial of Ahaz," mentioned later in 2 Kings 20:11, which was likely a set of steps or markings used to tell time by the sun's shadow.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention and Responsiveness to Prayer: This passage vividly illustrates God's willingness to respond to sincere prayer. Hezekiah's prayer moved God to alter His decree, demonstrating that God is not a distant, unfeeling deity but one who hears and responds to His people.
  • Confirmation through Miraculous Signs: God often provides tangible signs to strengthen faith and confirm His word. Here, the sign of the shadow's movement was not just a natural phenomenon but a supernatural act designed to assure Hezekiah and future generations of God's power and faithfulness. This echoes other instances of God providing signs, such as Gideon's fleece.
  • God's Sovereignty over Creation: The ability to reverse or advance the shadow on a sundial signifies God's absolute control over the laws of nature and time itself. This remarkable miracle, similar to the sun standing still for Joshua, underscores His omnipotence.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "degrees" is ma'alah (מַעֲלָה), which can mean "steps," "ascents," or "degrees." In this context, it refers to the markings on a sundial, which would have been a series of steps or lines indicating the hour or portion of the day by the sun's shadow. The choice presented to Hezekiah—whether the shadow should go forward or backward ten degrees—was a test of faith, as both options represented an unnatural and miraculous manipulation of time.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's mercy and His attentiveness to the prayers of His people. It encourages believers to approach God with confidence, even in seemingly impossible situations, knowing that He is able to intervene miraculously. It also reinforces the truth that God is faithful to His promises, and when He gives His word, He will perform it, sometimes even confirming it with extraordinary signs.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 38:7

    And this [shall be] a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;

  • Isaiah 38:8

    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.

  • Matthew 16:1

    ¶ The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

  • Matthew 16:4

    A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

  • Luke 11:29

    ¶ And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

  • Luke 11:30

    For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

  • Mark 8:11

    And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
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