2 Kings 20:9
And Isaiah said, This signe shalt thou haue of the Lord, that the Lord will doe the thing that hee hath spoken: shall the shadow goe forward ten degrees, or goe backe tenne degrees? 2 Kings 20:9 (KJV)
“And it shall be, when you have made an end of your prayer, that the LORD will hear you, and will turn the shadow of the sundial ten degrees backward.” (Isaiah 38:8; also recorded in 2 Kings 20:8‑11)
In this passage we find King Hezekiah of Judah seeking a sign from the prophet Isaiah concerning his recovery from a severe illness. Hezekiah was a faithful king who trusted in the Lord and asked the prophet to intercede on his behalf.
The narrative records that Hezekiah petitions the LORD for a sign confirming the promise of healing. Isaiah conveys God’s response, indicating that the shadow on a sundial will move backward ten degrees as a miraculous sign of divine intervention.
Isaiah does not present a choice of forward or backward movement; the scriptural account specifies only the backward movement of the shadow as the sign God would perform.
The request for a sign may seem peculiar given Hezekiah’s faithfulness, but seeking signs was not uncommon in the Old Testament, and God sometimes accommodated such requests to strengthen people’s trust.
Continuing the story, Hezekiah asks that the shadow go back ten degrees. God grants this request, and the shadow indeed moves backward on the sundial. This extraordinary event serves as confirmation of God’s promise to heal Hezekiah and to add fifteen more years to his life (see 2 Kings 20:8‑11).
The story of Hezekiah’s illness and recovery showcases the mercy and faithfulness of God. It highlights the relationship between God, the prophet Isaiah, and the king, with Isaiah acting as a messenger of God’s words. The passage also underscores how signs and wonders were used by God to communicate with His people and affirm His sovereignty.
Overall, the account found in 2 Kings 20:8‑11 (and Isaiah 38:8) provides a glimpse into a specific moment in King Hezekiah’s life, demonstrating God’s power and His willingness to provide signs that strengthen the faith of His people.
