New International VersionBefore Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him:
New Living TranslationBut before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the LORD:
English Standard VersionAnd before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him:
Berean Standard BibleBefore Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
King James BibleAnd it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
New King James VersionAnd it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
New American Standard BibleAnd even before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
NASB 1995Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
NASB 1977And it came about before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
Legacy Standard BibleNow it happened that Isaiah had not gone out of the middle court, and the word of Yahweh came to him, saying,
Amplified BibleBefore Isaiah had gone out of the middle courtyard, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
Christian Standard BibleIsaiah had not yet gone out of the inner courtyard when the word of the LORD came to him:
Holman Christian Standard BibleIsaiah had not yet gone out of the inner courtyard when the word of the LORD came to him: “
American Standard VersionAnd it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of Jehovah came to him, saying,
Contemporary English VersionBefore Isaiah got to the middle court of the palace,
English Revised VersionAnd it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
GOD'S WORD® TranslationIsaiah hadn't gone as far as the middle courtyard when the LORD spoke his word to him:
Good News TranslationIsaiah left the king, but before he had passed through the central courtyard of the palace the LORD told him
International Standard VersionBefore Isaiah had left the middle court, this message from the LORD came to him.
NET BibleIsaiah was still in the middle courtyard when the LORD told him,
New Heart English BibleIt happened, before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd it came to pass, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBefore Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
World English BibleBefore Isaiah had gone out into the middle part of the city, Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd it comes to pass, [when] Isaiah has not [yet] gone out to the middle court, that the word of YHWH has been to him, saying,
Young's Literal Translation And it cometh to pass -- Isaiah hath not gone out to the middle court -- that the word of Jehovah hath been unto him, saying,
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd it will be Isaiah went not forth to the city of the middle, and the word of Jehovah was to him, saying, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd before Isaias was gone out of the middle of the court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying:
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd before Isaiah departed from the middle part of the atrium, the word of the Lord came to him, saying:
New American BibleBefore Isaiah had left the central courtyard, the word of the LORD came to him:
New Revised Standard VersionBefore Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd before Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd Isaiah had not gone out to the middle courtyard, and the word of LORD JEHOVAH was upon him saying: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out of the inner court of the city, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying:
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd Esaias was in the middle court, and the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery… 3“Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4BeforeIsaiahhad leftthe middlecourtyard,the wordof the LORDcameto him,saying,5“Go back and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. I will surely heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the house of the LORD.…
Cross References Isaiah 38:4-5And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, / “Go and tell Hezekiah that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.
2 Kings 19:20Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.
2 Samuel 7:17So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire revelation.
1 Kings 17:2-3Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah: / “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan.
Jeremiah 42:7After ten days the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah,
Genesis 15:1After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Exodus 3:4When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.
Numbers 12:6-8He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream. / But this is not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. / I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”
1 Samuel 3:10Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
1 Kings 18:1After a long time, in the third year of the drought, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.”
Acts 9:10-11In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered. / “Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
Acts 10:3-4One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” / Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
Acts 11:13-14He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. / He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’
Acts 16:9-10During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” / As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Matthew 2:13When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
Treasury of Scripture And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, court. 2 Kings 20:4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Jump to Previous AforeCityCourtInnerIsaiahMiddlePartWordJump to Next AforeCityCourtInnerIsaiahMiddlePartWord2 Kings 20 1.Hezekiah, having received a message of death, by prayer has his life lengthened.8.The sun goes ten degrees backward for a sign of that promise.12.Berodach-baladan sending to visit Hezekiah has notice of his treasures.14.Isaiah understanding thereof, foretells the Babylonian captivity.20.Manasseh succeeds Hezekiah.Before Isaiah had left the middle courtyardThis phrase indicates the urgency and immediacy of God's response to Hezekiah's prayer. The middle courtyard likely refers to the area within the palace complex in Jerusalem, suggesting that Isaiah was still within the vicinity when God spoke to him again. This setting underscores the close proximity of the prophet to the king, highlighting the direct communication between God and His chosen leaders. The courtyard was a place of official business and royal affairs, emphasizing the importance of the message being delivered. the word of the LORD came to him
This phrase signifies divine revelation, a common occurrence in the prophetic books where God communicates His will to His prophets. The "word of the LORD" is a powerful expression, indicating that what follows is not merely human opinion but a direct message from God. This underscores the authority and reliability of the prophecy. In the broader biblical context, the "word of the LORD" is often associated with creation, judgment, and salvation, reflecting God's active involvement in the world. saying
This introduces the specific message that God is about to deliver. In the context of2 Kings 20, it is a message of hope and healing for King Hezekiah, who was previously told he would die. The immediacy of God's response to Hezekiah's prayer demonstrates His compassion and willingness to intervene in human affairs. This also reflects the biblical theme of God hearing and responding to the prayers of the faithful, as seen in other scriptures such asPsalm 34:17 andJames 5:16. Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is known for his prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and the future of Israel. In this context, he is delivering a message from God to King Hezekiah. 2. HezekiahThe king of Judah at the time, Hezekiah is known for his faithfulness to God and his efforts to rid Judah of idolatry. He is the recipient of God's message through Isaiah. 3. The LORDThe covenant name of God, Yahweh, who communicates His will and intentions through His prophets. 4. Middle CourtyardPart of the royal palace complex in Jerusalem, indicating the setting where Isaiah receives the word of the LORD. 5. JerusalemThe capital city of Judah, where the events of this chapter take place, serving as the political and spiritual center of the nation. Teaching Points The Power of PrayerHezekiah's situation demonstrates the importance of turning to God in times of distress. His earnest prayer leads to a direct response from God, highlighting the effectiveness of sincere prayer. God's Sovereignty and TimingThe immediacy of God's response to Isaiah, even before he leaves the courtyard, underscores God's control over time and events. It reminds believers that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it. The Role of ProphetsIsaiah's role as a messenger of God illustrates the importance of listening to and heeding God's word. Prophets in the Bible serve as conduits for divine communication, guiding and correcting God's people. Faithfulness in LeadershipHezekiah's life is a testament to the impact of godly leadership. His faithfulness to God brings about divine intervention and blessing, encouraging leaders today to prioritize their relationship with God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of 2 Kings 20:4?
2.How does 2 Kings 20:4 demonstrate God's responsiveness to prayer and repentance?
3.What can we learn about God's timing from 2 Kings 20:4?
4.How does Isaiah's role in 2 Kings 20:4 connect to prophetic ministry today?
5.How should we respond when God answers our prayers, as seen in 2 Kings 20:4?
6.What does 2 Kings 20:4 teach about God's willingness to change His plans?
7.Why did God change His mind in 2 Kings 20:4?
8.How does 2 Kings 20:4 demonstrate God's responsiveness to prayer?
9.What does 2 Kings 20:4 reveal about God's nature?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 20?
11.2 Kings 20:7: Why was a simple poultice of figs sufficient to cure a fatal illness if it was truly life-threatening?
12.2 Kings 20:9-11: How could the shadow on the sundial move backward without violating the laws of physics?
13.Isaiah 39:8: Why does Hezekiah seem untroubled by the future judgment pronounced on his descendants, and what does this imply about his character or leadership?
14.Deuteronomy 4:2 restricts adding or subtracting from God's commands--how is this reconciled with later scriptural expansions or revisions?What Does 2 Kings 20:4 Mean Before Isaiah had left• The prophet had just delivered God’s grim verdict to King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:1). Hezekiah’s heartfelt plea (vv. 2-3) reached heaven so quickly that Isaiah had not even exited the palace complex before the Lord intervened—an echo ofIsaiah 65:24, “Before they call, I will answer.” • Scripture spotlights the speed of God’s compassion (Psalm 145:18-19) and His attentiveness to the prayers of the righteous (James 5:16-18; cf. Elijah in1 Kings 18:36-38). • The phrase underscores that divine reversals can occur in moments; God’s prior sentence was not overturned by chance but by His predetermined willingness to respond to humble petition (Jeremiah 18:7-8).
the middle courtyard• This specific location roots the narrative in real palace architecture (compare1 Kings 7:12), reminding us that biblical events unfold in verifiable history, not myth. • Isaiah’s physical nearness to Hezekiah mirrors God’s relational nearness to His people (Psalm 34:18). • The mention of the courtyard highlights how God can intercept us in the ordinary flow of obedience—Isaiah was merely leaving after fulfilling his duty when God spoke anew (Proverbs 16:9).
the word of the LORD• The focus shifts from the messenger to the authoritative source. As inExodus 4:12 andJeremiah 1:4-9, the reliability of the message rests on “the LORD,” not the prophet. • God’s word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), perfectly capable of altering circumstances the moment it is spoken (Genesis 1:3;Psalm 33:9). • By using this formula, the text reinforces the absolute trustworthiness of Scripture (2 Peter 1:20-21;1 Thessalonians 2:13).
came to him, saying• The verb “came” depicts initiative from heaven downward; Isaiah did not request clarification—God initiated it. Compare1 Samuel 3:10 andActs 13:2, where divine speech interrupts human plans. • God’s fresh instruction reveals His responsiveness: while His character never changes (Malachi 3:6), His dealings with repentant individuals can shift (Jonah 3:10). • This scene teaches that prayer is not futile; the Lord hears, speaks, and acts in real time (Psalm 18:6;Philippians 4:6-7).
summary2 Kings 20:4 shows the immediacy, intimacy, and authority of God’s response to prayer. Before Isaiah could even exit the palace’s middle courtyard, the Lord intercepted him with a new message—proof that God hears quickly, speaks decisively, and acts compassionately when His people cry out in faith. (4) Into the middle court.--This is the reading of some Heb. MSS., and of all the versions. The Hebrew text ( city; see margin) is wrong. Before Isaiah had left the precincts of the palace, he was bidden to return. (Keil says that here, as in 2Kings 10:25, the word rendered "city" denotes "castle," i.e., the royal residence.) Verse 4. - And it same to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court. The narrative in Isaiah 38:4 does not contain this touch, which is very graphic, and indicative of the eye-witness. "The middle court" is probably the second or intermediate court of the royal palace. Isaiah had not gone further than this, when he was arrested in his course by a Divine communication. That the word of the Lord came to him, saying. How the word of the Lord came to the prophets is an inscrutable mystery. Sometimes, no doubt, it came in vision, which to a certain extent we can understand. But how, when the prophet was secularly engaged, as in this instance, walking across a court, he knew that the thought which occurred to him was a Divine message, it is almost impossible to conceive. Still, we cannot doubt that if God determines to communicate his will to man, he must be able, with the message, to impart an absolute certainty of its source, an assured conviction that it is his word, which precludes all question, hesitation, or dubiety. Isaiah, in the middle of his walk, finds his steps arrested, anew injunction laid upon him, with a necessity of immediately obeying it.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Beforeלֹ֣א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noIsaiahיְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ(yə·ša‘·yā·hū)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3470:Isaiah -- 'salvation of Yah', four Israeliteshad leftיָצָ֔א(yā·ṣā)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318:To go, bring, out, direct and proximthe middleהַתִּֽיכֹנָ֑ה(hat·tî·ḵō·nāh)Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 8484:Centralcourtyard,חָצֵ֖ר(ḥā·ṣêr)Noun - common singular
Strong's 5892:Excitementthe wordוּדְבַר־(ū·ḏə·ḇar-)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697:A word, a matter, thing, a causeof the LORDיְהוָ֔ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelcameוַיְהִ֣י(way·hî)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, beto him,אֵלָ֖יו(’ê·lāw)Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, tosaying,לֵאמֹֽר׃(lê·mōr)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559:To utter, say
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OT History: 2 Kings 20:4 It happened before Isaiah was gone out (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
