2 Kings 20 · Verse 12

2 Kings 20:12

At that time Berodach–baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
2 Kings 20:12, King James Version

2 Kings 20:12 in other translations

BSBAt that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness.
WEBAt that time Berodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
ASVAt that time Berodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
YLTAt that time hath Berodach-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick;
DARBYAt that time Berodach-Baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent a letter and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
BBEAt that time, Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters with an offering to Hezekiah, because he had news that Hezekiah had been ill.
WebsterAt that time Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

What does 2 Kings 20:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 20:12-19
12-19. Berodach-baladan--(Is 39:1), the first king of Babylon mentioned in sacred history; formerly its rulers were viceroys of the Assyrian monarchs. This individual threw off the yoke, and asserting his independence, made with varying success, a long and obstinate resistance [Rawlinson, Outlines]. The message of congratulation to Hezekiah, was, in all likelihood, accompanied with proposals for a defensive alliance against their common Assyrian enemy. The king of Judah, flattered with this honor, showed the ambassadors all his treasures, his armory and warlike stores; and his motive for this was evidently that the Babylonian deputies might be the more induced to prize his friendship.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 At that time Berodach-baladan - He is called Merodach-Baladan, Isa 39:1, and by the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, and by several of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS.; and also by the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds. The true reading seems to be Merodach; the מ mem and ב beth might be easily interchanged, and so produce the mistake. Sent letters and a present - It appears that there was friendship between the king of Babylon and Hezekiah, when the latter and the Assyrians were engaged in a destructive war. The king of Babylon had not only heard of his sickness, but he had heard of the miracle; as we learn from 2Chr 32:31.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Kings 20:12-21
The king of Babylon was at this time independent of the king of Assyria, though shortly after subdued by him. Hezekiah showed his treasures and armour, and other proofs of his wealth and power. This was the effect of pride and ostentation, and departing from simple reliance on God. He also seems to have missed the opportunity of speaking to the Chaldeans, about Him who had wrought the miracles which excited their attention, and of pointing out to them the absurdity and evil of idolatry. What is more common than to show our friends our houses and possessions? But if we do this in the pride of ours hearts, to gain applause from men, not giving praise to God, it becomes sin in us, as it did in Hezekiah. We may expect vexation from every object with which we are unduly pleased. Isaiah, who had often been Hezekiah's comforter, is now is reprover. The blessed Spirit is both, Joh 16:7, 8. Ministers must be both, as there is occasion. Hezekiah allowed the justice of the sentence, and God's goodness in the respite. Yet the prospect respecting his family and nation must have given him many painful feelings. Hezekiah was indeed humbled for the pride of his heart. And blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Kings 20:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בָּעֵ֣תba.'Etat the timeH6256
הַהִ֡יאha.Hi'<the> thatH1931
שָׁלַ֡חsha.Lachhe sentH7971
בְּרֹאדַ֣ךְbe.ro.DakhMerodach-H1255
בַּ֠לְאֲדָןBal.'a.donBaladanH1255
בֶּֽן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121
בַּלְאֲדָ֧ןbal.'a.DanBaladanH1081
מֶֽלֶךְ\־Me.lekh-[the] king ofH4428
בָּבֶ֛לba.VelBabylonH894
סְפָרִ֥יםse.fa.RimlettersH5612
וּמִנְחָ֖הu.min.Chahand a giftH4503
אֶל\־'el-toH413
חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּchiz.ki.Ya.huHezekiahH2396
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
שָׁמַ֔עsha.Ma'he had heardH8085
כִּ֥יkithatH3588
חָלָ֖הcha.Lahhe had been sickH2470
חִזְקִיָּֽהוּ\׃chiz.ki.Ya.huHezekiahH2396

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Kings 20:12

  • 2 Chronicles 32:31

    Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

  • Isaiah 39:1-8

    At that time Merodach–baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. …

  • Genesis 10:10

    And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

  • Genesis 11:9

    Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

  • Isaiah 14:4

    That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

  • Isaiah 13:1

    The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

  • Isaiah 13:19

    And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

  • 2 Samuel 10:2

    Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

  • 2 Samuel 8:10

    Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A.M. 3292. B.C. 712. Berodach-baladan.
Isa 39:1-8
Merodach-baladan. king.
2Ch 32:31
Babylon.
Ge 10:10; 11:9; Isa 13:1,19; 14:4
sent letters.
2Sa 8:10; 10:2
for he had heard.
Isa 39:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Kings 20:11

    And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

  • 2 Kings 20:12

    At that time Berodach–baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

  • 2 Kings 20:13

    And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

Read all of 2 Kings 20

2 Kings 20:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		En aquel tiempo Berodach-baladán hijo de Baladán, rey de Babilonia, envió letras y presentes á Ezechîas, porque había oído que Ezechîas había caído enfermo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		En ce temps-là, Berodac-Baladan, fils de Baladan, roi de Babylone, envoya une lettre et un présent à Ézéchias, car il avait appris qu’Ézéchias avait été malade.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Zu jener Zeit sandte Berodak-Baladan, der Sohn Baladans, der König von Babel, Brief und Geschenk an Hiskia; denn er hatte gehört, daß Hiskia krank gewesen war.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In tempore illo misit Berodach Baladan, filius Baladan, rex Babyloniorum, litteras et munera ad Ezechiam: audierat enim quod ægrotasset Ezechias.