Isaiah 38:19 kjv
The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.
Isaiah 38:19 nkjv
The living, the living man, he shall praise You, As I do this day; The father shall make known Your truth to the children.
Isaiah 38:19 niv
The living, the living?they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness.
Isaiah 38:19 esv
The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.
Isaiah 38:19 nlt
Only the living can praise you as I do today.
Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.
Isaiah 38 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 38:19 | The living, the living, he alone gives thanks to you, | Isa 38:19 |
| Psa 115:17 | The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence. | Psa 115:17 |
| Psa 6:5 | for in death there is no remembrance of you; in the grave who will give you thanks? | Psa 6:5 |
| Psa 30:9 | What profit is there in my ruin, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust give you thanks? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? | Psa 30:9 |
| Psa 88:10-12 | You work wonders for the dead; the shades rise up to praise you. Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in destruction? Are your wonders made known in the darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of forgetfulness? | Psa 88:10-12 |
| Jer 32:39 | I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for ever for the good of them and their children after them. | Jer 32:39 |
| Deut 6:7 | you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. | Deut 6:7 |
| Psa 78:3-7 | what we have heard and learned, that our fathers told us; we will not hide it from their children, but tell to the coming generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. ... so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments... | Psa 78:3-7 |
| Psa 71:18 | So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, till I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those who are to come! | Psa 71:18 |
| Acts 2:42 | And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. | Acts 2:42 |
| 1 Cor 1:9 | God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. | 1 Cor 1:9 |
| 1 Cor 10:13 | No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. | 1 Cor 10:13 |
| Heb 10:23 | Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. | Heb 10:23 |
| Rom 1:20 | For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. | Rom 1:20 |
| Isa 40:31 | but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. | Isa 40:31 |
| Psa 133:1 | Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! | Psa 133:1 |
| John 5:24 | Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. | John 5:24 |
| John 11:25 | Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live | John 11:25 |
| 1 Thes 4:14 | For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. | 1 Thes 4:14 |
Isaiah 38 verses
Isaiah 38 19 Meaning
The living, the living, he alone gives thanks to you, as I am doing today; fathers shall tell their children about your faithfulness.
Isaiah 38 19 Context
Isaiah 38 recounts King Hezekiah's serious illness and miraculous recovery. Hezekiah, facing imminent death, prayed fervently, and God granted him fifteen additional years of life. Following this divine intervention, Hezekiah composed a psalm of thanksgiving, expressing his joy in being spared and his desire to testify to God's faithfulness. Verse 19 is the concluding thought of this psalm, highlighting the importance of living to praise God and passing that testimony to future generations. The broader context of Isaiah's prophecy includes God's judgment on Judah and the nations, but also the promise of future restoration and salvation through the Messiah. This verse, in the immediate context of Hezekiah's deliverance, anticipates the ongoing redemptive work of God.
Isaiah 38 19 Word analysis
- The living (הַחַי, hachaŷ): Refers to those who are alive, in contrast to the dead. Emphasizes the state of being and the capacity for experience and relationship.
- the living (הַחַי, hachaŷ): Repetition reinforces the subject, focusing on those who have breath and can interact with God and the world.
- he (הוּא, hū'): Pronoun referring to God.
- alone (לְבַדּוֹ, ləḇaddōw): Highlights that God uniquely possesses the power and right to sustain life and receive praise. No other entity can do what God does for the living.
- gives thanks (יוֹדֶה, yōḏeh): Means to confess, to acknowledge, to be thankful. The core action of praise and gratitude directed towards God.
- to you (לָךְ, lāḵ): Direct object of the thanksgiving, indicating that all praise and gratitude are directed to God.
- as I (אָנֹכִי, ’ānōḵī): "I," a personal declaration from Hezekiah.
- am doing (עֹשֶׂה, ‘ōśēh): Present participle, indicating an ongoing action or a state of performing this action currently.
- today (הַיּוֹם, hayyōm): Specifies the present moment, the time of renewed life and immediate praise.
- fathers (אָבוֹת, ’āḇōṯ): Refers to parents, specifically fathers in the lineage.
- shall tell (יַגִּידוּ, yaggīḏū): Future tense, indicating a certainty and a responsibility.
- their children (לִבְנֵיכֶם, liḇnêḵem): To the sons, generally meaning descendants. The continuation of the testimony through family lines.
- about (אֶת־, ’eṯ-): Preposition indicating the subject matter.
- your faithfulness (־אֲמִתֶּךָ, ‘ămiṯṯəḵā): The reliability, truthfulness, and constancy of God. A core attribute of God that Hezekiah testifies to.
Word Group Analysis:
- "The living, the living, he alone gives thanks to you": This phrase contrasts the living with the dead who cannot praise God. It emphasizes that life itself is a gift that enables the ultimate purpose of praising God. God is the source and recipient of this praise.
- "fathers shall tell their children about your faithfulness": This clause underscores the intergenerational transmission of faith and God's attributes. The covenantal responsibility to share God's acts and character within the family unit. It signifies the continuity of God's people and their worship.
Isaiah 38 19 Bonus Section
This verse encapsulates the principle found throughout Scripture: life is for God's glory and is best lived in dependence on His faithfulness, with the aim of perpetuating that testimony. The "fathers tell their children" theme echoes the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:7), emphasizing the crucial role of families in discipleship and passing on an inheritance of faith. Hezekiah's personal experience directly informs this broader theological insight, making it a powerful personal and corporate statement. The concept of "the living" being the ones to praise God anticipates the New Testament understanding of spiritual life in Christ, where believers, though alive in spirit, testify to God's salvific acts through His Son, Jesus.
Isaiah 38 19 Commentary
Hezekiah’s declaration here is profoundly theological. Life is not merely a biological state but a privileged opportunity for covenantal engagement with God, which centers on thanksgiving. He understands that the ultimate purpose of his extended life is to bear witness to God’s covenant faithfulness. This testimony is not a private matter but a sacred duty passed down through generations. It signifies that God's enduring mercy requires a response of continuous praise and teaching within the community of faith. The praise offered by the living is thus a response to God's faithful covenant promises and actions. It calls us to recognize that our present existence is a gift intended for God’s glory, and that a vital part of this is ensuring that our children understand and participate in this ongoing relationship with God.