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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

2 Kings 20:11

Then Isaiah prayed, and the Lord made the shadow move back ten steps. It went back up the steps that it had already been on.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ahaz;   Degrees;   Dial;   Disease;   Faith;   Hezekiah;   Isaiah;   Miracles;   Prayer;   Rulers;   Sun;   Sun-Dial;   Symbols and Similitudes;   Time;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ahaz;   Miracles;   Sun-Dial;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Day;   Miracles Wrought through Servants of God;   Prayer, Private;   Sun, the;   Time;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Dial;   Miracle;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Heal, Health;   Kings, First and Second, Theology of;   Miracle;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Dial;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ahaz;   Joshua;   Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Sundial;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Dial;   Isaiah, Book of;   Israel;   Miracles;   Sun;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Time;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Dial, Sun-Dial;   Merodachbaladan ;   Miracles;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Manasseh;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Dial;   Hezekiah;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Dial;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Urim and Thummim;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ahaz;   Degree;   Dial of Ahaz, the;   Hezekiah (2);  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So the prophet Isaiah called out to the Lord, and he brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz.
Hebrew Names Version
Yesha`yahu the prophet cried to the LORD; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Achaz.
King James Version
And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord : and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.
English Standard Version
And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord , and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.
New Century Version
Then Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord , and the Lord brought the shadow ten steps back up the stairway of Ahaz that it had gone down.
New English Translation
Isaiah the prophet called out to the Lord , and the Lord made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairs of Ahaz.
Amplified Bible
So Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow on the steps ten steps backward by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.
New American Standard Bible
Then Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow on the stairway back ten steps by which it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.
World English Bible
Isaiah the prophet cried to Yahweh; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Isaiah the Prophet called vnto the Lorde, and he brought againe the shadowe ten degrees backe by the degrees whereby it had gone downe in the diall of Ahaz.
Legacy Standard Bible
Isaiah the prophet cried to Yahweh, and He turned the shadow on the stairway back ten steps by which it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.
Berean Standard Bible
So Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz.
Contemporary English Version
Isaiah prayed, and the Lord made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway built for King Ahaz.
Complete Jewish Bible
Yesha‘yahu called out to Adonai , and he brought the shadow on the sundial of Achaz ten intervals backward after it had gone down that far.
Darby Translation
And Isaiah the prophet cried to Jehovah, and he brought the shadow back on the degrees by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.
George Lamsa Translation
And Isaiah the prophet cried to the LORD, and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.
Good News Translation
Isaiah prayed to the Lord , and the Lord made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway set up by King Ahaz.
Lexham English Bible
Isaiah the prophet called to Yahweh, and he brought back the shadow on the steps where it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz, backwards ten steps.
Literal Translation
And Isaiah the prophet cried to Jehovah; and He brought back the shadow by the steps the shadow had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz, ten steps backward.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then cryed the prophet Esay vnto the LORDE, and the shadowe wente backe ten degrees in Achas Dyall, which he was descended afore.
American Standard Version
And Isaiah the prophet cried unto Jehovah; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.
Bible in Basic English
Then Isaiah the prophet made prayer to the Lord, and he made the shade go back ten degrees from its position on the steps of Ahaz.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Isai the prophete called vnto the Lord, and he brought the shadowe ten degrees backewarde, by whiche it had gone downe in the dyall of Ahaz,
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD; and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.
King James Version (1611)
And Isaiah the Prophet cryed vnto the Lord, and he brought the shadow tenne degrees backeward, by which it had gone downe in the diall of Ahaz.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Esaias the prophet cried to the Lord: and the shadow returned back ten degrees on the dial.
English Revised Version
And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor Ysaie, the prophete, clepide inwardli the Lord, and brouyte ayen bacward bi ten degrees the schadewe bi lynes, bi whiche it hadde go doun thanne in the orologie of Achaz.
Update Bible Version
And Isaiah the prophet cried to Yahweh; and he brought back the shadow on the steps it had gone down, on the steps of Ahaz, backward ten steps.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Isaiah the prophet cried to the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.
New King James Version
So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.
New Living Translation
So Isaiah the prophet asked the Lord to do this, and he caused the shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!
New Life Bible
So Isaiah the man of God cried to the Lord, and the Lord brought the shadow back ten steps, on the steps set up by King Ahaz.
New Revised Standard
The prophet Isaiah cried to the Lord ; and he brought the shadow back the ten intervals, by which the sun had declined on the dial of Ahaz.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Isaiah the prophet cried unto Yahweh, and he caused the shadow on the steps by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz to go back, ten steps.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Isaias, the prophet, called upon the Lord, and he brought the shadow ten degrees backwards by the lines, by which it had already gone down on the dial of Achaz.
Revised Standard Version
And Isaiah the prophet cried to the LORD; and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which the sun had declined on the dial of Ahaz.
Young's Literal Translation
And Isaiah the prophet calleth unto Jehovah, and He bringeth back the shadow by the degrees that it had gone down in the degrees of Ahaz -- backward ten degrees.
THE MESSAGE
So Isaiah called out in prayer to God , and the shadow went back ten degrees on Ahaz's sundial.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Isaiah the prophet cried to the LORD, and He brought the shadow on the stairway back ten steps by which it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.

Contextual Overview

1 At that time Hezekiah became sick and almost died. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to see him and told him, "The Lord says, ‘You will die soon, so you should tell your family what they should do when you die. You will not get well.'" 2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall that faced the Temple and began praying to the Lord . 3 " Lord , remember that I have sincerely served you with all my heart. I have done what you say is good." Then Hezekiah cried very hard. 4 Before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, he received this message from the Lord , 5 "Go back and speak to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord , the God of your ancestor David, says: I heard your prayer and I saw your tears, so I will heal you. On the third day you will go up to the Temple of the Lord . 6 I will add 15 years to your life. I will save you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will protect this city. I will do this for myself and because of the promise I made to my servant David.'" 7 Then Isaiah said, "Crush figs together and put them on your sore; you will get well." So they took the mixture of figs and put it on Hezekiah's sore place, and he got well. 8 Hezekiah asked Isaiah, "What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I will go up to the Temple of the Lord on the third day?" 9 Isaiah said, "Which do you want? Should the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps? This is the sign for you from the Lord to show that the Lord will do what he said he would do." 10 Hezekiah answered, "It is an easy thing for the shadow to go down ten steps. No, make the shadow go back ten steps."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

cried unto: Exodus 14:15, 1 Kings 17:20, 1 Kings 17:21, 1 Kings 18:36-38, Acts 9:40

he brought: Joshua 10:12-14, 2 Chronicles 32:24, 2 Chronicles 32:31, Isaiah 38:8

dial: Heb. degrees

Reciprocal: Joshua 10:14 - there was

Cross-References

Genesis 12:12
When the Egyptian men see you, they will say, ‘This woman is his wife.' Then they will kill me and keep you alive because they want you.
Genesis 20:1
Abraham left that place and traveled to the Negev. He settled in the city of Gerar, between Kadesh and Shur. While in Gerar,
Genesis 20:4
But Abimelech had not yet slept with Sarah, so he said, "Lord, I am not guilty. Would you kill an innocent man?
Genesis 22:12
The angel said, "Don't kill your son or hurt him in any way. Now I can see that you do respect and obey God. I see that you are ready to kill your son, your only son, for me."
Genesis 26:7
His wife Rebekah was very beautiful. The men of that place asked Isaac about Rebekah. He said, "She is my sister." He was afraid to tell them Rebekah was his wife. He was afraid the men would kill him so that they could have her.
Genesis 42:18
After three days Joseph said to them, "I am a God-fearing man. Do this, and I will let you live.
Nehemiah 5:15
But the governors who ruled before me made life hard for the people. The governors forced everyone to pay 1 pound of silver. They also made the people give them food and wine. The leaders under these governors also ruled over the people and made life even harder. But I respected and feared God, so I didn't do things like that.
Job 1:1
There was a man named Job who lived in the country of Uz. He was a good, honest man. He respected God and refused to do evil.
Job 28:28
Then he said to humans, ‘To fear and respect the Lord is wisdom. To turn away from evil is understanding.'"
Psalms 14:4
Those who are evil treat my people like bread to be eaten. And they never ask for the Lord 's help. Don't they know what they are doing?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord,.... Or prayed, as the Targum; and was very earnest in prayer, that what Hezekiah had desired might be granted:

and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz; Ben Gersom understands it not of the sun itself, but of the shadow of it only; :-.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 20:11. He brought the shadow ten degrees backward — We cannot suppose that these ten degrees meant ten hours; there were ten divisions of time on this dial: and perhaps it would not be right to suppose that the sun went ten degrees back in the heavens, or that the earth turned back upon its axis from east to west, in a contrary direction to its natural course. But the miracle might be effected by means of refraction, for a ray of light we know can be varied or refracted from a right line by passing through a dense medium; and we know also, by means of the refracting power of the atmosphere, the sun, when near rising and setting, seems to be higher above the horizon than he really is, and, by horizontal refraction, we find that the sun appears above the horizon when he is actually below it, and literally out of sight: therefore, by using dense clouds or vapours, the rays of light in that place might be refracted from their direct course ten, or any other number of degrees; so that the miracle might have been wrought by occasioning this extraordinary refraction, rather than by disturbing the course of the earth, or any other of the celestial bodies.

The dial of Ahaz.2 Kings 9:13, and the observations and diagram at the end of this chapter. 2 Kings 20:20.


 
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