Isaiah 38:18 kjv
For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
Isaiah 38:18 nkjv
For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth.
Isaiah 38:18 niv
For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.
Isaiah 38:18 esv
For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness.
Isaiah 38:18 nlt
For the dead cannot praise you;
they cannot raise their voices in praise.
Those who go down to the grave
can no longer hope in your faithfulness.
Isaiah 38 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 6:5 | No one in death remembers you. | Sheol/Grave's silence |
| Psa 30:9 | What profit is there in my silence? | Dead can't praise |
| Psa 88:10-12 | Will you do wonders for the dead? or will the departed rise up to praise you? | Dead can't praise God |
| Psa 115:17 | The dead do not praise the Lord. | Silence of the grave |
| Eccl 9:5,10 | the dead know nothing at all... there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom in the grave... | Limited understanding in death |
| Isa 14:9 | Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you. | Spiritual realm beyond life |
| Jer 20:14 | Cursed be the day I was born. | Sorrow in life |
| John 9:4 | We must do the works of him who sent me. | Opportunity in life to serve |
| John 11:25-26 | I am the resurrection and the life. | Life and resurrection connection |
| Rom 1:21 | though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks. | Consequences of unthankfulness |
| Rom 12:1 | Present your bodies as a living sacrifice. | Living sacrifice and worship |
| 1 Cor 15:20 | Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. | Resurrection as hope |
| 1 Cor 15:54-55 | Death is swallowed up in victory. What is the sting of death? | Victory over death through Christ |
| 2 Cor 5:15 | died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him. | Living for Christ after redemption |
| Phil 1:20 | Christ will be honored in my body. | Honor Christ in earthly life |
| Phil 2:10-11 | every knee should bow... and every tongue confess. | Universal confession |
| Col 1:13-14 | brought us out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption. | Deliverance and new life |
| Heb 13:15 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise. | Continual praise from the living |
| Rev 1:18 | I am the living one. | Christ's living power |
| Rev 4:11 | You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power. | Worthiness of God; praises |
| Rev 5:9-10 | You redeemed us for God by your blood. | Redeemed for praise |
| Rev 19:5-6 | Praise our God, all you his servants. | Praising God in new life |
Isaiah 38 verses
Isaiah 38 18 Meaning
Hezekiah declares that the realm of death cannot praise God, signifying that living beings are the ones who can offer true worship and thanksgiving. Those who are alive have the opportunity to acknowledge God's goodness and mercy.
Isaiah 38 18 Context
This verse occurs within the narrative of King Hezekiah's recovery from a mortal illness, for which Isaiah the prophet had brought a message of impending death. Hezekiah prayed earnestly, and God granted him fifteen additional years of life, along with a sign (the shadow moving backward on the sundial). This chapter recounts his prayer of thanksgiving and faith upon this deliverance. Hezekiah's profound realization is that life itself is a gift from God, and this earthly existence is the arena for experiencing and expressing gratitude to the Creator. The extended life signifies a second chance to live for God, contrasting with the finality and inability of the dead to engage with the divine in the same way.
Isaiah 38 18 Word analysis
For (ki): Introduces a reason or explanation.
Sheol (She’ol): The grave, the realm of the dead. A place of silence and no praise. It represents the state of death, separation from God's immediate presence in a physical sense. It's not necessarily hell, but the common underworld of deceased humans.
cannot (lo’ yukhal): Indicates inability, not capable of performing.
praise (yodah): To thank, give thanks, confess, praise. Implies an active expression of gratitude and acknowledgment.
you: Refers to God.
Death (mut): The state of being dead.
cannot (lo’ yekhel): Again signifies inability.
celebrate (hillel): To praise, boast, glorify, make a show of. Suggests active, joyful praise and proclamation.
you (aththa’): Refers to God.
Words Group Analysis: "Sheol cannot praise you, death cannot celebrate you." This phrase encapsulates the understanding of the Hebrew worldview concerning the afterlife. The deceased are removed from the sphere of active interaction with God in a way that living praise is possible. It's a profound contrast between the vitality of life offered to God and the silence of death.
Isaiah 38 18 Bonus Section
This verse highlights a fundamental theological concept concerning the purpose of human existence as understood in the Old Testament: to glorify God. Life is not merely for personal gain but for the purpose of responsive relationship with the Creator, which includes praise. The New Testament echoes this, particularly in the emphasis on presenting ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) and continually offering sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13:15). The extended life for Hezekiah was not just a reprieve from dying but a renewed call to active participation in God's kingdom through praise and obedience. It’s also significant that this is an utterance from a king, showing the spiritual duty expected of leadership as well as every believer.
Isaiah 38 18 Commentary
Hezekiah, having been miraculously granted extra years of life, reflects on the profound difference between his former state and his present one. He recognizes that while he was on the brink of death, his ability to praise and thank God was effectively lost. The silence of the grave, or Sheol, is incapable of expressing the worship that a living, breathing person can offer. Life is the paramount opportunity to acknowledge God’s mercy, His power, and His goodness. This is not a denial of a post-mortem existence or future resurrection, but a focus on the immediate and tangible experience of God’s salvific grace in the present life. His gratitude is thus intensified because he knows this is a unique and precious window for worship. This underscores the value God places on human life and testimony within His created order.