2 Kings 20:5
“Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.”
King James Version (KJV)
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King Hezekiah of Judah had fallen gravely ill, and Isaiah delivered word that he would die. Hezekiah prayed earnestly, weeping and recalling his faithful walk before God. This verse records God's immediate response through Isaiah, granting fifteen added years of life. The healing was confirmed by a sign involving the shadow on the sundial.
What Does 2 Kings 20:5 Mean?
This verse is God's tender answer to a dying king's prayer: I have heard, I have seen, and I will heal you. The prophet Isaiah had just told Hezekiah to set his house in order because he would die. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and wept, pouring out his heart to God. Before Isaiah had even left the palace courtyard, God sent him back with a reversal of the message. The God who had pronounced the illness now pronounces healing, moved by the prayer and tears of His servant.
Notice the intimacy of God's words: "I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears." God is not distant or indifferent. He attends to the cries and even the silent weeping of those who turn to Him. He addresses Hezekiah as "captain of my people" and identifies Himself as "the God of David thy father," rooting the answer in covenant relationship. The promise is specific and concrete -- healing, and on the third day the king will go up to the house of the Lord to worship. The restored life is meant to return to God in gratitude and praise. This passage assures every praying person that God genuinely hears, sees, and responds, and that earnest prayer matters in the unfolding of His purposes.
In the Original Language
The Hebrew shama means to hear and respond. Raah means to see and take notice. Rapha means to heal, cure, or restore. Together they portray a God who attends to prayer and acts to restore.
Cross References
“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”
- Psalm 56:8
“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”
- Psalm 34:15
“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
- James 5:15
Application
Bring your deepest needs and even your tears to God, as Hezekiah did. This verse assures you that He hears and sees. When He answers, return to Him in worship, letting restored strength flow back into gratitude.