What does 2 Kings 20:9 mean?
"And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?" - 2 Kings 20:9
The Bible verse 2 Kings 20:9 from the King James Version (KJV) reads, "And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?" This verse takes place in the context of a conversation between King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah.
To understand the meaning and significance of this verse, it is important to first understand the historical and cultural context in which it occurs. King Hezekiah was a righteous king of Judah who sought to serve the Lord faithfully. In 2 Kings 20, we read about how Hezekiah became deathly ill and was told by the prophet Isaiah that he would not recover from his illness. Upon hearing this, Hezekiah prayed earnestly to the Lord, and the Lord heard his prayer and granted him fifteen more years of life.
In response to Hezekiah's prayer, the Lord also offered him a sign as a confirmation of his miraculous healing. This is where the verse in question comes in. Isaiah proposes to Hezekiah that he can choose whether the shadow on the sundial should go forward ten degrees or go back ten degrees as a sign from the Lord. This sign would serve as a demonstration of the Lord's power and faithfulness in fulfilling his promises.
The significance of this verse lies in the symbolism of the sign. The movement of the shadow on the sundial represented a supernatural intervention by God in the natural order of things. By offering Hezekiah a choice in the direction of the shadow's movement, the Lord was demonstrating his sovereignty over time and his ability to control the forces of nature. This sign was a tangible and visible manifestation of the Lord's power, intended to strengthen Hezekiah's faith and reassure him of the Lord's faithfulness to his promises.
There are several themes and lessons that can be gleaned from this verse. First and foremost, it highlights the faithfulness of God in response to sincere and earnest prayer. Hezekiah's prayer was heartfelt and genuine, and the Lord responded with mercy and grace, granting him healing and adding years to his life. This serves as a reminder to believers that God is faithful to hear and answer the prayers of his people, especially when they are offered in humility and trust in his sovereignty.
Additionally, the verse underscores the importance of signs and wonders as a means of confirming God's word and reinforcing faith. Throughout the Bible, we see numerous examples of God providing signs and wonders to validate his messages and demonstrate his power. In this instance, the sign of the moving shadow served as a tangible confirmation of the Lord's promise to Hezekiah, reinforcing his faith and trust in God's intervention.
The verse also highlights the concept of divine intervention in the natural world. The movement of the shadow on the sundial was a supernatural act that defied the laws of nature, emphasizing God's authority over the created order. It serves as a reminder that nothing is impossible for God, and he has the power to intervene in the affairs of humanity in extraordinary ways.
In conclusion, 2 Kings 20:9 from the King James Version carries profound significance within the larger narrative of King Hezekiah's miraculous healing and the Lord's demonstration of power through the sign of the moving shadow. It illustrates themes of faithfulness, prayer, divine intervention, and the confirmation of God's word through signs and wonders. As believers, we can draw encouragement and reassurance from this passage, reminding us of the faithfulness and power of our sovereign God.
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2 Kings 20:9 - "And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?"
"And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?" - 2 Kings 20:9
2 Kings 9:20 - "And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously."
2 Kings 20:20 - "¶ And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Kings 20:2 - "Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,"
1 Kings 9:20 - "And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,"
2 Kings 2:20 - "And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him."
2 Kings 20:16 - "And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD."
2 Kings 10:20 - "And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it."
2 kings 9:34-36
2 Kings 25:20 - "And Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah:"
2 Chronicles 9:22 - "And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom."
2 Kings 14:20 - "And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David."
2 Kings 20:21 - "And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead."
2 Kings 21:20 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did."
2 Kings 13:20 - "¶ And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year."
2 Kings 20:7 - "And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered."
2 Kings 11:20 - "And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house."
2 Kings 9:9 - "And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:"
2 Kings 8:20 - "¶ In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves."
1 Kings 20:9 - "Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again."
2 Kings 7:20 - "And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died."
1 Kings 20:2 - "And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad,"
2 Kings 20:4 - "And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,"
2 Kings 12:20 - "And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla."
2 Kings 9:4 - "¶ So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead."
2 Kings 9:23 - "And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah."
2 Kings 9:29 - "And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah."
2 Kings 20:10 - "And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees."
1 Kings 9:2 - "That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon."