2 Kings 20:12 net — Messengers from Babylon Visit Hezekiah At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and…

NET Bible

"Messengers from Babylon Visit Hezekiah At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah was ill."

— 2 Kings 20:12, NET Bible

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2 Kings 20:12 in Other Translations

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2 Kings 20 — Context

9

Isaiah replied,“This is your sign from the LORD confirming that the LORD will do what he has said. Do you want the shadow to move ahead ten steps or to go back ten steps?”

10

Hezekiah answered,“It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps, but not for it to go back ten steps.”

11

Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairs of Ahaz.

12

Messengers from Babylon Visit Hezekiah At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah was ill.

13

Hezekiah welcomed them and showed them his whole storehouse, with its silver, gold, spices, and high quality olive oil, as well as his armory and everything in his treasuries. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and in his whole kingdom.

14

Isaiah the prophet visited King Hezekiah and asked him,“What did these men say? Where do they come from?” Hezekiah replied,“They come from the distant land of Babylon.”

15

Isaiah asked,“What have they seen in your palace?” Hezekiah replied,“They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my treasuries.”

2 Kings 20:12 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Kings 20:12 say?
2 Kings 20:12 in the NET Bible reads: “Messengers from Babylon Visit Hezekiah At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah was ill.”
Where is 2 Kings 20:12 in the Bible?
2 Kings 20:12 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Kings, chapter 20, verse 12.
Who wrote 2 Kings?
2 Kings is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Jeremiah). It was written c. 561–538 BC.
What is the book of 2 Kings about?
2 Kings carries the divided kingdom from Elijah and Elisha through the fall of both Israel and Judah. Despite the prophets' warnings, both kingdoms decline through idolatry — the north into Assyrian captivity, the south into Babylonian exile — fulfilling the covenant curses.
What are the major themes of 2 Kings?
2 Kings explores themes including Judgment, Exile, Prophets, Covenant Curses, Remnant. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Kings 20:12.
What translation should I read 2 Kings 20:12 in?
2 Kings 20:12 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Kings 20:12?
2 Kings 20:12 reads (NET): “Messengers from Babylon Visit Hezekiah At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah was ill.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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