Isaiah 38:22

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Hezekiah {H2396} also had said {H559}, What is the sign {H226} that I shall go up {H5927} to the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Hizkiyahu asked, "What sign will there be that I will be able to go up to the house of ADONAI?"

Berean Standard Bible

And Hezekiah had asked, “What will be the sign that I will go up to the house of the LORD?”

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 38:22 serves as a crucial retrospective within the narrative of King Hezekiah's miraculous healing from a terminal illness. It captures the king's earnest request for a tangible divine sign, not merely to confirm his physical recovery, but to assure his restoration to sacred duties and worship within the Jerusalem Temple. This question underscores Hezekiah's profound spiritual devotion and his longing for divine affirmation in the face of a death sentence, setting the stage for God's gracious and extraordinary response.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a deeply personal and theological narrative found in [Isaiah 38](/isaiah/38 "Isaiah 38 - Hezekiah's Sickness and Recovery"), immediately following the dramatic deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian siege detailed in [Isaiah 37](/isaiah/37 "Isaiah 37 - Sennacherib's Defeat"). The prophet Isaiah had delivered a death sentence to Hezekiah in [Isaiah 38:1](/isaiah/38-1 "Isaiah 38:1 - Hezekiah's Death Sentence"), prompting the king's fervent prayer and weeping in [Isaiah 38:2-3](/isaiah/38-2-3 "Isaiah 38:2-3 - Hezekiah's Prayer"). In response, God, through Isaiah, promised an extension of fifteen years to his life and continued deliverance from Assyria in [Isaiah 38:5-6](/isaiah/38-5-6 "Isaiah 38:5-6 - God's Promise to Hezekiah"). The question in verse 22, though appearing after the promise and the description of the sign (the sundial's shadow moving backward ten degrees in [Isaiah 38:8](/isaiah/38-8 "Isaiah 38:8 - The Sign of the Sundial")), is a retrospective inclusion. This narrative placement highlights Hezekiah's initial, specific request for confirmation of his healing and his ability to return to worship, providing the divine rationale for the sign. A parallel account, which places this question earlier in the sequence, is found in [2 Kings 20:8](/2_kings/20-8 "2 Kings 20:8 - Hezekiah Asks for a Sign").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Hezekiah reigned over Judah from approximately 715-686 BC, a period marked by significant political and religious turmoil, particularly the looming threat of the Assyrian Empire. The "house of the LORD" refers unequivocally to the Temple in Jerusalem, which served as the central place of worship, sacrifice, and national identity for the Israelites. For a king, participation in Temple worship was not merely a personal spiritual act but a public demonstration of piety and leadership, integral to his role as God's anointed ruler. Illness, especially a life-threatening one, was often perceived in the ancient Near East as a sign of divine displeasure or a consequence of sin, making Hezekiah's recovery and return to the Temple a profound public vindication and restoration of his divine favor. The request for a "sign" was a common practice in the ancient Near East, where tangible proofs or omens were sought to confirm divine will or promises, a practice also seen in other biblical narratives such as Gideon's fleece in [Judges 6:36-40](/judges/6-36-40 "Judges 6:36-40 - Gideon's Fleece") or Ahaz's refusal of a sign in [Isaiah 7:10-12](/isaiah/7-10-12 "Isaiah 7:10-12 - Ahaz Refuses a Sign").
* **Key Themes:** This verse, within its broader context, contributes to several significant themes. It powerfully illustrates **Divine Sovereignty and Intervention**, demonstrating God's ultimate control over life and death and His willingness to alter His decree in response to fervent prayer. The theme of **Prayer and Petition** is central, as Hezekiah's humble and tearful appeal moves God to compassion and action. The king's request for a "sign" highlights the theme of **Faith and Assurance**, revealing a human desire for tangible confirmation of God's promises, which God graciously provides to strengthen faith, not because of a lack thereof. Most profoundly, Hezekiah's immediate concern to "go up to the house of the LORD" emphasizes the theme of **Worship and Gratitude**. His desire was not merely for extended life but for the ability to return to communal worship and fulfill his kingly duties within the sacred space, underscoring that healing is often granted for the purpose of renewed service and devotion to God, as echoed in [Psalm 116:17-19](/psalm/116-17-19 "Psalm 116:17-19 - Offering Thanksgiving in the Temple"). Finally, the entire narrative reinforces God's **Covenant Faithfulness** to His people and His responsiveness to those who genuinely seek Him.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hezekiah (Hebrew, _Chizqîyâh'_):** From H2396, meaning "strengthened of Jah." This name is profoundly significant, reflecting a theological truth about the king's life and the narrative itself. Hezekiah, in his moment of extreme weakness and impending death, is indeed "strengthened" by Yahweh, not only physically to recover from his illness but also in his reign and his faith. The name itself becomes a testament to God's power to uphold, restore, and empower His chosen servant.
* **sign (Hebrew, _ʼôwth'_):** From H226, referring to "a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.; mark, miracle, (en-) sign, token." In this context, Hezekiah is requesting a miraculous token or a confirming proof from God. He seeks tangible evidence that God's promise of healing is truly efficacious and that he will be restored to full health, specifically to the point of being able to engage in public worship. It is a request for a divine attestation to an extraordinary and life-altering promise.
* **house of the LORD (Hebrew, _bayith Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H1004 ("house") and H3068 ("the self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God"). This phrase unequivocally refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, the sacred dwelling place of God's presence among His people. Hezekiah's specific desire to "go up" to the Temple signifies his longing to resume his spiritual duties and public worship, highlighting the Temple's central role as the hub of Israelite religious life. His recovery was not merely for personal comfort but for the restoration of his ability to lead and participate in the nation's worship and to offer thanksgiving.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Hezekiah also had said,"**: This introductory clause functions as a narrative flashback, positioning the verse as a retrospective statement of the king's prior utterance. It serves as a crucial narrative device to provide the underlying reason for God's subsequent miraculous action, emphasizing that the extraordinary sign of the sundial was given in direct response to Hezekiah's specific and heartfelt request for assurance.
* **"What [is] the sign"**: This is Hezekiah's direct question, a plea for a tangible, verifiable proof of God's promise of healing and life extension. It is not posed out of a fundamental doubt in God's power, but rather as a common human longing for a concrete manifestation of His word, a divine "token" that will confirm his impending restoration in a way that is undeniable.
* **"that I shall go up"**: This phrase expresses the ultimate purpose and desired outcome of the sign. Hezekiah's primary concern is not simply to survive, but to regain sufficient strength and health to perform the physical and spiritual act of ascending to the Temple. "Going up" to Jerusalem and its Temple was a customary and profoundly significant act of worship, pilgrimage, and participation in the nation's religious life.
* **"to the house of the LORD?"**: This final phrase specifies the destination and the core of Hezekiah's longing. His desire to return to the Temple underscores his profound piety and his understanding that his life, and his miraculous healing, were ultimately for the purpose of worship, service, and renewed fellowship with God. It highlights the spiritual dimension of his recovery, demonstrating that his deepest desire was to return to his sacred duties and communal worship.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices that enrich its meaning and narrative impact. The primary device is **Flashback**, as this question is presented as Hezekiah's prior utterance, providing crucial context for the miraculous sign already described in [Isaiah 38:8](/isaiah/38-8 "Isaiah 38:8 - The Sign of the Sundial"). This narrative technique emphasizes the king's active role in seeking divine confirmation and establishes the divine response as a direct answer to his plea. The question itself functions as a **Rhetorical Question**, posed to God not out of genuine ignorance, but as an earnest and vulnerable plea for a specific, tangible response that would bolster his faith and confirm his healing. Furthermore, the phrase "house of the LORD" functions as **Metonymy**, where the physical structure of the Temple stands for the entire system of Israelite worship, communal fellowship, and the very presence of God dwelling among His people. The "sign" itself is a powerful **Symbolism** of God's direct intervention, His unwavering faithfulness to His promises, and His profound compassion for His devoted servant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 38:22 profoundly illustrates the dynamic interplay between human petition and divine response, revealing a God who is both sovereign over life and death and intimately involved in the lives of His people. Hezekiah's request for a sign, far from indicating a lack of faith, demonstrates a deep desire for tangible assurance and a concrete connection to God's promised healing. This narrative underscores that God's miraculous interventions often serve not only to restore physical well-being but also to draw individuals back into a deeper relationship of worship and service. The king's longing to "go up to the house of the LORD" highlights the spiritual purpose of deliverance, emphasizing that true healing enables renewed devotion and participation in the community of faith. This passage reminds us that God's grace is often manifested in ways that strengthen our trust and direct our hearts back to Him as the source of all life and blessing.

* [2 Kings 20:8](/2_kings/20-8 "2 Kings 20:8 - Hezekiah's Request for a Sign")
* [Psalm 116:17-19](/psalm/116-17-19 "Psalm 116:17-19 - Offering Thanksgiving in the Temple")
* [John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - True Worship in Spirit and Truth")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hezekiah's question in Isaiah 38:22 resonates deeply with the universal human experience of crisis, vulnerability, and the profound yearning for divine assurance. When faced with life-altering challenges, whether they be illness, loss, or uncertainty, we, like Hezekiah, often seek tangible confirmation of God's presence and promises. This passage reminds us that it is not a sign of weakness or a lack of faith to humbly ask God for clarity, a deeper sense of His leading, or a tangible manifestation of His grace, but rather an expression of our utter dependence upon Him. More profoundly, Hezekiah's immediate concern was not merely to be healed and survive, but to be restored to a state where he could actively participate in worship and fulfill his duties in God's sacred house. This challenges us to critically examine the ultimate purpose of God's blessings and interventions in our own lives: are we seeking healing, provision, or deliverance merely for our personal comfort and convenience, or primarily so that we might return to a deeper, more active life of worship, dedicated service, and intimate fellowship with God and His people? Our deepest longing, like Hezekiah's, should ultimately be for unhindered access to God's presence and the ability to live fully for His glory, regardless of our circumstances.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently seeking a "sign" or tangible assurance from God, and how might Hezekiah's example inform your approach?**
* **What does Hezekiah's fervent desire to "go up to the house of the LORD" reveal about his priorities after healing, and how might this challenge your own priorities when God delivers you from difficulty or grants you a blessing?**
* **How does Hezekiah's humble prayer and God's compassionate response encourage you to approach God in your own times of crisis, vulnerability, or uncertainty?**
* **Beyond physical healing or deliverance, what does it mean for you to be "restored" to the "house of the LORD" in a spiritual sense today, and how does that restoration manifest in your daily life?**

### FAQ
**Why did Hezekiah ask for a sign if God had already promised to heal him?**

Answer: Hezekiah's request for a sign was not necessarily an indication of doubt in God's power or promise, but rather a desire for tangible confirmation and assurance in a moment of extreme personal crisis. In ancient cultures, and often in biblical narratives, signs served as divine attestations to extraordinary promises or interventions, strengthening faith and providing a concrete basis for trust. God, in His grace, often accommodates such requests to bolster human faith, as seen with Gideon's fleece in [Judges 6:36-40](/judges/6-36-40 "Judges 6:36-40 - Gideon's Fleece") or even Abraham's request for confirmation of the covenant in [Genesis 15:8-17](/genesis/15-8-17 "Genesis 15:8-17 - God's Covenant with Abraham"). For Hezekiah, the sign of the sundial's shadow moving backward was an undeniable, public miracle that cemented the truth of God's word and his impending recovery, providing a concrete foundation for his renewed trust and public testimony.

**What was the "house of the LORD" that Hezekiah wanted to go up to?**

Answer: The "house of the LORD" unequivocally refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, which King Solomon had built centuries earlier ([1 Kings 6](/1_kings/6 "1 Kings 6 - Solomon Builds the Temple")). It was the central place of worship for the Israelites, where sacrifices were offered, prayers were made, and God's presence was believed to dwell in a unique way. For Hezekiah, a devout king who had already undertaken significant religious reforms throughout Judah ([2 Chronicles 29-31](/2_chronicles/29-31 "2 Chronicles 29-31 - Hezekiah's Reforms")), being able to "go up" to the Temple signified not only his physical recovery but also his restoration to his kingly and priestly duties, which often involved leading and participating in public worship and national religious observances. His desire highlighted his deep spiritual devotion and his longing to return to fellowship with God in the designated sacred space, fulfilling his covenant obligations and offering thanksgiving.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hezekiah's desperate plea for a tangible sign and his profound longing to "go up to the house of the LORD" find their ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Hezekiah's physical healing and his return to the earthly Temple foreshadow the spiritual healing and unhindered access to God's presence that Christ provides for all who believe. While Hezekiah sought a sign to confirm his temporary reprieve from death, Jesus Himself is the ultimate and perfect "sign" given by God to humanity—the sign of Jonah, signifying His death, burial, and resurrection on the third day ([Matthew 12:38-40](/matthew/12-38-40 "Matthew 12:38-40 - The Sign of Jonah")). Furthermore, Jesus declared Himself to be greater than the Temple ([Matthew 12:6](/matthew/12-6 "Matthew 12:6 - Something Greater Than the Temple")), and He spoke of His own body as the true Temple that would be destroyed and raised in three days ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus Predicts His Resurrection")). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Christ has opened a new and living way into the very presence of God, a heavenly "house of the LORD" not made with human hands ([Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19-22 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Access to God Through Christ")). Believers, through Christ, are now living stones built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Him ([1 Peter 2:5](/1_peter/2-5 "1 Peter 2:5 - Living Stones, Spiritual House")). Thus, Hezekiah's yearning to return to the physical Temple is fully realized in the believer's spiritual access to God through Christ, our Great High Priest, who leads us into the true, eternal sanctuary.

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

Psalms 118:18

The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

Psalms 118:19

¶ Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, [and] I will praise the LORD:

John 5:14

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

2 Kings 20:8

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?

Psalms 42:1

¶ To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Psalms 42:2

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Psalms 122:1

¶ A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.