📖 Biblical Definition
The thirteenth king of Judah (715-686 BC), son of the wicked Ahaz. He removed the high places, broke the brazen serpent (which had become an idol), and trusted the Lord through the Assyrian crisis. When Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem with an army of 185,000, Hezekiah spread the Assyrian threat-letter before the Lord in the temple; the angel of the Lord struck the Assyrian camp in a single night (2 Kgs 19:35). Hezekiah was struck with terminal illness, prayed, and was given fifteen more years (2 Kgs 20).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
HEZEKIAH, n.
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A scriptural proper name; one of the great reformer kings of Judah.
📖 Key Scripture
2 Kings 18:5 — "He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him."
2 Kings 19:14 — "And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord."
Isaiah 38:5 — "I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years."
2 Chronicles 32:31 — "God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often forgets to spread the letter before the Lord; Hezekiah's posture is the prayer-strategy.
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2 Kings 19:14 is one of the most pastorally instructive moments in Old Testament history. Hezekiah received Sennacherib's threatening letter, went up into the house of the Lord, and spread it physically before the Lord. He showed the Lord the letter. He prayed concretely about its specific contents. The Lord answered with a 185,000-casualty miracle.
Modern Christianity often prays in vague terms about general worries. Hezekiah's strategy was concrete: bring the letter; spread it before the Lord; pray over the specifics; trust His response. Apply the strategy to modern letters — the cancer diagnosis, the eviction notice, the layoff email. Spread it before the Lord. He still responds to specific prayers.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew/Greek roots below.
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H2396 — Chizkiyah — Hezekiah; the Lord strengthens
Usage
"Modern Christianity prays in vague terms; Hezekiah's strategy was concrete."
"Bring the letter; spread it before the Lord; pray the specifics; trust His response."
"He still responds to specific prayers."