Bible Strands
2 Kings 20:10
“It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps,” answered Hezekiah, “but not for it to go back ten steps.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Hezekiah speaks to the prophet Isaiah in response to a divine offer to confirm God’s promise to heal him. Hezekiah rejects the option of lengthening the shadow and instead requests the unnatural reversal of its movement.
The words — The Hebrew נָקֵל (na.Kel) translates literally to "it is trifling" or "easy," contrasting with the impossibility Hezekiah associates with reversing the shadow’s path.
The thread — The contrast between human perception of difficulty and divine capability appears in 2 Kings 2:10 and 2 Kings 3:18, while 2 Kings 20:10 specifically inverts the expectation by highlighting human perception of natural versus supernatural acts.
Why it lands — The text records Hezekiah’s request for a sign that defies natural order before Isaiah calls on the Lord to enact it. It asks the reader to observe how divine power operates outside established physical limits when commanded by prophetic authority.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 2:10 “You have requested a difficult thing,” said Elijah. “Nevertheless, if you see me as I am taken from you, it will be yours. But if not, then it will not be so.”
- 2 Kings 3:18 This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.
- Isaiah 49:6 He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
- Mark 9:28 After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
- John 14:12 Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.