2 Kings 20:11

“Isaiah the prophet cried out to YHWH, and he brought back the shadow on the steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz, backward ten steps.”

2 Kings 20:11 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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11

2 Kings 20:11, word by word

Isaiahיְשַׁעְיָהוּyeshayahu

Isaiah

Isaiah: a name meaning "YHWH is salvation." Best known is the prophet, son of Amoz, of the time of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (2 Kings 19-20; book of Isaiah); other men also bear it (1 Chronicles 25:3; Ezra 8:7).

Where else “yeshayahu” appears
the prophetנָּבִיאnavi

prophet

Someone who speaks for YHWH.

Where else “navi” appears
cried outיִּקְרָאyikra

cry out

To shout to YHWH for help, call on his name.

Where else “yikra” appears
to YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
and he brought backיָּשֶׁבyashev

bring back

To return something, restore.

Where else “yashev” appears
the shadowצֵּלtsel

shadow

A shadow: the dark shape something leaves when it blocks the light, and which soon passes.

Where else “tsel” appears
on the stepsמַּעֲלוֹתmaalot

step

A step or stair of a stairway.

Where else “maalot” appears
it had gone downיָרְדָהyarda

go down

To go from a higher place to a lower one, like from the mountain to the valley.

Where else “yarda” appears
of Ahazאָחָזachaz

Ahaz

Ahaz: a name meaning "he has grasped" (short form of Jehoahaz). King of Judah, son of Jotham and father of Hezekiah (2 Kings 15:38; 16); also a descendant of Saul (1 Chronicles 8:35).

Where else “achaz” appears
backwardאֲחֹרַנִּיתachoranit

backward

Backward, behind.

Where else “achoranit” appears
tenעֶשֶׂרeser

ten

Ten.

Where else “eser” appears

Translation note

“The steps of Ahaz”: it can be understood as a stairway built by King Ahaz, on which the shadow of the sun marked the passing of the day.

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Hezekiah's illness

Isaiah 38:1-8Isaiah 38:21-222 Chronicles 32:24-26

An account told more fully or more briefly in one of the books.

See them side by side

2 Kings 20:1-11

1In those days Hezekiah fell sick to the point of death. And Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, came to him and said to him, “Thus says YHWH: ‘Give orders to your house, for you are going to die and will not live.’” 2He turned his face to the wall and prayed to YHWH, saying, 3“Ah, YHWH, remember, please, how I have walked before you in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept with great weeping. 4And it happened, when Isaiah had not yet gone out of the middle court, that the word of YHWH came to him, saying, 5“Go back and say to Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘Thus says YHWH, the Elohim of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of YHWH. 6And I will add to your days fifteen years, and from the hand of the king of Assyria I will deliver you and this city; and I will protect this city for my own sake and for the sake of David my servant.’” 7Isaiah said, “Take a cake of figs.” They took it and put it on the boil, and he lived. 8Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What is the sign that YHWH will heal me and that I will go up on the third day to the house of YHWH?” 9Isaiah said, “This shall be to you the sign from YHWH, that YHWH will do the thing that he has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” 10Hezekiah said, “It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps; no, but let the shadow turn back ten steps backward.” 11Isaiah the prophet cried out to YHWH, and he brought back the shadow on the steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz, backward ten steps.

Isaiah 38:1-8

1In those days Hezekiah fell sick to the point of death. And Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, came to him and said to him, “Thus says YHWH: ‘Give orders to your house, for you are going to die and will not live.’” 2Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to YHWH, 3and said, “Ah, YHWH, remember, please, how I have walked before you in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept with great weeping. 4The word of YHWH came to Isaiah, saying, 5“Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says YHWH, the Elohim of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I am adding to your days fifteen years. 6And from the hand of the king of Assyria I will deliver you and this city; and I will protect this city. 7And this shall be to you the sign from YHWH, that YHWH will do this thing that he has spoken: 8Look, I am bringing back the shadow on the steps, which has gone down on the steps of Ahaz with the sun, backward ten steps.’” And the sun went back ten steps on the steps by which it had gone down.

Isaiah 38:21-22

21Isaiah said, “Let them take a cake of figs and rub it on the boil, and he will live.” 22Hezekiah had said, “What is the sign that I will go up to the house of YHWH?”

2 Chronicles 32:24-26

24In those days Hezekiah became sick to the point of death; he prayed to YHWH, and he spoke to him and gave him a wonder. 25But Hezekiah did not repay according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was lifted up; and there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the lifting up of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the wrath of YHWH did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

The context

10Hezekiah said, “It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps; no, but let the shadow turn back ten steps backward.”

11 · This verse (above)

12At that time Berodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

Read all of 2 Kings 20

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