Isaiah 38:8

6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

7 This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised:

I will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.

9 This is a writing by Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:

10 I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
I will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.
KJV
Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.
WEB
Behold, I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps.”’” So the sun returned ten steps on the sundial on which it had gone down.
ASV
behold, I will cause the shadow on the steps, which is gone down on the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the dial whereon it was gone down.
DARBY
behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees which hath gone down with the sun on the dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned on the dial ten degrees, by which it had gone down.
BLB
Behold, I am bringing back the shadow on the stairs, which has gone down on the stairs of Ahaz, with the sun backward ten steps.’” And the sun was turned back ten steps on the steps that it had gone down.
ÅB
Se, jeg lar solskivens skygge, som er gått ned med solen på Ahas' solskive, gå ti streker tilbake. Og solen gikk tilbake ti av de streker den var gått ned.
OTB
Jeg vil få skyggen kastet av solen til å gå tilbake ti trinn på Akas’ trapp.’” Så gikk skyggen tilbake de ti trinnene den hadde gått ned.
B1930
Se, jeg lar solskivens skygge, som er gått ned med solen på Akas' solskive, gå ti streker tilbake. Og solen gikk tilbake ti av de streker den var gått ned.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Kings 20:9–11

    And Isaiah had replied, “This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?”

    Read in context
  • Joshua 10:12–14

    On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

    Read in context
  • Matthew 16:1

    Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 32:24

    In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. So he prayed to the LORD, who spoke to him and gave him a sign.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 32:31

    And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.

    Read in context