Isaiah 38 1

Isaiah 38:1 kjv

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.

Isaiah 38:1 nkjv

In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.' "

Isaiah 38:1 niv

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."

Isaiah 38:1 esv

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover."

Isaiah 38:1 nlt

About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: "This is what the LORD says: 'Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.'"

Isaiah 38 verses

Isaiah 38 1 Meaning

Isaiah 38:1 recounts a critical moment in King Hezekiah's life when he faced a life-threatening illness. The verse opens with a direct declaration of his sickness and imminent death, delivered by the prophet Isaiah as a divine message from the Lord. It commands Hezekiah to make final arrangements for his household, explicitly stating that he would die and not recover. This stern pronouncement set the stage for one of the most profound narratives of divine intervention, human prayer, and the reversal of a seemingly immutable decree.

Isaiah 38 1 Context

Isaiah 38:1 is situated within the "Book of Immanuel" section of Isaiah (chapters 7-39), which primarily focuses on God's judgment and deliverance, particularly concerning Judah's relationship with Assyria. This verse initiates a distinct historical narrative (chapters 38-39) that directly parallels 2 Kings 20, detailing King Hezekiah's life-threatening illness, his miraculous recovery, and his subsequent failure with the Babylonian envoys. Historically, Hezekiah's reign (c. 715–686 BC) was a time of significant religious reform in Judah, characterized by a return to Yahwism after years of syncretism under his father Ahaz. This personal crisis for the king occurs after Judah's deliverance from Sennacherib's Assyrian siege, though some scholars debate the exact chronological placement, with some arguing it precedes the siege. Regardless, the immediate context is Hezekiah's personal piety and a national experience of God's power and mercy. For the original audience, this story would emphasize the personal faith of their king, the power of prayer, and the sovereign will of God even in seemingly final decrees. It implicitly polemicizes against any belief that earthly power or health is stable apart from divine will.

Isaiah 38 1 Word analysis

• In those days: (בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם, bayyamim hahem) A common Hebrew temporal connector, linking the narrative to previous events but without a precise chronological marker. It establishes continuity from the divine deliverance in chapters 36-37 to this personal crisis for the king.
• Hezekiah: (חִזְקִיָּהוּ, Ḥizqiyyahu) Means "Yahweh strengthens" or "Yahweh is my strength." His name stands in ironic contrast to his physical weakness and dependence on God at this moment. He was a reforming king, often held up as one of Judah's most righteous.
• became sick: (חָלָה, ḥalah) To be weak, ill, afflicted, or sorrowful. It denotes a severe, debilitating illness, far beyond a minor ailment. The nature of the illness is not specified but clearly critical.
• and was at the point of death: (לָמוּת, lamut) Literally, "to die" or "for dying." This emphasizes the immediate and grave danger Hezekiah was in, implying a terminal condition from which medical intervention was useless, or simply a divine decree that he would die.
• And Isaiah the prophet: (וַיָּבוֹא יְשַׁעְיָהוּ הַנָּבִיא, vayyavo Yeshayahu haNavi') Isaiah, whose name means "Yahweh is salvation," is identified as the divinely appointed messenger. His title "the prophet" (haNavi') underscores his authority and direct connection to God, legitimizing the message he delivers.
• the son of Amoz: (בֶן־אָמוֹץ, ben-’Amots) Identifies Isaiah by his paternal lineage, further authenticating his identity and prophetic standing within the community.
• came to him and said to him, 'Thus says the Lord: (וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה, vayyomer ’elav Koh-’amar YHWH) The standard prophetic formula, asserting that the message is not Isaiah's own opinion or prognosis, but a direct, authoritative word from God Himself (YHWH). This elevates the pronouncement to a divine decree.
• Set your house in order, (צַו לְבֵיתֶךָ, tsav levêteka) "Give charge concerning your house" or "command your household." This idiomatic expression implies making a will, appointing a successor, settling debts, and preparing one's family and affairs for impending death. It's a call for practical, administrative, and perhaps spiritual readiness. It implicitly suggests that without such preparation, there could be chaos or unfulfilled responsibilities, particularly regarding succession.
• for you shall die; you shall not recover.' (כִּי מֵת אַתָּה וְלֹא תִחְיֶה, ki met ’attah ve-lo tikyeh) An unequivocal and double affirmation of death. ki met ’attah (for you are dead/dying) is an emphatic declaration of certainty. ve-lo tikyeh (and you will not live) reiterates the finality and the impossibility of recovery. This pronouncement leaves no room for human hope or medical solution; only a divine intervention could alter it.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death: This phrase sets the scene with a historical king facing the most fundamental human reality: mortality. It underscores that even righteous kings are not immune to suffering or death, highlighting human vulnerability despite status or divine favor in other aspects of their reign.
• And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, 'Thus says the Lord: This entire segment highlights the divine agency and the role of the prophet. God initiates the communication, and Isaiah is merely the vessel. The phrase "Thus says the Lord" acts as an undeniable imprimatur of divine truth and authority on the ensuing message, removing any doubt that this is God's decree.
• Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover: This is the core command and the devastating pronouncement. "Set your house in order" implies a final opportunity for responsible action before the inevitable. The two emphatic declarations of death "you shall die" and "you shall not recover" underline the certainty and irreversible nature of the divine decree, leaving no earthly hope or medical recourse. It positions this as a direct, non-negotiable end to his earthly life and reign.

Isaiah 38 1 Bonus section

This verse serves as a profound preamble to one of the most remarkable examples of answered prayer in the Bible. The abruptness of the death pronouncement, without any mention of an explicit sin Hezekiah had committed, indicates that divine decrees are not always conditional on sin. It presents death as an aspect of divine sovereignty, highlighting the fact that life's end, even for the righteous, is ultimately in God's hands. The command to "set your house in order" implies that good governance and preparedness for one's passing are important virtues, even in dire circumstances. It also demonstrates the critical role of the prophet not as a sympathetic counselor, but as a direct, unwavering conveyor of God's word, regardless of how painful or absolute it may seem to the recipient. This interaction immediately draws a clear distinction between human limitations and divine prerogative, preparing the reader for the astonishing reversal that follows and emphasizing the ultimate power of heartfelt petition before the Almighty.

Isaiah 38 1 Commentary

Isaiah 38:1 confronts King Hezekiah, and by extension, all humanity, with the inescapable reality of mortality and the authoritative word of God. The divine pronouncement, delivered with startling bluntness by Isaiah, bypasses any human expectation or hope for recovery, reducing a powerful king to the same vulnerable state as any other person facing death. The command to "set your house in order" is a stark call to stewardship and readiness, emphasizing the responsibility to manage one's affairs before one's end, implying an immediate spiritual and practical reckoning. This verse is not just a historical report but a theological declaration: God is sovereign over life and death, and His word, though seemingly final, initiates a dramatic test of faith and the revelation of His mercy that will unfold in the subsequent verses. It reminds us that even when God declares an absolute outcome, human interaction through prayer can powerfully move the heart of God, altering the trajectory of events within His sovereign plan.