Hezekiah's Illness and the Envoys

2 Kings 20

Hezekiah falls sick to the point of death, and after he prays, the Lord grants him fifteen more years of life and gives the sign of the sun's shadow moving backward on the dial. When envoys from Babylon visit Hezekiah and he shows them all his treasures, Isaiah announces that in time all these treasures and even his descendants will be carried off to Babylon.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonIN those days Ezekias was sick unto death, and Esaias son of Amos the prophet went to him and said to him, Thus saith the Lord, Give a charge to thy household. Thou art at the point of death and shalt not live.

BrentonIn those days was Ezekias sick even to death. And the prophet Esaias the son of Amos came in to him, and said to him, Thus saith the Lord, Give charge to thy household; for thou shalt die, and not live.

GreekἘν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἠῤῥώστησεν Ἐζεκίας εἰς θάνατον· καὶ εἰσῆλθε πρὸς αὐτὸν Ἡσαΐας υἱὸς Ἀμὼς ὁ προφήτης, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν, τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἔντειλαι τῷ οἴκῳ σου, ἀποθνήσκεις σὺ καὶ οὐ ζήσῃ.

KJVIn those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

JPSIn those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him: ‘Thus saith the LORD: Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.’

ThomsonUpon this Ezekias turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord saying,

BrentonAnd Ezekias turned to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Ἐζεκίας πρὸς τὸν τοῖχον, καὶ ηὔξατο πρὸς Κύριον λέγων

KJVThen he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,

JPSThen he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying:

ThomsonO Lord, remember I beseech Thee, how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done what is good in Thy sight. And Ezekias wept sore.

BrentonLord, remember, I pray thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thine eyes. And Ezekias wept with a great weeping.

GreekΚύριε, μνήσθητι δὴ ὅσα περιεπάτησα ἐνώπιόν σου ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ καρδίᾳ πλήρει, καὶ τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ἐποίησα· καὶ ἔκλαυσεν Ἐζεκίας κλαυθμῷ μεγάλῳ.

KJVI beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

JPS’Remember now, O LORD, I beseech Thee, how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a whole heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight.’ And Hezekiah wept sore.

ThomsonNow Esaias was in the middle court, and a word of the Lord came to him saying,

BrentonAnd Esaias was in the middle court, and the word of the Lord came to him, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἦν Ἡσαΐας ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ τῇ μέσῃ, καὶ ῥῆμα Κυρίου ἐγένετο πρὸς αὐτὸν, λέγων,

KJVAnd it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

JPSAnd it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out of the inner court of the city, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying:

ThomsonReturn and say to Ezekias the leader of My people, Thus saith the Lord the God of thy father David, I have heard thy prayer. I have seen thy tears. Behold I will heal thee. On the third day thou shalt go up to the house of the Lord.

BrentonTurn back, and thou shalt say to Ezekias the ruler of my people, Thus saith the Lord God of thy father David, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up to the house of the Lord.

Greekἐπίστρεψον, καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς Ἐζεκίαν τὸν ἡγούμενον τοῦ λαοῦ μου, τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς Δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρός σου, ἤκουσα τῆς προσευχῆς σου, εἶδον τὰ δάκρυά σου· ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἰάσομαί σε· τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ ἀναβήσῃ εἰς οἶκον Κυρίου.

KJVTurn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

JPS’Return, and say to Hezekiah the prince of My people: Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father: I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears; behold, I will heal thee; on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

ThomsonAnd I will add to thy days, fifteen years, and deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city, for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.

BrentonAnd I will add to thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians, and I will defend this city for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

GreekΚαὶ προσθήσω ἐπὶ τὰς ἡμέρας σου πεντεκαίδεκα ἔτη· καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς· βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων σώσω σε καὶ τὴν πόλιν ταύτην, καὶ ὑπερασπιῶ ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως ταύτης διʼ ἐμὲ καὶ διὰ Δαυὶδ τὸν δοῦλόν μου.

KJVAnd I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.

JPSAnd I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for Mine own sake, and for My servant David’s sake.’

ThomsonAnd when he said, Let them take a fig cake and lay it on the boil, and he will recover,

BrentonAnd he said, Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it upon the ulcer, and he shall be well.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε, λαβέτωσαν παλάθην σύκων, καὶ ἐπιθέτωσαν ἐπὶ τὸ ἕλκος, καὶ ὑγιάσει.

KJVAnd Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

JPSAnd Isaiah said: ‘Take a cake of figs.’ And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

ThomsonEzekias said to Esaias, What is the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?

BrentonAnd Ezekias said to Esaias, What is the sign that the Lord will heal me, and I shall go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἐζεκίας πρὸς Ἡσαΐαν, τί τὸ σημεῖον ὅτι ἰάσεταί με Κύριος, καὶ ἀναβήσομαι εἰς οἶκον Κυρίου τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ;

KJVAnd 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?

JPSAnd Hezekiah said unto Isaiah: ‘What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up unto the house of the LORD the third day?’

ThomsonTo which Esaias replied, This is the sign from the Lord, that the Lord will perform the word which He hath spoken, The shadow shall advance ten steps, or go back ten steps.

BrentonAnd Esaias said, This is the sign from the Lord, that the Lord will perform the word which he has spoken, the shadow of the dial shall advance ten degrees: or if it should go back ten degrees this would also be the sign.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἡσαΐας, τοῦτο τὸ σημεῖον παρὰ Κυρίου, ὅτι ποιήσει Κύριος τὸν λόγον ὃν ἐλάλησε· πορεύσεται ἡ σκιὰ δέκα βαθμοὺς, ἐὰν ἐπιστρέψῃ δέκα βαθμούς.

KJVAnd 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?

JPSAnd Isaiah said: ‘This shall be the sign unto thee from 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?

ThomsonAnd Ezekias said, It is an easy matter for the shadow to decline ten steps. No. Let the shadow return upon the steps, ten steps backwards.

BrentonAnd Ezekias said, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return ten degrees backward on the dial.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἐζεκίας, κοῦφον τὴν σκιὰν κλῖναι δέκα βαθμούς· οὐχὶ, ἀλλʼ ἐπιστραφήτω ἡ σκιὰ ἐν τοῖς ἀναβαθμοῖς δέκα βαθμοὺς εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω.

KJVAnd Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.

JPSAnd Hezekiah answered: ‘It is a light thing for the shadow to decline ten degrees; nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.’

ThomsonThen Esaias the prophet cried to the Lord, and the shadow returned on the steps, ten steps backward.

BrentonAnd Esaias the prophet cried to the Lord: and the shadow returned back ten degrees on the dial.

GreekΚαὶ ἐβόησεν Ἡσαΐας ὁ προφήτης πρὸς Κύριον, καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν ἡ σκιὰ ἐν τοῖς ἀναβαθμοῖς εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω δέκα βαθμούς.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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.

ThomsonOn that occasion Marodoch Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon, sent a letter and presents to Ezekias, because he heard that Ezekias had been sick.

BrentonAt that time Marodach Baladan, son of Baladan king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Ezekias, because he had heard that Ezekias was sick.

GreekἘν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἀπέστειλε Μαρωδὰχ Βαλαδὰν υἱὸς Βαλαδὰν βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος βιβλία καὶ μαναὰ πρὸς Ἐζεκίαν, ὅτι ἤκουσεν ὅτι ἠῤῥώστησεν Ἐζεκίας.

KJVAt that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

JPSAt that time Berodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent a letter and a present unto Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

ThomsonAt this Ezekias was rejoiced, and shewed the messengers all the house of Nechotha; the silver and the gold, the spices and the precious oil, and the house of the vessels, and all that was in his treasuries. There was not a thing in his house, or within his power which he did not shew them.

BrentonAnd Ezekias rejoiced at them, and shewed all the house of his spices, the silver and the gold, the spices, and the fine oil, and the armoury, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing which Ezekias did not shew them in his house, and in all his dominion.

GreekΚαὶ ἐχάρη ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς Ἐζεκίας, καὶ ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς ὅλον τὸν οἶκον τοῦ νεχωθὰ, τὸ ἀργύριον καὶ τὸ χρυσίον, τὰ ἀρώματα καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον τὸ ἀγαθὸν, καὶ τὸν οἶκον τῶν σκευῶν, καὶ ὅσα εὑρέθη ἐν τοῖς θησαυροῖς αὐτοῦ· οὐκ ἦν λόγος ὃν οὐκ ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς Ἐζεκίας ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

JPSAnd Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all his treasure-house, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures; there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.

ThomsonWhereupon Esaias the prophet went to king Ezekias, and said to him, What have these men said, and whence are they come to thee? To which Ezekias replied, They are come to me from a far distant country—from Babylon.

BrentonAnd Esaias the prophet went in to king Ezekias, and said to him, What said these men? and whence came they to thee? And Ezekias said, They came to me from a distant land, even from Babylon.

GreekΚαὶ εἰσῆλθεν Ἡσαΐας ὁ προφήτης πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Ἑζεκίαν, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν, τί ἐλάλησαν οἱ ἄνδρες οὖτοι, καὶ πόθεν ἥκασι πρὸς σέ; καὶ εἶπεν Ἐζεκίας, ἐκ γῆς πόῤῥωθεν ἥκασιν πρὸς μὲ, ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος.

KJVThen came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.

JPSThen came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him: ‘What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee?’ And Hezekiah said: ‘They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.’

ThomsonThen he said, What have they seen in thy house? And he said, They have seen all that are in my house. There is not a thing in my house, or in my treasuries which I have not shewn them.

BrentonAnd he said, What saw they in thy house? And he said, They saw all things that are in my house: there was nothing in my house which I shewed not to them; yea, all that was in my treasures also.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε, τί εἶδον ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου; καὶ εἶπε πάντα ὅσα ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ μου εἶδον· οὐκ ἦν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ μου ὃ οὐκ ἔδειξα αὐτοῖς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἐν τοῖς θησαυροῖς μου.

KJVAnd he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

JPSAnd he said: ‘What have they seen in thy house?’ And Hezekiah answered: ‘All that is in my house have they seen; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.’

ThomsonThen Esaias said to Ezekias, Hear a word of the Lord.

BrentonAnd Esaias said to Ezekias, Hear the word of the Lord:

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἡσαΐας πρὸς Ἐζεκίαν, ἄκουσον λόγον Κυρίου,

KJVAnd Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.

JPSAnd Isaiah said unto Hezekiah: ‘Hear the word of the LORD.

ThomsonBehold the days are coming, when all that are in thy house, and all that thy fathers have been treasuring up even to this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Not a word shall fail which the Lord hath spoken.

BrentonBehold, the days come, that all things that are in thy house shall be taken, and all that thy fathers have treasured up until this day, to Babylon; and there shall not fail a word which the Lord has spoken.

Greekἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται, καὶ ληφθήσεται πάντα τὰ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου, καὶ ὅσα ἐθησαύρισαν οἱ πατέρες σου ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης, εἰς Βαβυλῶνα· καὶ οὐχ ὑπολειφθήσεται ῥῆμα ὃ εἶπε Κύριος.

KJVBehold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

JPSBehold, the days come, that all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

ThomsonAnd as for thy sons who shall spring from thee, whom thou shalt beget, he will take them and they shall be eunuchs in the house of the king of Babylon.

BrentonAnd as for thy sons which shall come forth of thee, which thou shalt beget, the enemy shall take them, and they shall be eunuchs in the house of the king of Babylon.

GreekΚαὶ οἱ υἱοί σου οἳ ἐξελεύσονται ἐκ σοῦ οὓς γεννήσεις, λήψεται, καὶ ἔσονται εὐνοῦχοι ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος.

KJVAnd of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

JPSAnd of thy sons that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be officers in the palace of the king of Babylon.’

ThomsonAnd Ezekias said to Esaias, Good is that word which the Lord spoke—There shall be peace in my days.

BrentonAnd Ezekias said to Esaias, Good is the word of the Lord which he has spoken: only let there be peace in my days.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἐζεκίας πρὸς Ἡσαΐαν, ἀγαθὸς ὁ λόγος Κυρίου ὃν ἐλάλησεν· ἔστω εἰρήνη ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις μου.

KJVThen said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

JPSThen said Hezekiah unto Isaiah: ‘Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken.’ He said moreover: ‘Is it not so, if peace and truth shall be in my days?’

ThomsonNow the rest of the acts of Ezekias and all his power and all that he did, the pool and the aqueduct to bring water into the city, are they not written in the book of the journal of the kings of Juda?

BrentonAnd the rest of the acts of Ezekias, and all his might, and all that he made, the fountain and the aqueduct, and how he brought water into the city, are not these things written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Juda?

GreekΚαὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν λόγων Ἐζεκίου καὶ πᾶσα ἡ δυναστεία αὐτοῦ καὶ ὅσα ἐποίησε, τὴν κρήνην καὶ τὸν ὑδραγωγόν, καὶ εἰσήγαγε τὸ ὕδωρ εἰς τὴν πόλιν, οὐχὶ ταῦτα γεγραμμένα ἐπὶ βιβλίῳ λόγων τῶν ἡμερῶν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν Ἰούδα;

KJVAnd the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

JPSNow the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

ThomsonAnd Ezekias slept with his fathers, and Manasses his son reigned in his stead.

BrentonAnd Ezekias slept with his fathers: and Manasses his son reigned in his stead.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκοιμήθη Ἐζεκίας μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐβασίλευσε Μανασσῆς υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

JPSAnd Hezekiah slept with his fathers; and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.