And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

2 CHRONICLES 32:20KJV
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2 Chronicles 32:20 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 32:20 mean?

2 Chronicles 32:20 describes how King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah responded to a crisis by turning to God in prayer, earnestly seeking help from heaven. The verse highlights their joint action of praying and crying out to God when faced with a serious threat.

This verse is set during the time when Jerusalem was under threat from the Assyrian king Sennacherib. Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and Isaiah, a leading prophet, did not rely only on military strength or strategy. Instead, they came together to pray and cry out to God, showing both leadership and dependence on divine help in a time of national danger.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 32:20

  • "Prayed" (פָּלַל, palal): This word often means to intercede or to make a formal request to God. It suggests that Hezekiah and Isaiah were not just speaking casually, but were earnestly seeking God's intervention.
  • "Cried" (זָעַק, za'aq): This word carries the sense of a loud, urgent cry for help, often used in situations of distress or emergency. It shows the intensity and desperation of their appeal.
  • "Heaven" (שָׁמַיִם, shamayim): In this context, "heaven" refers to God's dwelling place, emphasizing that their plea was directed to God Himself, not just a general spiritual force.

Why 2 Chronicles 32:20 matters

  • This verse clarifies that both the king and the prophet took active roles in seeking God's help, showing a partnership between spiritual and political leadership in times of crisis.
  • The emphasis on both praying and crying out underscores the seriousness of the situation and the depth of their dependence on God, not just routine religious practice.
  • This moment sets up the dramatic response from God that follows in the narrative, highlighting the importance of prayer in the unfolding events of Judah's deliverance.

Where else these words appear

“Amoz” Hebrew H531 · used in 13 verses

  • 2 Kings 19:2 And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
  • Isaiah 20:2 At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

“Isaiah” Hebrew H3470 · used in 39 verses

  • 2 Kings 19:2 And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
  • 2 Kings 20:19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
  • Isaiah 13:1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

“Hezekiah” Hebrew H3169 · used in 42 verses

  • 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.
  • 2 Chronicles 31:2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:23 And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

“cried” Hebrew H2199 · used in 73 verses

  • Exodus 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
  • 1 Samuel 28:12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
  • Isaiah 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.