Bible Strands
2 Kings 20:19
But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Will there not at least be peace and security in my lifetime?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Hezekiah addresses the prophet Isaiah immediately after Isaiah announces that some of his descendants will be taken as eunuchs to Babylon. The exchange occurs before the chronicler records the summary of Hezekiah’s other deeds.
The words — The text isolates טוֹב (Tov, “good”) and דְּבַר יְהוָה (de.var Yahweh, “word of Yahweh”) to frame Hezekiah’s direct response to the prophetic declaration.
The thread — Comparable acknowledgments of divine authority appear in 1 Samuel 3:18 where Eli submits to God’s will, Leviticus 10:3 where Moses cites God’s declaration of holiness, and Esther 9:30 where Mordecai issues letters of peace and truth.
Why it lands — The text states that Hezekiah accepts the prophetic word while privately reasoning that at least some stability will remain during his own life. Interpreters observe that this response demonstrates how human acceptance of divine judgment often coexists with self-preserving calculation.
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
Then 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?
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 3:18 So Samuel told him everything and did not hide a thing from him. “He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”
- Leviticus 10:3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.
- Esther 9:30 And Mordecai sent letters with words of peace and truth to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Xerxes,
- Job 1:21 saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
- Psalms 39:9 I have become mute; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.
- Jeremiah 33:6 Nevertheless, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal its people and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.
- Lamentations 3:22 Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail.
- Lamentations 3:39 Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins?
- Zechariah 8:19 “This is what the LORD of Hosts says: The fasts of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months will become times of joy and gladness, cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. Therefore you are to love both truth and peace.”
- Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: