2 Kings 20:19 But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good." For he thought, "Will there not at least be peace and security in my lifetime?"

◄ 2 Kings 20:19 ►

New International Version
“The word of the LORD you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?”

New Living Translation
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the LORD is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”

English Standard Version
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”

Berean Standard Bible
But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Will there not at least be peace and security in my lifetime?”

King James Bible
Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

New King James Version
So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?”

New American Standard Bible
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Is it not good, if there will be peace and security in my days?”

NASB 1995
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Is it not so, if there will be peace and truth in my days?”

NASB 1977
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Is it not so, if there shall be peace and truth in my days?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of Yahweh which you have spoken is good.” For he said, “Will it not be good, if there will be peace and truth in my days?”

Amplified Bible
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Is it not good, if [at least] there will be peace and security in my lifetime?”

Christian Standard Bible
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good,” for he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security during my lifetime? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good,” for he thought: Why not, if there will be peace and security during my lifetime?

American Standard Version
Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of Jehovah which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, Is it not so, if peace and truth shall be in my days?

Contemporary English Version
Hezekiah thought, "At least our nation will be at peace for a while." So he told Isaiah, "The message you brought me from the LORD is good."

English Revised Version
Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, Is it not so, if peace and truth shall be in my days?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The LORD's word that you have spoken is good." He added, "Isn't it enough if there is peace and security as long as I live?"

Good News Translation
King Hezekiah understood this to mean that there would be peace and security during his lifetime, so he replied, "The message you have given me from the LORD is good."

International Standard Version
At this, Hezekiah replied to Isaiah, "What you've spoken from the LORD is good," because he had been thinking, "Why not, as long as there's peace and security in my lifetime…?"

Majority Standard Bible
But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Will there not at least be peace and security in my lifetime?”

NET Bible
Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The LORD's word which you have announced is appropriate." Then he added, "At least there will be peace and stability during my lifetime."

New Heart English Bible
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good." He said moreover, "Isn't it so, if peace and truth shall be in my days?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth shall be in my days?

World English Bible
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “Yahweh’s word which you have spoken is good.” He said moreover, “Isn’t it so, if peace and truth will be in my days?”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Hezekiah says to Isaiah, “The word of YHWH that you have spoken [is] good”; and he says, “Why not, if there is peace and truth in my days?”

Young's Literal Translation
And Hezekiah saith unto Isaiah, 'Good is the word of Jehovah that thou hast spoken;' and he saith, 'Is it not -- if peace and truth are in my days?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Hezekiah will say to Isaiah, Good the word of Jehovah which thou spakest And he will say, Shall not peace and truth be in my days?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Ezechias said to Isaias: The word of the Lord, which thou hast spoken, is good: let peace and truth be in my days.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Hezekiah said to Isaiah: “The word of the Lord, which you have spoken, is good. Let peace and truth be in my days.”

New American Bible
Hezekiah replied to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and stability in my lifetime.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which you have spoken. But would that peace and justice shall be in my day!

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Hezekiah said to Isaiah: “The answer of LORD JEHOVAH which you have spoken is good! But oh that there would be peace and truth in my days!”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah: 'Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken.' He said moreover: 'Is it not so, if peace and truth shall be in my days?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Ezekias said to Esaias, Good is the word of the Lord which he has spoken: only let there be peace in my days.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Hezekiah Shows His Treasures
…18And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” 19But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Will there not at least be peace and security in my lifetime?”

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 39:8
But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “At least there will be peace and security in my lifetime.”

2 Kings 18:14-16
So Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand from me.” And the king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. / Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. / At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold with which he had plated the doors and doorposts of the temple of the LORD, and he gave it to the king of Assyria.

2 Kings 21:1-2
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. / And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

2 Chronicles 32:25-26
But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. / Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.

2 Chronicles 32:31
And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.

Isaiah 38:17
Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

Isaiah 38:5-6
“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. / And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

Jeremiah 26:19
Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did Hezekiah not fear the LORD and seek His favor, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster He had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great harm on ourselves!”

2 Chronicles 34:27-28
because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and because you have humbled yourself before Me and have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD. / ‘Now I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place and on its people.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.

1 Kings 21:27-29
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly. / Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: / “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”

1 Kings 11:11-13
Then the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. / Nevertheless, for the sake of your father David, I will not do it during your lifetime; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. / Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”

1 Samuel 3:18
So Samuel told him everything and did not hide a thing from him. “He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”

1 Kings 2:33
Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”

1 Kings 14:13
All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. For this is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will receive a proper burial, because only in him has the LORD, the God of Israel, found any good in the house of Jeroboam.

2 Chronicles 12:12
Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the anger of the LORD turned away from him, and He did not destroy him completely. Indeed, conditions were good in Judah.

Treasury of Scripture

Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which you have spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

Good.

Leviticus 10:3
Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

1 Samuel 3:18
And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

Job 1:21
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

It is not good, etc.

Esther 9:30
And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

Jeremiah 33:6
Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

Zechariah 8:19
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

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2 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.

Berean Study Bible

But Hezekiah said to Isaiah
This phrase introduces us to a moment of dialogue between King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah. Hezekiah, a king of Judah, is known for his faithfulness to God, as seen in earlier chapters. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) often implies a declaration or a thoughtful response, indicating Hezekiah's reflective nature. Historically, Isaiah was a prominent prophet during Hezekiah's reign, serving as a divine messenger. This interaction underscores the importance of prophetic counsel in the governance of Judah, reflecting a theocratic society where divine guidance was sought in matters of state.

The word of the LORD
This phrase signifies a divine message or prophecy. In Hebrew, "word" (דָּבָר, dabar) can mean a matter, thing, or speech, emphasizing the weight and authority of what is spoken by God. The "LORD" (יהוה, Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, highlighting His eternal and unchanging nature. This underscores the belief that God's words are not just informative but transformative, carrying the power to shape history and individual destinies.

that you have spoken
Here, the focus is on the transmission of God's message through Isaiah. The act of speaking (דִּבֶּר, dibber) in Hebrew often implies a formal declaration. This highlights the role of prophets as intermediaries who faithfully convey God's will to His people. It also reflects the trust placed in Isaiah as a true prophet, whose words are considered an extension of God's own voice.

is good
Hezekiah's response to the prophecy is intriguing. The Hebrew word for "good" (טוֹב, tov) can mean pleasant, agreeable, or beneficial. Despite the prophecy's foreboding nature, Hezekiah perceives it as favorable, perhaps because it assures him of peace during his lifetime. This reflects a complex understanding of divine judgment and mercy, where immediate personal relief is seen as a blessing, even amidst future challenges.

For he thought
This phrase provides insight into Hezekiah's internal reasoning. The Hebrew root for "thought" (אָמַר, 'amar) is the same as "said," suggesting a deep, internal dialogue. It reveals the human tendency to weigh divine pronouncements against personal circumstances, highlighting the tension between self-interest and broader spiritual realities.

Will there not at least be peace and security in my lifetime?
Hezekiah's contemplation reveals a focus on immediate stability. "Peace" (שָׁלוֹם, shalom) in Hebrew encompasses completeness, welfare, and tranquility, while "security" (אֱמֶת, emet) implies truth, faithfulness, and reliability. This reflects a desire for a stable and prosperous reign, a common aspiration for ancient Near Eastern kings. It also raises questions about the nature of true peace and security, challenging readers to consider whether these are found in temporal circumstances or in a deeper trust in God's eternal promises.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19) Good is the word of the Lord . . .--Pious acquiescence in the will of God. (Comp. Eli's: "It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good." Comp, also a similar expression in 1Kings 2:38.)

Is it not good, if peace . . .--This rendering appears to be right. Severe as is the prophetic word of judgment, it contains an element of mercy, in that Hezekiah himself is spared. The words are introduced by and he said, to indicate that they were spoken after a pause.

Peace and truth.--Rather, peace and permanence (or, security, stability; Jeremiah 33:6). Ewald, Thenius, and Bahr render: "Yea, only may there be peace, &c, in my days." (Comp. the prayer of the church: "Give peace in our time, O Lord.")

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 19. - Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. Hezekiah accepts the rebuke, thereby acknowledging himself to have been in the wrong, and submits without remonstrance to his punishment. "Good is the word of the Lord" - who "in his wrath has thought upon mercy." The king feels that God might, in justice, have visited him, in his own person, with some immediate affliction or calamity. It is a relief to hear that the blow will not fall during his lifetime. There may be a tinge of selfishness in his acquiescence, but it is not very pronounced, and does not call for any severe animadversion. The Old Testament saints were not faultless, and are not set before us as perfect patterns. There is one only "Ensample" given us whose steps we are to follow in all things. And he said - apparently after a pause, per-Imps turning to his courtiers, whose looks may have expressed astonishment at the words which he had just spoken - Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days? i.e. Am I not right to acquiesce in the sentence and pronounce it "good," if it promises me "peace and truth," or "tranquility and steadfastness"? Ought I not to accept with thankfulness the immediate boon, instead of troubling myself about a remote future? The sentiment is not far removed from that of the well-known lines -

"I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But Hezekiah
חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ (ḥiz·qî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2396: Hezekiah -- 'Yah has strengthened', a king of Judah, also several other Israelites

said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶֽל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Isaiah,
יְשַֽׁעְיָ֔הוּ (yə·ša‘·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3470: Isaiah -- 'salvation of Yah', four Israelites

“The word
דְּבַר־ (də·ḇar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

that
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you have spoken
דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ (dib·bar·tā)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

is good.”
ט֥וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

For he thought,
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Will there not
הֲל֛וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

at least
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

be
יִהְיֶ֥ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

peace
שָׁל֥וֹם (šā·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

and security
וֶאֱמֶ֖ת (we·’ĕ·meṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 571: Stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness

in my lifetime?”
בְיָמָֽי׃ (ḇə·yā·māy)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3117: A day

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OT History: 2 Kings 20:19 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah Good (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)