Isaiah 38:2
ESV
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,
NIV
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,
NASB
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,
CSB
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord.
NLT
When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,
KJV
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord,
NKJV
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord,
What does Isaiah 38:2 mean?
Hezekiah has received devastating news about his current illness. The Lord has told Him that the condition is fatal (Isaiah 38:1). Later verses note a "boil" (Isaiah 38:21) which might suggest a severe infection or a massive tumor. Hezekiah is relatively young, only about thirty nine years old (2 Kings 18:2). He apparently has no natural heir. If he dies now, David's royal line ends. But the prophet Isaiah has told him to set his affairs in order. This probably included choosing a successor and planning for inheritances.The king prays immediately. Too sick to go to the temple, he simply pleads to the Lord where he is. He turns away from everything, facing only the wall. Throughout his reign, Hezekiah's greatest victories come when he humbles himself and seeks God (2 Kings 19:14–19). He does so again now. The prayer comes with no explicit request. However, the implication is clear: he is begging God for more time.
