Isaiah 38 18

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 verses

Isaiah 38 18 Meaning

Isaiah 38:18 encapsulates King Hezekiah's deep lament during his terminal illness, reflecting a common Old Testament perspective on the realm of the dead (Sheol). It conveys his distress that death signifies the cessation of active praise, joyful celebration, and the tangible experience of God's covenant faithfulness (truth) for those who enter the grave. Hezekiah emphasizes that only the living can genuinely worship God and benefit from His redemptive interaction, highlighting the profound value of life for cultivating this relationship.

Isaiah 38 18 Context

Isaiah 38:18 is part of King Hezekiah's personal lament and song of thanksgiving (Isa 38:9-20) following his miraculous recovery from a terminal illness. In the preceding verses (Isa 38:1-8), Hezekiah had received a prophetic message from Isaiah that he would die. He responded with fervent prayer and weeping, and God, through Isaiah, reversed the decree, granting him fifteen more years of life and a sign of the sun's shadow moving backward. This specific verse expresses the depths of Hezekiah's despair during his near-death experience, fearing death as the absolute cessation of his ability to worship God actively and participate in His divine work on earth. Historically, the understanding of the afterlife (Sheol) in ancient Israel, especially during Hezekiah's time, often depicted it as a shadowy, silent realm where direct communion, praise, and active service to God were not possible in the same vibrant way as among the living. This understanding contrasted sharply with some contemporary pagan beliefs that either venerated the dead through cultic practices or imagined active deities and heroes within their underworlds; the Israelite concept denied ongoing relationship and intervention from the dead with the living, nor did it attribute praise or direct interaction with Yahweh in Sheol.

Isaiah 38 18 Word analysis

• For the grave

  • For (כִּ֥י, kî): A strong causal conjunction, "because" or "for this reason," introducing the rationale for his despair.
  • grave (שְׁאוֹל, Sheol): The common Hebrew term for the underworld, the realm of the dead. It is often depicted as a dark, dusty, and silent place, the ultimate destination of all humanity. It does not primarily denote eternal punishment (Gehenna) in the Old Testament but a general gathering place.

• cannot praise thee

  • cannot (לֹא־תֹדֶךָּ, lo'-todekka): Denotes a firm impossibility or inability. The verb comes from yada, meaning to "know, acknowledge, give thanks, praise." The negative particle emphasizes the complete cessation of such activity.
  • praise (תֹדֶךָּ, todekka): Specifically means "to give thanks" or "to confess, acknowledge" God's goodness and deeds. It implies an active, volitional act of worship and adoration.

• death cannot celebrate thee:

  • death (מָוֶת, mavet): Personified here as an entity. The state of being dead, the ultimate consequence of the fall.
  • cannot (לֹא־תְהַלְלֶךָּ, lo'-tehallekkā): Similar to the previous "cannot," stressing absolute inability.
  • celebrate (תְהַלְלֶךָּ, tehallekkā): From hallel, meaning "to praise, boast, celebrate loudly or enthusiastically." This term suggests more public and effusive praise than yada. The repetition with a different verb emphasizes the profound silence of death concerning divine worship.

• they that go down into the pit

  • they that go down (יוֹרְדֵי, yoredey): A participle meaning "those who are going down" or "those descending." It is a common euphemism for the dying or the dead.
  • into the pit (בּוֹר, bor): Refers to a cistern, dungeon, or pit, often used synonymously with Sheol or the grave itself. It underscores the physical descent into a dark, confined space, separate from the land of the living.

• cannot hope for thy truth.

  • cannot hope for (לֹא יְיַחֲלוּ, lo ye-yaḥalu): Again, absolute impossibility. From yaḥal, meaning "to wait, hope, expect."
  • thy truth (לַאֲמִתֶּךָ, la'amitteka): Refers to God's faithfulness, reliability, covenant loyalty, and unchanging character. It implies not just mental assent to truth, but the active experience of God's steadfastness in daily life, through His promises and saving acts. Hezekiah fears losing this interactive experience with God's reliable nature.

• Words-Group Analysis

  • "the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee": This parallelism reinforces the idea of death as a realm devoid of active, worshipful engagement with God. Both "grave" (Sheol) and "death" signify the ultimate end of an earthly relationship marked by adoration. The distinction between "praise" (acknowledgment, thanksgiving) and "celebrate" (joyful, public praise) highlights the comprehensive nature of worship lost in death.
  • "they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth": This phrase further elaborates on the limitation of the dead. "Those who go down into the pit" clearly identifies the deceased. Their inability to "hope for" God's truth implies a cessation of future expectation, a daily walking in the confidence of God's covenant loyalty, or an experience of His deliverance. While God's truth remains true, the deceased cannot actively interact with it or receive its benefits in the way the living do. This refers to the active, personal relationship with God experienced in the realm of the living.

Isaiah 38 18 Bonus section

• Evolving Afterlife Understanding: Hezekiah's words reflect a common, but not the final, Old Testament view of the afterlife. Later revelations, particularly in passages like Job 19:25-27, Psalm 16:10-11, and Daniel 12:2, began to articulate a hope for resurrection and a future conscious existence with God. This progression in understanding culminates in the New Testament with clearer doctrines of the resurrection of believers, immediate presence with Christ (e.g., Phil 1:21-23; 2 Cor 5:8), and the continuation of worship in heaven (e.g., Rev 7:15).
• Significance of "Truth" (אֱמֶת, emet): Hezekiah's desire to hope for God's "truth" goes beyond mere theological facts. It signifies his yearning to continue experiencing God's reliable character, His covenant promises, and His redemptive interventions in a tangible, personal way—interactions which, from his perspective, ceased upon entering Sheol. It highlights that worship isn't just speaking, but also actively receiving and trusting in God's faithfulness.
• Contrast with Isa 38:19: This verse sets up the stark contrast found in the very next verse (Isa 38:19), where Hezekiah explicitly states: "The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day..." reinforcing that life is the designated time for worship and witnessing God's faithfulness to future generations.

Isaiah 38 18 Commentary

Isaiah 38:18 is a poignant cry from Hezekiah, born from an Old Testament worldview where death generally meant severing an active, worshipful relationship with God. Hezekiah fears that in Sheol, he would be unable to engage in praise and experience God's active, faithful presence—the very essence of his living relationship with Yahweh. This lament highlights the ancient Israelite understanding of life as the preeminent arena for worship and communion with the living God. His concern is not judgment, but the loss of his ability to testify, give thanks, and bask in God's manifest faithfulness. It underscores the preciousness of every moment of life where one can truly live for, acknowledge, and worship the Lord.

• Example: A modern equivalent might be someone diagnosed with a terminal illness fearing they can no longer actively serve their family or community, finding meaning in their active participation now rather than in a passive afterlife.