Isaiah 38:8

6 And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.

7 And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;

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.

9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:

10 I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue 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 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?

    Read in context
  • Joshua 10:12–14

    Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 16:1

    The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 32:24

    In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 32:31

    Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

    Read in context