Question 1

What does 2 Kings 20:10 mean?

Accepted Answer

2 Kings 20:10 shows King Hezekiah responding to the prophet Isaiah by saying that making a shadow move forward on the steps is easy, but making it go backward would be truly remarkable. Hezekiah asks for the shadow to go back ten steps as a sign from God, not just move forward as it normally would. Hezekiah is speaking to Isaiah after being told he would recover from illness, and Isaiah offers a sign from God to confirm this promise. The "shadow" refers to the shadow cast by the sun on a set of steps or a sundial. Hezekiah reasons that a shadow moving forward happens naturally as time passes, but for it to move backward would be a clear miracle, making it a convincing sign.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 20:10

Accepted Answer

"Shadow" (צֵל, tsel): This word means a literal shadow, likely referring to the shadow cast by the sun on a stairway or sundial, which was used to tell time. The movement of this shadow is central to the sign Hezekiah requests. "Return" (שׁוּב, shuv): This word means "to turn back" or "to return." Hezekiah asks for the shadow to "return" backward, emphasizing a reversal of the normal order of time, not just a pause or a slowing. "Degrees" (מַעֲלָה, ma'alah): This word means "steps" or "degrees," likely referring to the steps of a stairway or the increments on a sundial. The request is for the shadow to move back ten of these units, making the sign specific and measurable.

Question 3

Why 2 Kings 20:10 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse highlights Hezekiah’s desire for a sign that is unmistakably supernatural, showing his need for strong assurance from God. The request for the shadow to move backward, rather than forward, underlines the miraculous nature of the sign and sets up the following verses, where God grants this request. Understanding the use of the words for "shadow," "return," and "degrees" helps clarify that this was not a vague or symbolic sign, but a concrete, observable event tied to the passage of time.

2 Kings 20:10 (KJV)