Isaiah 38:2 kjv
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,
Isaiah 38:2 nkjv
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD,
Isaiah 38:2 niv
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
Isaiah 38:2 esv
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
Isaiah 38:2 nlt
When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
Isaiah 38 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 38:2 | Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. | Isaiah 38:2 (Context: Personal appeal) |
| 2 Kgs 20:2 | Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and wept before the Lord. | 2 Kings 20:2 (Parallel account) |
| 2 Chr 32:20 | Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, "O Lord, heal me!" | 2 Chronicles 32:20 (Parallel account) |
| Ps 39:9 | I was utterly speechless; I would not open my mouth, for it was you who did it. | Psalm 39:9 (Submission in suffering) |
| Ps 51:17 | The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. | Psalm 51:17 (Brokenness acceptable to God) |
| Ps 119:67 | Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. | Psalm 119:67 (Affliction leading to obedience) |
| Ps 119:71 | It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. | Psalm 119:71 (Purpose of affliction) |
| Jer 31:18 | "I have surely heard Ephraim’s lament: ‘You disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf... | Jeremiah 31:18 (Divine discipline) |
| Luke 18:13 | But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying... | Luke 18:13 (Humility in prayer) |
| James 5:16 | ...pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. | James 5:16 (Effectiveness of prayer) |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding... | Proverbs 3:5-6 (Trusting God) |
| Phil 4:6 | do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. | Philippians 4:6 (Prayer without anxiety) |
| Heb 12:5-11 | And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord... | Hebrews 12:5-11 (Purpose of discipline) |
| Ezek 14:3 | "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have taken the stumbling block of their iniquity to their hearts... | Ezekiel 14:3 (Idols of the heart) |
| Lam 3:28-29 | Let him sit alone in silence when the yoke has been put upon him; let him put his mouth in the dust—there may yet be hope. | Lamentations 3:28-29 (Hope in affliction) |
| Matt 6:6 | But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret... | Matthew 6:6 (Private prayer) |
| John 11:35 | Jesus wept. | John 11:35 (Jesus' compassion) |
| Acts 20:19 | serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with persecution that happened to me. | Acts 20:19 (Serving with tears) |
| Romans 8:26 | Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. | Romans 8:26 (The Spirit interceding) |
| 1 Peter 5:6 | Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the opportune time he may exalt you. | 1 Peter 5:6 (Humility before God) |
Isaiah 38 verses
Isaiah 38 2 Meaning
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, weeping as he prayed to the Lord, showing a posture of deep humility and sorrow before God during his illness.
Isaiah 38 2 Context
This verse occurs in Isaiah chapter 38, which records a pivotal moment in King Hezekiah's life and reign. Isaiah had delivered a message from the Lord to Hezekiah: "Set your house in order, for you shall die and not recover." Hezekiah was facing a terminal illness, an imminent death. The chapter details his fervent prayer, the Lord's compassionate response through Isaiah, and God's extension of Hezekiah's life by fifteen years. This specific verse, Isaiah 38:2, describes Hezekiah's immediate reaction to the grim prognosis. Historically, this event took place during a period of Assyrian threat, making the king's life crucial for Judah's stability.
Isaiah 38 2 Word Analysis
- Hezekiah (חִזְקִיָּהוּ - Chizkiyahu): This Hebrew name means "Yahweh has strengthened." It reflects a strong dependence on God, a characteristic of Hezekiah as a godly king in contrast to many of his predecessors.
- turned (פָּנָה - panah): Implies a deliberate change of direction or focus. It signifies Hezekiah shifting his attention from the pronouncement of death to God.
- his face (פָּנָיו - panav): The plural form of "face" in Hebrew often refers to the entirety of a person's countenance and outward appearance, signifying his full attention and presentation.
- to the wall (אֶל־הַקִּיר - el haqqir): This phrase suggests a desire for privacy and perhaps a posture of not wanting to be seen, either in his physical weakness or his emotional distress. It sets a scene for a personal, intimate prayer. The "wall" acts as a visual barrier for seeking personal communion with God, avoiding external distractions or the gaze of others.
- and prayed (וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל - vattiphalel): A standard Hebrew conjugation (Waw consecutive with the Qal imperfect of פלל - palal) indicating a continuous action or a subsequent event. It is the core of his action, turning to direct communication with the Almighty.
- unto the Lord (אֶל־יְהוָה - el YHWH): The personal covenantal name of God, YHWH (Yahweh), used here signifies a direct appeal to the Lord, with whom Israel had a unique relationship. This highlights that his prayer was directed specifically to the God of Israel.
- wept (בָּכָה - bakah): An intensive verb indicating crying aloud or sobbing. This emphasizes the depth of Hezekiah's grief, fear, and perhaps even remorse or overwhelming realization of his mortality. It's not just sadness, but deep emotional outpouring.
Isaiah 38 2 Bonus Section
Hezekiah’s private prayer, turning his face to the wall, aligns with Jesus' teaching on prayer in Matthew 6:6, where He instructs His disciples to enter their inner rooms to pray to their Father in secret. This emphasizes the personal and intimate nature of prayer. Furthermore, his emotional response, marked by weeping, mirrors the example of Jesus in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38-39) and His sorrow over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), showcasing that even faith-filled leaders experience deep emotional responses to suffering and the consequences of sin, which God acknowledges and uses. His earnest plea for more time, despite being commanded to "set his house in order," reveals a deep love for life and a desire to continue serving God and His people. The Lord's response signifies God's responsiveness to genuine sorrow and humble prayer, demonstrating His mercy and power over life and death.
Isaiah 38 2 Commentary
Hezekiah’s response in this moment demonstrates a profound turning towards God in the face of overwhelming adversity. His prayer, characterized by weeping and a turning away from his surroundings, is a testament to his deep reliance on the Lord. It signifies a recognition that true strength and hope come not from human efforts or circumstances, but from God. This act of desperate prayer highlights the efficacy of sincere petition when faced with insurmountable odds, showing that God hears and responds to the heartfelt cries of His people. His turning "to the wall" symbolizes setting aside worldly concerns and focusing entirely on his relationship with the divine, seeking solace and intervention from the one true source of life and comfort.