2 Kings 20:12

“At 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.”

2 Kings 20:12 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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12

2 Kings 20:12, word by word

At that timeעֵתet

time

The moment at which something happens; also "at that time".

Where else “et” appears
Berodach-baladanבְּרֹאדַךְberodach

Berodach-baladan

Berodach-baladan. King of Babylon who sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah when he heard that he had been sick (2 Kings 20:12). In Isaiah 39:1 the name is written "Merodach-baladan."

Where else “berodach” appears
sonבֶּןben

son

The male born of a father and mother; in the plural, also sons and daughters.

Where else “ben” appears
of Baladanבַּלְאֲדָןbaladan

Baladan

Baladan. The name of the father of Berodach-baladan (Merodach-baladan), king of Babylon (2 Kings 20:12; Isaiah 39:1).

Where else “baladan” appears
kingמֶלֶךְmelech

king

A king who rules a people.

Where else “melech” appears
of Babylonבָּבֶלbavel

Babel, Babylon

See it on the mapWhere else “bavel” appears
sentשָׁלַחshalach

send

To send someone or something.

Where else “shalach” appears
lettersסְפָרִיםsefarim

letter

A writing sent to someone with a message or an order, like a king's letter.

Where else “sefarim” appears
and a giftמִנְחָהmincha

gift

A gift for an important person.

Where else “mincha” appears
to Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּchizkiyahu

Hezekiah

Hezekiah: a name meaning "YHWH is my strength" or "YHWH strengthens." Best known is the king of Judah, son of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:20; 18-20; Isaiah 36-39); other men also bear it (Zephaniah 1:1; Nehemiah 7:21).

Where else “chizkiyahu” appears
he had heardשָׁמַעshama

hear

To hear a sound, or learn of something.

Where else “shama” appears
had been sickחָלָהchala

be sick

To lose one's health or strength, feel ill.

Where else “chala” appears

Translation note

In Isaiah 39:1 the same king is called “Merodach-baladan.”

Parallel passages

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

The envoys from Babylon

Isaiah 39:1-82 Chronicles 32:31

See them side by side

2 Kings 20:12-19

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. 13Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all his treasure house: the silver, the gold, the spices, and the fine oil, and his armory, and all that was found in his treasuries; there was not a thing that Hezekiah did not show them in his house or in all his dominion. 14Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where do they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “From a distant land they have come, from Babylon.” 15He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah said, “All that is in my house they have seen; there is not a thing that I have not shown them among my treasures.” 16Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of YHWH: 17‘Look, days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried to Babylon; not a thing will be left, says YHWH. 18And some of your sons who will come out from you, whom you will father, they will take; and they will be officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” 19Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “Good is the word of YHWH that you have spoken.” And he said, “Is it not so, if there will be peace and truth in my days?”

Isaiah 39:1-8

1At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that he had been sick and had recovered. 2Hezekiah was glad because of them, and showed them his treasure house: the silver, the gold, the spices, and the fine oil, and all his armory, and all that was found in his treasuries; there was not a thing that Hezekiah did not show them in his house or in all his dominion. 3Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where do they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “From a distant land they have come to me, from Babylon.” 4He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah said, “All that is in my house they have seen; there is not a thing that I have not shown them among my treasures.” 5Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of YHWH Tsevaot: 6‘Look, days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried to Babylon; not a thing will be left, says YHWH. 7And some of your sons who will come out from you, whom you will father, they will take; and they will be officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” 8Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “Good is the word of YHWH that you have spoken.” And he said, “For there will be peace and truth in my days.”

2 Chronicles 32:31

31And so, with the interpreters of the officials of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, Elohim left him, to test him, to know all that was in his heart.

Places in this verse

Babylon
Approximate location. A “?” means it is not known for sure where it was.
  • Babylon

    Today: Babylon ruins, near Hillah, Iraq

    A great city on the Euphrates River, in present-day Iraq, about 53 miles (85 km) south of Baghdad.

    In its land the languages were confused at Babel (Gen 11:9). Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and took the people captive there (2 Kgs 25:1-11). Daniel lived there (Dan 1:1-6).

    Genesis 11:92 Kings 25:1Psalms 137:1Daniel 1:1

The context

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.

12 · This verse (above)

13Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all his treasure house: the silver, the gold, the spices, and the fine oil, and his armory, and all that was found in his treasuries; there was not a thing that Hezekiah did not show them in his house or in all his dominion.

Read all of 2 Kings 20

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