Hezekiah's Sickness
TextsWhat is the meaning of Hezekiah's Sickness in the Bible?
The biblical accounts in 2 Kings 20 and Isaiah 38 describe a severe illness afflicting King Hezekiah of Judah, during which the prophet Isaiah delivers a divine message of impending death followed by a promise of healing and an additional fifteen years of life.
TEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE
This narrative provides insight into the ancient Israelite understanding of divine intervention in human health and illustrates the theological theme that repentance and prayer can alter a predetermined fate, thereby deepening the reader's comprehension of prophetic authority in the Hebrew Bible.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Hezekiah's Sickness in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Hezekiah's Sickness clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.