Isaiah38
English Standard Version
1 became and was at the point of . And the the of to him, and to him, the Lord: Set your in , you shall , you shall .
2Then his to the and to the Lord,
3and , , O Lord, I have you in and with a , and have what is in your . And .
4Then the of the Lord to :
5 and to , the Lord, the of your : I have your ; I have your . , I will to your .
6I will you and out of the of the of , and will .
7 shall be the to you the Lord, the Lord will that he has :
8 , I will the cast by the on the of . So the on the dial the by it had .
9A of of , after he had been and had from his :
10I , In the of my I ; I am to the of for the of my .
11I , I shall the Lord, the Lord in the of the ; I shall more among the of the .
12My is and me like a ; like a I have my ; he cuts me from the ; from to you bring me to an ;
13I ; like a he my ; from to you bring me to an .
14Like a or a I ; I like a . My are with . O Lord Lord, I am ; be my pledge of !
15 shall I ? For he has to me, and he himself has it. I my because the of my .
16O , these things men , and in these is the of my . Oh restore me to and make me !
17 , it was for my that I great ; but in you have from the of , for you have all my your .
18For does you; does you; those who to the do for your .
19The , the , he you, as I do this ; the makes to the your .
20The Lord will me, and we will play my on the of our , the of the Lord.
21Now had , Let them a of and it to the , that he may .
22 also had , is the that I shall to the of the Lord?
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 38.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Hezekiah's sickness and recovery. (1-8). His thanksgiving. (9-22).
vv1-8
When we pray in our sickness, though God send not to us such an answer as he here sent to Hezekiah, yet, if by his Spirit he bids us be of good cheer, assures us that our sins are forgiven, and that, whether we live or die, we shall be his, we do not pray in vain. See II Kin. 20:1-11.
vv9-22
We have here Hezekiah's thanksgiving. It is well for us to remember the mercies we receive in sickness. Hezekiah records the condition he was in. He dwells upon this; I shall no more see the Lord. A good man wishes not to live for any other end than that he may serve God, and have communion with him. Our present residence is like that of a shepherd in his hut, a poor, mean, and cold lodging, and with a trust committed to our charge, as the shepherd has. Our days are compared to the weaver's shuttle, Job 7:6, passing and repassing very swiftly, every throw leaving a thread behind it; and when finished, the piece is cut off, taken out of the loom, and showed to our Master to be judged of. A good man, when his life is cut off, his cares and fatigues are cut off with it, and he rests from his labours. But our times are in God's hand; he has appointed what shall be the length of the piece. When sick, we are very apt to calculate our time, but are still at uncertainty. It should be more our care how we shall get safe to another world. And the more we taste of the loving-kindness of God, the more will our hearts love him, and live to him. It was in love to our poor perishing souls that Christ delivered them. The pardon does not make the sin not to have been sin, but not to be punished as it deserves. It is pleasant to think of our recoveries from sickness, when we see them flowing from the pardon of sin. Hezekiah's opportunity to glorify God in this world, he made the business, and pleasure, and end of life. Being recovered, he resolves to abound in praising and serving God. God's promises are not to do away, but to quicken and encourage the use of means. Life and health are given that we may glorify God and do good.
Key Words
הֵם: they (only used when emphatic)
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
חִזְקִיָּה: Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites
חָלָה: properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to be weak, sick, afflicted; or (causatively) to grieve, make sick; also to stroke (in flattering), entreat
מוּת: to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
יְשַׁעְיָה: Jeshajah, the name of seven Israelites
נָבִיא: a prophet or (generally) inspired man
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אָמוֹץ: Amots, an Israelite
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
Isaiah 38The primary parallel account of Hezekiah's sickness, prayer, and recovery.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The explicit promise of fifteen added years and going up to the house of the Lord.
Supported by JFB
Direct parallel detail recording the miracle of the shadow turning back ten degrees on the dial.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Great Old Testament precedent of God miraculously altering the sun's natural course.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the vivid weaving metaphor of life being swiftly cut off from the loom.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel recording Isaiah ordering a lump of figs as a plaster for the boil.
Supported by JFB
Mentions the Babylonian ambassadors sent to inquire of the wonder done in the land.
Supported by JFB
Uses the same phrase 'land of the living' in contrast to the grave.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Thematic connection that man lives by every word that proceeds from God's mouth.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel imagery of God casting all sins behind His back or into depths.
Supported by John Calvin
Thematic parallel on the dead in the grave being unable to praise or remember God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Verbal link to the ideal of walking before God with a perfect, sincere heart.
Supported by JFB
God's promise to defend and deliver Jerusalem for His own sake and David's.
Supported by John Calvin
Comparable personal psalm of distress, prayer, and deliverance composed after escaping death.
Supported by John Calvin
Hezekiah's exact sentiment: 'Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?'
Supported by Matthew Poole