Isaiah 38 19

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 verses

Isaiah 38 19 Meaning

King Hezekiah, having just experienced miraculous healing and deliverance from certain death, declares a profound truth: it is exclusively the living who can offer vibrant praise and thanksgiving to God. He pledges to join this active worship, making "this day" a personal testament to this principle. Furthermore, he underscores the crucial role of a father in educating future generations about God's unwavering and steadfast faithfulness, ensuring that divine truth continues across time.

Isaiah 38 19 Context

This verse is situated within King Hezekiah's song of thanksgiving (Isa 38:9-20), a deeply personal and emotional reflection penned after his miraculous recovery from a terminal illness. The chapter begins with the prophet Isaiah delivering a message of death to the king, followed by Hezekiah's fervent prayer and God's merciful response, granting him fifteen additional years of life and a sign of healing.

Historically, Hezekiah's reign in Judah (c. 715–686 BC) was a period of political turmoil and spiritual revival. This episode of his illness likely occurred during the middle part of his reign, preceding or closely linked with the Assyrian siege. The miraculous healing demonstrated God's direct intervention in human affairs and His covenant loyalty, not only to Hezekiah personally but to the Davidic line and the nation of Judah.

Culturally, the ancient Israelite understanding of the afterlife, particularly in the Old Testament period, viewed Sheol (the grave) as a place of shadows and silence, where conscious praise and active engagement with God were not possible in the same vibrant way as in life. Thus, to be delivered from the brink of Sheol was not merely an extension of existence but a renewed opportunity to glorify God and participate in the community of worship, reinforcing the value of life as the primary arena for active piety and the transmission of faith. Hezekiah's words powerfully articulate this perspective, grounding his gratitude in the renewed ability to worship and educate.

Isaiah 38 19 Word analysis

• "The living, the living," (הַחַי הַחַי – ha-chai khai): This intense, almost exclamatory repetition profoundly emphasizes the state of being alive. It stands in stark contrast to the realm of death (Sheol), which Hezekiah believed he was about to enter, where vibrant praise ceases. It underscores a profound appreciation for restored vitality, understanding life as the prerequisite for active engagement with God.
• "he thanks you," (יוֹדֶךָ – yo'de'kā): Derived from the Hebrew root yadah, this Hiphil imperfect verb means "to praise," "give thanks," "confess," or "acknowledge." It implies an outward, active, and public declaration of gratitude and recognition for God's works and character. It moves beyond internal feeling to expressive worship.
• "as I do this day;" (כַּאֲנִי הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה – ka'ani ha'yom ha'zeh): Hezekiah makes his declaration deeply personal, aligning himself with the principle that the living praise God. "This day" signifies the immediacy and freshness of his personal experience of divine deliverance, linking the universal truth to his unique and miraculous recovery.
• "the father makes known" (אָב יוֹדִיעַ – av yo'di'a'): "Father" (אָב) here represents the head of the household, including Hezekiah himself as the king and spiritual leader, but also broadly any parent or elder responsible for spiritual education. "Makes known" (יוֹדִיעַ), a Hiphil imperfect of yada', means "to teach," "cause to know," "proclaim," or "declare." It highlights a deliberate and active transmission of vital spiritual knowledge.
• "to the children" (לְבָנִים – lə'vanim): This refers to one's offspring and future generations. This phrase highlights the crucial generational continuity of faith and the preservation of divine truth. It implies a sacred duty to nurture spiritual understanding within the family unit and beyond.
• "your faithfulness." (אֱמֻנָּתֶךָ – emūnāteka): This profound term, derived from aman (meaning firm, trustworthy), signifies God's unwavering reliability, steadfastness, truthfulness, and consistent loyalty. It is the central attribute that Hezekiah desires to be taught and remembered – the assurance that God can always be trusted to keep His promises and uphold His covenant.
• "The living, the living, he thanks you,": This group of words emphasizes a core theological perspective that the very purpose of extended life, particularly after a near-death experience, is to glorify God through active worship. It contrasts the potential silence of the grave with the vibrant sound of thanksgiving possible in life.
• "the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.": This phrase highlights the essential mandate for intergenerational spiritual education. It portrays divine intervention and faithfulness not just as an individual experience, but as a foundational truth to be preserved and actively taught, forming the spiritual legacy passed from one generation to the next within God's people.

Isaiah 38 19 Bonus section

• Hezekiah's emphasis on "faithfulness" in this context points to God's covenant fidelity. His healing was not just a medical miracle but an affirmation of God's commitment to His promises, specifically concerning the Davidic dynasty and the security of Jerusalem.
• While the Old Testament portrayal of Sheol generally describes it as a silent place, it doesn't preclude God's ultimate sovereignty over it (Ps 139:8) or the possibility of a future resurrection, themes more fully developed in later biblical texts and the New Testament. Hezekiah's words reflect the common understanding of his time.
• This verse provides a clear biblical precedent for parental responsibility in the spiritual upbringing of children. It suggests that teaching about God's character, particularly His trustworthiness, is a foundational task for those entrusted with family and community leadership.

Isaiah 38 19 Commentary

Isaiah 38:19 powerfully encapsulates Hezekiah's renewed purpose in life following his miraculous recovery. He profoundly understood that his extension of life was not merely for personal gain but primarily to continue praising God, a privilege denied in the perceived inactivity of Sheol. His focus shifts from self to future generations, asserting that it is the responsibility of those who have witnessed God's interventions to ensure that the core truth of His unwavering faithfulness (emūnāh) is deeply ingrained in their children. This verse elevates the value of life as an arena for active worship and the perpetuation of divine knowledge, illustrating the integral role of intergenerational teaching in sustaining a living faith in God's steadfast character. It's a testament to the idea that personal experiences of God's power must lead to corporate, enduring witness.