Isaiah 38:8

38:7 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. sun dial: Heb. degrees by, or, with the sun

KJV

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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.”’”

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.

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. ¶

38:9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:

What does Isaiah 38:8 mean?

Isaiah 38:8 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שׁוּב (shûwb), צֵל (tsêl), מַעֲלָה (maʻălâh). It connects to 20 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Behold,

will

bring

againשׁוּבshûwb/shoob/H7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again

the

shadowצֵלtsêl/tsale/H6738shade, whether literal or figurative

the

degrees,מַעֲלָהmaʻălâh/mah-al-aw'/H4609elevation, i.e. the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step or grademark, figuratively, a superiority of station); specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms)

which

gone

downיָרַדyârad/yaw-rad'/H3381to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications)

the

sunשֶׁמֶשׁshemesh/sheh'-mesh/H8121the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement

dialמַעֲלָהmaʻălâh/mah-al-aw'/H4609elevation, i.e. the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step or grademark, figuratively, a superiority of station); specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms)

Ahaz,אָחָזʼÂchâz/aw-khawz'/H271Achaz, the name of a Jewish king and of an Israelite

tenעֶשֶׂרʻeser/eh'ser/H6235ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)

degreesמַעֲלָהmaʻălâh/mah-al-aw'/H4609elevation, i.e. the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step or grademark, figuratively, a superiority of station); specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms)

backward.אֲחֹרַנִּיתʼăchôrannîyth/akh-o-ran-neeth'/H322backwards

the

sunשֶׁמֶשׁshemesh/sheh'-mesh/H8121the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement

returnedשׁוּבshûwb/shoob/H7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again

tenעֶשֶׂרʻeser/eh'ser/H6235ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)

which

was

gone

down.יָרַדyârad/yaw-rad'/H3381to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications)

sun

dial:

Heb.

degrees

by,

or,

with

the

sun

Commentary on Isaiah 38:8

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 38:8

nness of the bones. The foregoing verse showed how much our reputation, this how much our health, depends on the good government of our passions and the preserving of the temper of the mind. 1. A healing spirit, made up of love and meekness, a hearty, friendly, cheerful disposition, is the life of the flesh; it contributes to a good constitution of body; people grow fat with good humour. 2. A fretful, envious, discontented spirit, is its own punishment; it consumes the flesh, preys upon the animal spirits, makes the countenance pale, and is the rottenness of the bones. Those that see the prosperity of others and are grieved, let them gnash with their teeth and melt away, Ps. cxii. 10 . Rumpatur, quisquis rumpitur invidia. Whoever bursts for envy, let him burst. 31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 49:18

I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

Job 13:15

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. maintain: Heb. prove, or, argue

Job 18:18

He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. He: Heb. They shall drive him

Job 19:25

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Job 27:20

Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

Psalms 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalms 37:37

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Daniel 5:26

This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

Luke 2:29

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

John 8:21

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

John 8:24

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Romans 9:22

What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: fitted: or, made up

1 Corinthians 15:55 2 Corinthians 1:9 2 Corinthians 5:8 Philippians 1:21 Philippians 1:23 1 Thessalonians 5:3 2 Timothy 4:18 Revelation 14:13

Topics

Time

People & places in this verse

People

Ahaz

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 38:8.

2 Kings 20:11

And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. dial: Heb. degrees

2 Kings 20:10

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.

2 Kings 20:9

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?

Genesis 42:3

And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 38:8 say?

Isaiah 38:8 (King James Version) reads: "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. sun dial: Heb. degrees by, or, with the sun"

Is Isaiah 38:8 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 38:8 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 38:8, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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