2 Kings 20:11

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Then the prophet Isaiah called out to the LORD, and He made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway of Ahaz, the steps it had descended.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּקְרָ֛א יְשַׁעְיָ֥הוּ הַנָּבִ֖יא אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה וַיָּ֣שֶׁב אֶת־הַצֵּ֗ל בַּֽ֠מַּעֲלוֹת אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרְדָ֜ה בְּמַעֲל֥וֹת אָחָ֛ז אֲחֹֽרַנִּ֖ית עֶ֥שֶׂר מַעֲלֽוֹת׃

Transliteration

wə-yiqrāʾ Yəšaʿyāhû the-nābîʾ to-YHWH; wə-yāšeb ʾet-the-ṣēl in-the-maʿălôt which yārədâ in-maʿălôt ʾĀḥāz ʾăḥōrannît ʿeśer maʿălôt.

Grammar Details

• *wə*-: conjunction - and
• *yiqrāʾ*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - he called
• *Yəšaʿyāhû*: proper name - Isaiah
• *nābîʾ*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the prophet
• *YHWH*: divine name - Yahweh/LORD
• *yāšeb*: hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine singular - he brought back
• *ṣēl*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the shadow
• *maʿălôt*: feminine plural noun - steps/degrees
• *yārədâ*: qal perfect 3rd feminine singular - it had gone down
• *ʾĀḥāz*: proper name - Ahaz
• *ʾăḥōrannît*: adverb - backward
• *ʿeśer*: feminine numeral - ten

Word Meanings

• *yiqrāʾ*: he called/he cried out
• *yāšeb*: he brought back/he returned/he restored
• *yārədâ*: had gone down/had descended

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard 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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  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.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Isaiah{H3470} the prophet{H5030} cried{H7121} unto Jehovah;{H3068} and he brought{H7725} the shadow{H6738} ten{H6235} steps{H4609} backward,{H322} by{H4609} which it had gone down{H3381} on the dial{H4609} of Ahaz.{H271}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Isaiah{H3470} the prophet{H5030} cried{H7121}{(H8799)} unto the LORD{H3068}: and he brought{H7725}{(H8686)} the shadow{H6738} ten{H6235} degrees{H4609} backward{H322}, by{H4609} which it had gone down{H3381}{(H8804)} in the dial{H4609} of Ahaz{H271}.

• 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.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  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.

• Bishops' 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,

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  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.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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 (1941)

  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.

• World English Bible (2000)

  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.

• NET Bible® (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.

Referenced Verses

• Josh 10:12-14 : 12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 And the sun stood still, and the moon halted until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down for about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it, before or since, when the LORD listened to a human being, because the LORD fought for Israel.
• Isa 38:8 : 8 Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the sun on the stairway of Ahaz go backward ten steps. And the sun moved back ten steps on the stairway where it had gone down.
• Acts 9:40 : 40 Peter sent everyone out of the room, then knelt down and prayed. Turning toward the body, he said, "Tabitha, arise." She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
• Exod 14:15 : 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move forward.
• 1 Kgs 17:20-21 : 20 Then he cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy upon the widow I am staying with by causing her son to die?" 21 Elijah stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, please let the boy’s life return to him."
• 1 Kgs 18:36-38 : 36 At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet approached and said, "LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that You are God in Israel, that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your command. 37 Answer me, LORD, answer me, so that this people will know that You, LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back to Yourself. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
• 2 Chr 32:24 : 24 In those days Hezekiah became very sick, to the point of death. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.
• 2 Chr 32:31 : 31 However, regarding the envoys sent by the rulers of Babylon to inquire about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left Hezekiah to test him and to know what was in his heart.