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2 Kings 20:8

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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?

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}?

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?"

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?”

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

Context

2 Kings 20:8 captures a pivotal moment in the life of King Hezekiah, one of Judah's most righteous kings. Immediately prior to this verse, Hezekiah had been gravely ill, described as "unto death" (2 Kings 20:1). The prophet Isaiah had delivered a message from the LORD for Hezekiah to prepare for his demise. However, Hezekiah responded with fervent prayer and weeping before the LORD (2 Kings 20:2-3). God, moved by his prayer, sent Isaiah back to promise Hezekiah an additional fifteen years of life and deliverance from the Assyrians (2 Kings 20:5-6). In this verse, Hezekiah seeks a confirming sign for this extraordinary promise of healing and restoration to worship in the Jerusalem Temple.

Key Themes

  • Divine Assurance and Confirmation: Hezekiah's request for a sign is not necessarily an expression of doubt in God's power, but rather a human desire for tangible confirmation of such a profound and immediate divine intervention. It reflects a need for assurance when faced with an incredible promise, similar to Gideon's request for a sign with the fleece (Judges 6:36-40) or Mary's question to the angel Gabriel regarding Jesus' birth (Luke 1:34). God, in His grace, often provides such signs to strengthen faith.
  • Swift and Complete Restoration: The phrase "go up into the house of the LORD the third day" highlights the miraculous speed and completeness of the promised healing. Hezekiah would not merely recover but would be well enough to participate in public worship in the Temple, fulfilling his duties as king and worshipper. The "third day" often signifies a significant, decisive, and often miraculous turnaround or completion in biblical narratives, pointing to a full restoration of health and spiritual vitality.
  • The Importance of Worship: For King Hezekiah, returning to the Temple was a primary indicator of his full recovery. It wasn't just about physical health but also about resuming his spiritual life and public devotion. This underscores the centrality of worship and fellowship with God in the life of a believer.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "What [shall be] the sign" translates the Hebrew word 'oth (אוֹת), which means a sign, mark, token, or miracle. It signifies something that serves as a proof or confirmation of a promise or divine communication. The mention of "the third day" (הַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי) emphasizes the immediacy and certainty of the healing, indicating a swift and complete recovery rather than a prolonged convalescence.

Practical Application

This verse offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • God Hears Prayer: Hezekiah's story powerfully illustrates that God hears and responds to fervent prayer, even when circumstances seem dire. His compassion extends to our personal suffering.
  • Seeking Assurance: It's natural to seek assurance in difficult times. While faith ultimately requires trusting God without always seeing, God sometimes provides tangible signs or confirmations to strengthen our trust and deepen our understanding of His promises.
  • Prioritizing Spiritual Health: Hezekiah's desire to return to the "house of the LORD" reminds us that true healing and well-being often involve not just physical recovery but also a restoration of our spiritual connection and commitment to worship and service. Our ultimate goal should be to live in fellowship with God.
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 (May 20, 2025) 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 7:11 (4 votes)

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

  • Judges 6:17 (4 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

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