And Isaiah the prophet called to the LORD, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here isn't just that God made the sun go backward, but that it happened in a way that was seen and measured on "the steps of Ahaz." This detail grounds an astonishing miracle in a specific, tangible place, making God's intervention remarkably concrete and undeniable for those who witnessed it.
And Isaiah the prophet called to the LORD, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Hezekiah has just received a death sentence from Isaiah, but pleads for more time and is granted fifteen extra years. As a sign that his healing will indeed happen, God offers to move the shadow on the sundial ten steps forward or backward. Hezekiah chooses to have the shadow go back ten steps, a miraculous event that demonstrates God's power and His merciful response to Hezekiah's prayer.
Imagine watching the sun literally go backward in the sky. This wasn't just a light show; it was a divine confirmation with incredibly high stakes.
King Hezekiah was facing his own mortality. He had just received a grim prophecy from Isaiah: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not recover' (2 Kings 20:1).
In his distress, Hezekiah wept and pleaded with God. The Lord heard him and gave him a sign of impending recovery. This sign – the shadow receding on the steps of Ahaz – was a tangible demonstration that God's word of healing was true and that Hezekiah's life would be extended.
It’s a powerful reminder that God intervenes directly in human affairs, responding to desperate prayers with miraculous signs.
This event wasn't just about a king's health; it was a profound display of God's absolute authority over the very fabric of the cosmos.
The ability to manipulate the sun's shadow implies God controlling the movement of celestial bodies. This wasn't a natural phenomenon; it was a supernatural act.
The sun's shadow moving backward ten steps on a sundial meant that the earth's rotation, or at least the apparent movement of the sun, was divinely altered. This underscores that God is not bound by the laws of nature He Himself established.
He can pause, rewind, or alter creation's course to accomplish His purposes. It’s a breathtaking glimpse into the Creator's sovereign power.
Understand the original words
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nabi' · Hebrew Noun
A term used to describe a person who receives divine revelation and communicates it to others, serving as a mediator between God and His people. Prophets were called by God to declare His will, warn of judgment, and call for repentance.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, representing His self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His people and promises. It is the name through which God revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush.
This miraculous event, the receding shadow, served as a direct, visible confirmation of God's power and promise to Hezekiah during a moment of intense personal crisis and foreshadowed His future deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrians.
c. 705 BC— this verse
Hezekiah's Illness
King Hezekiah becomes gravely ill, to the point of death. The prophet Isaiah delivers a message that Hezekiah will not recover.
c. 705 BC
Hezekiah's Plea and Divine Sign
Hezekiah weeps and prays for more time. God hears his prayer and sends Isaiah back with a message: He will add 15 years to Hezekiah's life and provide a sign.
c. 705 BC
The Shadow Recedes
The sign is the shadow on the steps of Ahaz receding ten steps, a miraculous event confirming God's promise. This is the event described in 2 Kings 20:11.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, capturing many fortified cities and threatening Jerusalem. Hezekiah had previously paid tribute to Assyria.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Sennacherib's army lays siege to Jerusalem. Despite overwhelming odds, the city is miraculously spared, with an angel of the Lord striking down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers overnight.
c. 696-695 BC
Hezekiah's Death
Hezekiah dies after reigning for 29 years, having ruled during a tumultuous period of Assyrian threat and divine intervention. He is succeeded by his son Manasseh.
This passage recounts the same event from Isaiah's perspective, emphasizing God's direct intervention in response to Isaiah's prayer for Hezekiah.
Joshua 10:12-13This passage shows another instance where God directly manipulated the sun's movement at the command of a leader, illustrating God's power over celestial bodies to accomplish His purposes.
Exodus 14:21This passage highlights God's supernatural power, as He parted the Red Sea with a strong east wind, showing His ability to intervene dramatically in natural events.
John 11:40Jesus reminds Martha that if she believes, she will see the glory of God; this connects by emphasizing that extraordinary signs often happen when faith is present and God's glory is the ultimate goal.
What's striking here isn't just that God made the sun go backward, but that it happened in a way that was seen and measured on "the steps of Ahaz." This detail grounds an astonishing miracle in a specific, tangible place, making God's intervention remarkably concrete and undeniable for those who witnessed it.
Hezekiah has just received a death sentence from Isaiah, but pleads for more time and is granted fifteen extra years. As a sign that his healing will indeed happen, God offers to move the shadow on the sundial ten steps forward or backward. Hezekiah chooses to have the shadow go back ten steps, a miraculous event that demonstrates God's power and His merciful response to Hezekiah's prayer.
Hezekiah has just received a death sentence from Isaiah, but pleads for more time and is granted fifteen extra years. As a sign that his healing will indeed happen, God offers to move the shadow on the sundial ten steps forward or backward. Hezekiah chooses to have the shadow go back ten steps, a miraculous event that demonstrates God's power and His merciful response to Hezekiah's prayer.
"And Isaiah the prophet called to the LORD, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz." — What's striking here isn't just that God made the sun go backward, but that it happened in a way that was seen and measured on "the steps of Ahaz." This detail grounds an astonishing miracle in a…
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Last reviewed October 2026