Sundial — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Instrument used for telling time installed by King Ahaz of Judah (735–715 BC) in the royal palace of Jerusalem. Some suggest that this time indicator was not a sundial but a stairway. The time of day was determined by the position of the shadow of some object cast on the stairs. At Isaiah’s command, the Lord miraculously caused the shadow to recede ten steps, divinely confirming to King Hezekiah of Judah (715–686 BC) that he would recover from his illness, live 15 more years, and be delivered from the Assyrian threat (2 Kgs 20:7-11; Is 38:7-8).

Show passage in OET: KI2 20:7–11

OET-RV KI2 20:7

7 Then Yeshayah told them to bring some pressed figs, and they brought them and placed them on the sore, and Hizkiyah started getting better.

OET-RV KI2 20:8

8 Hizkiyah asked Yeshayah, “What’s the sign that Yahweh will heal me and that I’ll be able to go to the temple on the third day?”

OET-RV KI2 20:9

9 “Yes, Yahweh will give you a sign that he’ll do what he said,” Yeshayah replied. “Do you want the shadows to advance suddenly or go back?”

OET-RV KI2 20:10

10 “It’s easy for the shadows to go forward,” said Hizkiyah. “So make them go backwards ten steps.”

OET-RV KI2 20:11

11 So the prophet Yeshayah called to Yahweh, and he made the shadow go back on the steps made by King Ahaz—the shadow went ten steps backward.

OET-LV KI2 20:7

7 And_ Yəshaˊ^yāh/(Isaiah) _he/it _said take a _cake _of figs and_they _took and_they _put_it on the_boil and_he _lived.

OET-LV KI2 20:8

8 And_ Ḩizqiy^yāh _he/it _said to Yəshaˊ^yāh what will _be_the_sign that/for/because/then/when YHWH he _will _heal to_me and_I _will _go _up in _the_day the_third the _house _of YHWH.

OET-LV KI2 20:9

9 And_ Yəshaˊ^yāh _he/it _said this for_you will_be_the _sign from_with YHWH that/for/because/then/when YHWH he _will _do DOM the_thing which he _has _spoken the_shadow it _has _gone ten steps or will _it _go _back ten steps.

OET-LV KI2 20:10

10 And_ Ḩizqiy^yāh _he/it _said it _is _trifling to_shadow to_stretch _out ten steps no if/because the_shadow let _it _go _back backwards ten steps.

OET-LV KI2 20:11

11 And_ Yəshaˊ^yāh the_prophet _he/it _called to YHWH and_he _turned _back DOM the_shadow on_steps which it _had _gone _down on_the _steps _of ʼĀḩāz backwards ten steps.

Show passage in OET: ISA 38:7–8

OET-RV ISA 38:7

7 and this will be the sign from him that he will do what he’s said,

OET-RV ISA 38:8

8 ‘Look, I will turn the shadow on the steps built by King Ahaz, back ten steps.’ ” So the sun’s shadow went back up ten steps that it had gone down.

OET-LV ISA 38:7

7 And_this for_you will_be_the _sign from_with YHWH which/who YHWH he _will _do DOM the_thing the_this which he _has _spoken.

OET-LV ISA 38:8

8 HERE_I am_about _to _turn _back DOM the _shadow _of the _steps which it _had _gone _down on_the _steps _of ʼĀḩāz with_sun backwards ten steps and_ the_sun _it _went _back ten steps on_steps which it _had _gone _down.

Jump to OET KI2 20:7–11 section.

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