2 Kings 20:10 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 20:10 mean?

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.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 20:10

• "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.

Why 2 Kings 20:10 matters

• 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.