Isaiah 38:7

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And this shall be a sign {H226} unto thee from the LORD {H3068}, that the LORD {H3068} will do {H6213} this thing {H1697} that he hath spoken {H1696};

Complete Jewish Bible

The sign for you from ADONAI that ADONAI will do what he said is

Berean Standard Bible

This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised:

American Standard Version

And this shall be the sign unto thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do this thing that he hath spoken:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 38:7 serves as a profound divine declaration to King Hezekiah, assuring him that a forthcoming miraculous sign will serve as undeniable, tangible proof of God's unwavering commitment to fulfill the promise He has just spoken. This verse powerfully underscores the Lord's absolute faithfulness, His sovereign power to intervene supernaturally in human affairs, and the inherent reliability of His divine word, particularly in moments of profound doubt or existential crisis.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is intricately woven into the dramatic narrative of King Hezekiah's near-fatal illness and his subsequent miraculous recovery, a story detailed in [Isaiah 38](/isaiah/38 "Isaiah 38 - Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery") and corroborated in [2 Kings 20](/2_kings/20 "2 Kings 20 - Hezekiah's Sickness and Recovery"). The immediate preceding verses set the stage: the prophet Isaiah had delivered a grim death sentence to Hezekiah, prompting the king to turn in fervent, tearful prayer to the Lord ([Isaiah 38:1-3](/isaiah/38-1-3 "Isaiah 38:1-3 - Hezekiah's Illness and Prayer")). Remarkably, before Isaiah had even left the palace courtyard, God intervened, sending the prophet back with a new message for Hezekiah: He would add fifteen years to his life and deliver Jerusalem from the impending Assyrian siege ([Isaiah 38:4-6](/isaiah/38-4-6 "Isaiah 38:4-6 - God's Answer to Hezekiah")). Verse 7 then introduces the divine confirmation—the "sign"—that would solidify this extraordinary promise in Hezekiah's mind, serving as a concrete guarantee of God's faithfulness. The narrative immediately proceeds to describe the specific nature of this astonishing sign in [Isaiah 38:8](/isaiah/38-8 "Isaiah 38:8 - The Sign of the Sundial"): the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz would miraculously recede ten degrees.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Hezekiah reigned over the Southern Kingdom of Judah from approximately 715 to 686 BC, a tumultuous era dominated by the aggressive expansion of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Assyria, under Sennacherib, was the preeminent superpower, having already dismantled the Northern Kingdom of Israel and subjugated many surrounding nations. Jerusalem itself had recently faced a devastating siege by Sennacherib's forces, from which God miraculously delivered the city (as vividly recounted in [Isaiah 36-37](/isaiah/36-37 "Isaiah 36-37 - Sennacherib's Invasion and God's Deliverance")). Within this ancient Near Eastern cultural framework, "signs" were frequently sought and provided as divine authentication of a prophet's message, a covenant promise, or a specific divine intervention. They served to confirm God's presence, power, and intention, offering tangible proof in a society that deeply valued direct divine communication. The sundial, likely a stepped or graduated gnomon, was a relatively advanced time-keeping instrument for its time, making the reversal of its shadow an unequivocally supernatural event, understood as a direct and undeniable intervention by the God of Israel, affirming His absolute control over creation.
* **Key Themes:** [Isaiah 38:7](/isaiah/38-7 "Isaiah 38:7 - The Sign of God's Promise") encapsulates several profound theological and narrative themes central to the book of Isaiah and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **Divine Assurance and Confirmation**, demonstrating God's compassionate willingness to provide tangible proof of His promises, not as a requirement for faith, but as a gracious act to dispel doubt and strengthen belief in His unwavering faithfulness ([Numbers 23:19](/numbers/23-19 "Numbers 23:19 - God is not a man, that he should lie")). Secondly, it highlights **God's Responsiveness to Prayer**. Hezekiah's earnest, humble, and tearful prayer profoundly influenced his destiny, showcasing the immense [efficacy of prayer](/james/5-16 "James 5:16 - The Prayer of a Righteous Person") and God's readiness to intervene on behalf of His humble and righteous servants. Thirdly, the impending sign underscores **God's Absolute Sovereignty Over Nature**. The miraculous reversal of the sundial's shadow, detailed in [Isaiah 38:8](/isaiah/38-8 "Isaiah 38:8 - The Sundial Miracle"), is a dramatic display of God's limitless power to manipulate the natural order, affirming that nothing is impossible for Him and that He can accomplish His will through extraordinary and supernatural means.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **sign (Hebrew, _ʼôwth'_):** From H226, this term denotes a signal, mark, token, or miraculous demonstration. In this context, it signifies not merely a symbolic gesture but a concrete, observable, and supernatural phenomenon that serves as undeniable evidence or proof of God's presence, power, and the veracity of His spoken word. It is a divine authentication designed to remove all doubt and confirm the divine origin of the promise.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H3068, this is the sacred covenant name of God, often rendered as "Jehovah" or "Yahweh." It emphasizes God's self-existence, eternal nature, and His enduring covenant relationship with His people, Israel. The repetition of "the LORD" in this verse underscores that the promise originates from Him alone, and He is the one who possesses the absolute power and unwavering faithfulness to execute it, highlighting His unique identity as the covenant-keeping God.
* **spoken (Hebrew, _dâbar'_):** From H1696, this primitive root means "to speak," "declare," "command," or "promise." It highlights the verbal nature of God's commitment and the authority inherent in His utterance. What God has articulated, He is bound by His own immutable character to bring to pass. The emphasis here is on the reliability, integrity, and efficacious power of God's divine word; His declarations are not empty but carry the power of fulfillment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And this [shall be] a sign unto thee from the LORD":** This opening clause introduces the divine confirmation of God's promise. The demonstrative pronoun "this" points forward to the miraculous event that will immediately follow (the reversal of the sundial's shadow, described in the next verse). The phrase "from the LORD" explicitly establishes the divine origin and supernatural nature of this sign, emphasizing that it is not a coincidence but a direct, purposeful act of God. It is given specifically "unto thee" (Hezekiah) as a personal, tangible assurance to alleviate his doubts and strengthen his faith.
* **"that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;":** This second clause clarifies the precise purpose and efficacy of the sign. It is not merely a display of power for its own sake, but a solemn guarantee that God will indeed "do" (perform, accomplish, bring to pass) the specific "thing" (matter, promise, or word) that He has already "spoken." This powerfully reinforces the absolute certainty and reliability of God's word, directly linking His prior declaration to His subsequent action and demonstrating His unswerving faithfulness to His own divine utterances.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices that amplify its meaning and impact. **Divine Oracle** is prominently featured, as the words are presented as a direct, authoritative communication from God through His prophet, carrying absolute certainty and divine weight. The striking **Repetition** of "the LORD" (Yᵉhôvâh) twice within a single clause ("from the LORD, that the LORD will do") serves to powerfully underscore God's singular agency, unwavering commitment, and covenant faithfulness in fulfilling His promise. Furthermore, there is a clear element of **Foreshadowing**, as the verse explicitly points forward to the miraculous sign described in [Isaiah 38:8](/isaiah/38-8 "Isaiah 38:8 - The Sundial Miracle"), building anticipation and highlighting the extraordinary nature of God's impending intervention. The entire declaration functions as a profound **Assurance**, designed by God to alleviate Hezekiah's understandable doubt and to strengthen his faith in the face of a seemingly impossible and life-threatening situation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 38:7 stands as a powerful testament to the immutable character of God, particularly His unwavering faithfulness and the absolute reliability of His divine word. It teaches us that God is not only capable of performing miracles but is also graciously willing to provide tangible evidence to bolster the faith of His servants when needed. This divine assurance is deeply rooted in God's covenant nature; He is not a God who speaks idly or makes empty promises, but one whose every utterance carries the weight of His omnipotence, integrity, and eternal truthfulness. The sign is not given because God needs to prove Himself, but rather because He compassionately condescends to meet His people in their moments of weakness and vulnerability, providing concrete proof that His promises are as good as done. This passage reinforces the profound theological truth that God's word is inherently efficacious—it accomplishes precisely what it declares—and His promises are always accompanied by His sovereign power to bring them to pass.

* [Numbers 23:19](/numbers/23-19 "Numbers 23:19 - God is not a man, that he should lie")
* [Psalm 33:9](/psalms/33-9 "Psalm 33:9 - For he spoke, and it came to be")
* [Matthew 24:35](/matthew/24-35 "Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My Words will not pass away")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For believers today, Isaiah 38:7 offers profound encouragement and timeless lessons about the nature of God and the dynamics of our walk of faith. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is intimately involved in our lives, hearing our earnest prayers and responding with compassion, even when circumstances appear overwhelmingly dire or humanly impossible. While we may not always receive a dramatic, visible sign like Hezekiah did, God continues to confirm His promises through His inspired written Word, the indwelling presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the providential orchestration of circumstances in our lives. This verse calls us to cultivate a deep, unwavering trust in God's faithfulness, knowing with certainty that what He has spoken, He will surely bring to pass. It encourages us to pray earnestly, persistently, and with profound belief, confident that God hears and responds, and to rest securely in the assurance that His power is limitless, capable of transcending any human impossibility or natural limitation. Ultimately, our faith is not to be placed in the sign itself, but in the omnipotent and loving God who graciously gives the sign, whose character is unchanging and whose word is eternally true and reliable.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your life are you currently seeking a tangible "sign" or a renewed sense of assurance from the Lord?**
* **How does Hezekiah's fervent, tearful prayer and God's immediate, compassionate response inspire and encourage your own prayer life?**
* **What does God's willingness to provide a dramatic, visible sign reveal about His profound compassion and His desire to strengthen our faith in challenging times?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper, more resilient trust in God's spoken word, even when dramatic or visible signs are not immediately present?**

### FAQ
**What is the "sign" mentioned in Isaiah 38:7?**

Answer: The "sign" mentioned in [Isaiah 38:7](/isaiah/38-7 "Isaiah 38:7 - The Sign of God's Promise") refers to a miraculous event that God promised to perform as tangible, undeniable proof that He would fulfill His word to King Hezekiah. This specific sign is described in the very next verse, [Isaiah 38:8](/isaiah/38-8 "Isaiah 38:8 - The Sundial Miracle"), where the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz would miraculously go backward ten degrees. This extraordinary reversal of a natural phenomenon served as an undeniable, visible confirmation of God's power and faithfulness, specifically guaranteeing His promise to extend Hezekiah's life by fifteen years and to deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrian threat.

**Why did Hezekiah need a sign from God?**

Answer: King Hezekiah, having just received a direct prophecy of his imminent death from Isaiah ([Isaiah 38:1](/isaiah/38-1 "Isaiah 38:1 - Hezekiah's Illness Foretold")), had fervently prayed and subsequently received an extraordinary promise of an additional fifteen years of life and deliverance for Jerusalem from the Assyrians ([Isaiah 38:5-6](/isaiah/38-5-6 "Isaiah 38:5-6 - God's Promise to Hezekiah")). While the text does not explicitly state that Hezekiah *demanded* a sign in this instance (unlike Ahaz in [Isaiah 7:11](/isaiah/7-11 "Isaiah 7:11 - Ask for a Sign")), it was a common and gracious act for God in the Old Testament to offer or provide signs to confirm His promises and strengthen the faith of His people, especially when the promise was of such an extraordinary and life-altering nature. In this case, the sign was a divine act of condescension and compassion, designed to eliminate any lingering doubt in Hezekiah's mind and provide concrete, visible assurance of God's absolute power and unwavering commitment to His word.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah 38:7 speaks of a specific, temporal sign given to King Hezekiah to confirm a particular promise, its deeper theological resonance ultimately points forward to the ultimate and most profound sign ever given by God: Jesus Christ Himself. The absolute reliability and efficacious nature of God's spoken word, so central to this verse, find their perfect and eternal embodiment in Christ, who is the [eternal Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"). Just as God graciously provided a tangible sign to Hezekiah to affirm His promise, so He has given us the resurrection of Jesus from the dead as the definitive, cosmic sign that all His promises are irrevocably "Yes" and "Amen" in Him ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "2 Corinthians 1:20 - God's Promises are Yes in Christ")). The demonstration of God's power to reverse the natural order, seen in the sundial's shadow turning back, is infinitely surpassed by His supreme power to raise Christ from the dead, thereby conquering sin, death, and the grave for all eternity ([Romans 8:11](/romans/8-11 "Romans 8:11 - The Spirit of Him who Raised Jesus")). Furthermore, Hezekiah's extended life, a temporary reprieve from physical death, powerfully foreshadows the eternal life and ultimate victory over death secured for all who place their faith in Christ ([John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). Thus, Isaiah 38:7, in its declaration of God's unwavering faithfulness to His spoken word and His provision of a confirming sign, ultimately directs our gaze to Jesus Christ, who is the living, definitive, and eternal sign of God's boundless love, redemptive purpose, and sovereign power for humanity.

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 37:30

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

Judges 6:37

Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; [and] if the dew be on the fleece only, and [it be] dry upon all the earth [beside], then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

Judges 6:39

And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

Isaiah 7:11

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

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.

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?

2 Kings 20:21

And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.