Isaiah 38 3

Isaiah 38:3 kjv

And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

Isaiah 38:3 nkjv

and said, "Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Isaiah 38:3 niv

"Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Isaiah 38:3 esv

and said, "Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Isaiah 38:3 nlt

"Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you." Then he broke down and wept bitterly.

Isaiah 38 verses

Isaiah 38 3 Meaning

King Hezekiah, facing imminent death, pleads fervently with God, appealing to his past conduct and the integrity of his devotion. He grounds his prayer in his consistently faithful walk before God, characterized by sincerity, an undivided heart, and actions that aligned with God's will. His earnest expression of profound grief, through weeping, underscores the raw human desperation and trust placed in God for divine mercy and intervention.

Isaiah 38 3 Context

Isaiah 38 details King Hezekiah's personal crisis following God's pronouncement through the prophet Isaiah that Hezekiah would die from a severe illness (Isa 38:1). This event occurs at a significant time, likely soon after Jerusalem's miraculous deliverance from the Assyrian army under Sennacherib, which was also largely due to Hezekiah's prayer and trust in God (Isa 36-37). Hezekiah's response to the death sentence in verse 3 is not passive acceptance, but a fervent appeal to God. His prayer is immediately answered, with God granting him 15 additional years of life and a miraculous sign to confirm it (Isa 38:4-8).

Historically, Hezekiah reigned over Judah during the late 8th century BC, a period marked by significant political turmoil and the rising threat of Assyrian dominance. He was renowned for his religious reforms, which involved removing pagan idols, cleansing the temple, and reinstituting the proper worship of Yahweh, as documented in 2 Kings 18-20 and 2 Chronicles 29-32. These reforms stood in stark contrast to the idolatrous practices common in the surrounding nations and often tolerated by previous Israelite and Judean kings. His plea in Isaiah 38:3 directly references these righteous actions, appealing to a God who notices and remembers the faithfulness of His servants.

Isaiah 38 3 Word analysis

• And said: The immediate response of Hezekiah upon hearing the prophecy of his impending death, emphasizing the urgency and directness of his prayer.

• Remember now, O LORD,:

  • "Remember" (זָכַר - zāḵar): In biblical context, God's remembrance is not mere recollection but active engagement and intervention based on His covenant or prior actions. Hezekiah is appealing for God to act on the basis of His character and promises to His faithful servants.
  • "now" (nāʾ - נָא): An emphatic particle denoting earnest request or urgency, translating to "please" or "I beseech thee," highlighting the immediate and fervent nature of the prayer.
  • "O LORD" (יְהוָה - YHWH, Yahweh): The personal, covenantal name of God, indicating that Hezekiah appeals to God based on their established, relational covenant, not a distant or generic deity.

• how I have walked before thee:

  • "walked before thee" (hālak̄ ləpānêḵā - הָלַכְתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ): A common biblical idiom signifying one's manner of life, conduct, or behavior lived consistently under God's watchful eye and in His presence. It denotes a life of active obedience and accountability, striving for God's approval.

• in truth and with a perfect heart,:

  • "in truth" (בֶּאֱמֶת - beʾĕmet): Denotes sincerity, faithfulness, loyalty, integrity, and reliability. It signifies an authentic and consistent life of devotion to God, marked by a commitment to His standards.
  • "perfect heart" (בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם - bəleḇ šālēm): A heart that is complete, whole, sincere, and undivided in its devotion to God. This does not imply sinless perfection, but rather singleness of purpose and unadulterated commitment, without hypocrisy or competing loyalties.

• and have done that which is good in thy sight.:

  • "done that which is good" (ʿaśîtî hattôḇ - עָשִׂיתִי הַטּוֹב): Refers to concrete actions and deeds that conform to God's moral and righteous standards, reflecting his reign-long reforms against idolatry and reestablishment of proper Temple worship.
  • "in thy sight" (בְּעֵינֶיךָ - beʿênêḵā): Emphasizes that God Himself is the ultimate judge and observer of human actions, affirming that Hezekiah's righteousness was genuine and divinely recognized.

• And Hezekiah wept sore.:

  • "wept sore" (bəkî gādôl - בְּכִי גָדוֹל, literally "wept a great weeping"): Describes intense, profound, and emotional distress. It conveys the depth of Hezekiah's despair, the sincerity of his prayer, and his utter human vulnerability in the face of death. This intense weeping is a deeply earnest and raw plea.

• "Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee": This urgent appeal underscores Hezekiah's immediate turn to God, not to an idol or human remedy, reflecting a deep trust in God's power and character, despite the seemingly final prophecy.

• "how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart": This phrase merges outward conduct with inner disposition. It highlights a life characterized by consistent behavior and an inner commitment to God that is both sincere and undivided. It establishes the moral ground for his plea.

• "and have done that which is good in thy sight": This expands on the previous point, offering tangible evidence of his faithfulness. It's a statement of practical obedience to divine commands, validating his claim of a true and perfect heart.

• "And Hezekiah wept sore": This powerful concluding clause reveals the emotional intensity and sincerity of Hezekiah's prayer. It’s not a mere theological argument but a visceral outpouring of human distress, indicating the profundity of his hope even in despair.

Isaiah 38 3 Bonus section

• Hezekiah's prayer exemplifies a form of "covenant litigation," where a believer appeals to God's covenant promises and character based on their righteous conduct within that covenant. This was not viewed as self-righteous boasting, but as presenting a case to the righteous Judge according to the established terms of their relationship.
• The placement of Hezekiah's illness and recovery narrative (Isaiah 38) after the account of Jerusalem's deliverance from Sennacherib (Isaiah 36-37) and before the prophecy of Babylonian exile (Isaiah 39) within the book of Isaiah highlights God's sovereignty over both national destiny and individual life, reinforcing the idea that divine intervention is prompted by sincere prayer.
• Hezekiah's appeal to his "perfect heart" foreshadows the New Covenant promise of God putting His law on people's hearts and giving them a new heart (Jer 31:33, Ezek 36:26), demonstrating God's ultimate desire for internal and genuine devotion.

Isaiah 38 3 Commentary

Isaiah 38:3 encapsulates King Hezekiah's fervent appeal to God when faced with an irreversible death sentence. His prayer is rooted in a deeply personal and covenantal relationship with Yahweh. He doesn't question God's authority or judgment but humbly appeals to God's attribute of "remembering" His faithful servants—a dynamic remembering that leads to active intervention. Hezekiah recounts his consistent "walk before God" and the "perfect heart" with which he served Him. This signifies a life lived with integrity, sincerity, and undivided devotion, contrasting with the often idolatrous and insincere practices of many rulers of his time. His appeal to having "done that which is good in thy sight" points to his zealous religious reforms and obedience to divine law, which set him apart. The climactic "wept sore" underscores the genuine and profound anguish of a man desperately seeking an extension of life from the Giver of life, revealing that even righteous leaders wrestle deeply with their mortality and boldly plead with their sovereign God. This verse showcases faith not as a passive acceptance of fate, but as an active, tearful, and reasoned appeal to God's covenant promises.