2 Kings 20:8-11 Meaning: What Sign Will You Give Me?
8Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What will be the sign that Yahweh will heal me, and that I will go up to Yahweh’s house the third day?”
9Isaiah said, “This will be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do the thing that he has spoken: should the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?”
10Hezekiah answered, “It is a light thing for the shadow to go forward ten steps. No, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.”
11Isaiah the prophet cried to Yahweh; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.
8And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the Lord the third day?
9And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
10And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
11And 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.
8And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that Jehovah will heal me, and that I shall go up unto the house of Jehovah the third day?
9And Isaiah said, This shall be the sign unto thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?
10And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to decline ten steps: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.
11And 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.
8And Hezekiah saith unto Isaiah, `What is the sign that Jehovah doth give healing to me, that I have gone up on the third day to the house of Jehovah?'
9And Isaiah saith, `This is to thee the sign from Jehovah, that Jehovah doth the thing that He hath spoken--The shadow hath gone on ten degrees, or it doth turn back ten degrees?'
10And Hezekiah saith, `It hath been light for the shadow to incline ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow turn backward ten degrees.'
11And 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.
8And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, What [shall be] the sign that Jehovah will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of Jehovah the third day?
9And Isaiah said, This [shall be] the sign to thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
10And Hezekiah said, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: no, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
11And 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.
Meaning in one sentence
Hezekiah asked for a sign after God promised healing. This passage shows that seeking confirmation can be an act of faith, not doubt. See the meaning here.
Context
Hezekiah was king of Judah. He fell gravely ill, and the prophet Isaiah told him to set his house in order because he would die. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and wept, praying earnestly. Before Isaiah had left the palace courtyard, God sent him back with a new message: He would heal Hezekiah, add fifteen years to his life, and defend Jerusalem from Assyria. A cake of figs was applied to his boil, and he began to recover.
But Hezekiah wanted more than words. He asked for a sign to confirm that he would indeed be healed and would go up to the temple on the third day. Isaiah offered him a choice: should the shadow on the stairway sundial go forward ten steps or back ten steps? Hezekiah chose the harder miracle: let it go backward. Isaiah cried out to the Lord, and the shadow reversed ten steps. The king received not only healing but a visible reminder that the One who governs the sun also governs his life.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words anchor this passage. The first is ot (sign), used for a miraculous mark or proof. The same word appears when God gave a rainbow to Noah and when Isaiah offered a sign to Ahaz. A sign is something you can point to and say, “God did that.”
The second is ma'alot (steps). The word means “ascents” and likely refers to a stairway built into the palace courtyard that functioned as a sundial. The shadow crept up and down these steps as the day passed. When Hezekiah asked for the shadow to go backward, he was asking for something that contradicted the entire order of the sky.
The third is the verb qara (he called out). When Isaiah “cried out” to the Lord, the word suggests urgent, desperate prayer. He did not simply mention the request. He called with his whole voice. And God answered by turning back what could not be turned.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this passage with care. Many see Hezekiah’s request as a humble act of faith. Adam Clarke called it a wish to be “fully convinced” that the cure was supernatural. Barnes noted that asking for a sign is pious or wicked depending on the spirit, and Hezekiah’s spirit was right. The Geneva Bible simply records the miracle without critique.
Others have noted the parallel with Gideon’s fleece and with Ahaz being offered a sign in Isaiah 7. The Cambridge Bible observes that the king’s request was granted without rebuke. Historic Christian teaching has not treated this as an example of doubt but as a legitimate desire for reassurance. When the heart is humble, a request for confirmation can be an act of trust, not a test.
Living This Out
You may be facing a situation where God’s promise feels distant. Perhaps you have prayed for healing, provision, or direction, and you believe God has answered, but you still feel a knot in your stomach. Hezekiah shows that it is not weak to ask for a sign. What matters is the spirit behind the request.
This week, if you need confirmation, take a specific need to God. Ask for a clear token that He is at work. Do not demand a spectacular miracle; a small, quiet sign may be enough. Then watch for it. The God who bent the shadow for a dying king can bend your circumstances to show He is present.
Main takeaway: God allowed Hezekiah to ask for a confirmatory sign, showing that humble requests for reassurance can be met with grace, not rebuke.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Hezekiah was very sick. God said He would make him better. Hezekiah wanted to be sure, so he asked for a sign. God made the shadow on the stairs go backward. That was God’s way of saying, “Yes, I will heal you.”
For ages 9, 12
Hezekiah had already been told he would recover, but he still asked for a sign to confirm it. God could have said no, but He offered a choice: the shadow could move forward or backward. Hezekiah chose the harder miracle. This shows that asking God for confirmation is not always a lack of faith. Sometimes it is simply wanting to be certain of what God has promised. God honored that desire.
Questions People Ask
What was the sundial of Ahaz?
It was likely a stairway or set of steps built by King Ahaz that functioned as a timekeeping device. As the sun moved, the shadow would rise or fall on the steps, marking the hours. The word translated “degrees” or “steps” in English is the Hebrew word ma'alot, meaning ascents.
Did the sun actually go backward in the sky?
The text says the shadow went backward ten steps. Some commentators, like Adam Clarke, suggest this could have been a refraction of light rather than a reversal of the earth’s rotation. Others hold that God directly caused the sun to move backward. The point is that a genuine miracle occurred, visible to Hezekiah and his court.
Is it okay to ask God for a sign today?
Many Christians believe it depends on the heart. When Jesus rebuked those who sought a sign, they were testing Him with unbelief. Hezekiah asked humbly, wanting to trust more fully. If you ask with a sincere desire to follow God, not to put Him to the test, seeking a sign can be an act of faith.
Why did Hezekiah choose the shadow to go backward instead of forward?
He said it was a “light thing” for the shadow to go forward, meaning that was more natural and therefore less impressive. Choosing the backward motion made the miracle unmistakable. It required God to act against the entire course of nature, leaving no room for doubt that the healing was His work.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study