Isaiah 38 4

Isaiah 38:4 kjv

Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,

Isaiah 38:4 nkjv

And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying,

Isaiah 38:4 niv

Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:

Isaiah 38:4 esv

Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:

Isaiah 38:4 nlt

Then this message came to Isaiah from the LORD:

Isaiah 38 verses

Isaiah 38 4 Meaning

This verse marks a direct and immediate divine communication from Yahweh to the prophet Isaiah. It signifies the commencement of a prophetic message that directly responds to King Hezekiah's fervent prayer for an extension of life, illustrating God's active responsiveness to human supplication and His direct involvement in human affairs, specifically through His chosen messenger. It sets the stage for a dramatic reversal of the previously declared sentence of death upon the king.

Isaiah 38 4 Context

Isaiah 38:4 directly follows Hezekiah's desperate and tearful prayer (Isa 38:1-3). Prior to this, Isaiah had delivered a message to Hezekiah that his illness was terminal and he should set his house in order, as he would die and not recover (Isa 38:1). This bleak prophecy spurred Hezekiah into intense prayer, invoking his past faithfulness and appealing to God's mercy. Therefore, verse 4 introduces God's immediate and gracious response, marking a dramatic reversal of the earlier divine decree. This personal narrative is set within the broader historical context of Hezekiah's reign (c. 715–686 BC), a period marked by religious reforms and significant political challenges, including the looming threat of the Assyrian Empire, as seen in the preceding chapters (Isa 36-37). The divine intervention in Hezekiah's life underscores God's sovereignty over life and death and His attentiveness to the pleas of His covenant people.

Isaiah 38 4 Word analysis

• Then (וַיְהִי, vay'hī): This Hebrew particle serves as a consecutive conjunction. It signals a sequential event, connecting this divine communication directly and immediately to Hezekiah's preceding prayer. It emphasizes a swift, responsive action by God.
• the word (דְּבַר, d'var): A construct form of דָּבָר (dabar). Dabar is a rich term in Hebrew, meaning not just a spoken word, but also an event, a matter, a thing, a command, or a decree. It conveys active power, authority, and efficacy. It's a living and effective pronouncement, not mere speech.
• of the LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is God's unique covenant name, representing His personal, self-existent, and faithful character, particularly in His relationship with Israel. The use of Yahweh here stresses that this message originates from the one true God, the sovereign Lord of creation and covenant. It differentiates His revelation from any pagan or human source.
• came (implicit in "Then the word of the LORD" followed by "to"): The construction וַיְהִי דְּבַר יְהוָה אֶל־ means "the word of Yahweh came to..." It denotes divine initiative and active delivery. God is not distant or passive; He is actively communicating.
• to Isaiah (אֶל־יְשַׁעְיָהוּ, el-yesha'yahu): Isaiah's name itself means "Yahweh is salvation." He serves as God's designated prophet, the specific human instrument through whom God chooses to deliver His message to the king. This reaffirms Isaiah's authority as a reliable divine messenger.
• saying, (לֵאמֹר, lē'mor): An infinitive construct in Hebrew that frequently introduces direct speech. It clearly signals that what follows are the exact words spoken by the LORD, giving the subsequent message full divine weight and authority.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Then the word of the LORD came: This opening phrase is a classic prophetic formula found throughout the Old Testament. It formally legitimizes the message that follows, establishing its divine origin and absolute authority. It removes any doubt that the words are from God himself, signaling a significant moment of divine revelation. Its appearance here highlights that God's immediate response to Hezekiah's prayer is channeled through His established prophetic system. This phrase also asserts Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty over all matters, including life and death, and polemically counters any reliance on pagan divinations or human wisdom for such weighty pronouncements.

• to Isaiah, saying,: This combination identifies the precise intermediary through whom God's authoritative message is delivered. Isaiah is not just a personal friend or advisor to Hezekiah but the recognized messenger of Yahweh. The divine word is thus not privately received by the king but publicly delivered through the prophet, affirming both Isaiah's office and the public nature of divine revelation to God's people. This direct assignment ensures fidelity of the message.

Isaiah 38 4 Bonus section

The profound immediacy of "the word of the LORD" coming to Isaiah is noteworthy, demonstrating God's sovereign control over His own declarations. While Isaiah had just conveyed a word of death (Isa 38:1), God quickly provides a new word of life (Isa 38:5). This does not imply God's changeability in character or ultimate purpose, but rather His willingness to show mercy and adapt His declared action based on human repentance and humble petition, consistent with passages like Joel 2:13 or Jonah 3:10. This event underscores that divine prophetic pronouncements, particularly those regarding judgment or immediate destiny, can sometimes hold a conditional element dependent on the response of those to whom they are addressed, especially when fervent, faith-filled prayer is offered. The account solidifies the unique role of a prophet as a divine mouthpiece, relaying not his own thoughts, but the very dabar (word, matter, thing) of God, and sometimes even the changed dabar from God.

Isaiah 38 4 Commentary

Isaiah 38:4 acts as a critical fulcrum, pivoting from Hezekiah's desperate plea to God's compassionate answer. It underscores the fundamental truth that Yahweh is a God who hears and responds to the sincere prayers of His people, even to the point of altering a previously declared outcome. The phrase "the word of the LORD came" signifies absolute divine authority and an unshakeable promise. This is not mere suggestion but a potent, effective pronouncement that will undeniably come to pass. Through Isaiah, God demonstrates His deep personal care for His king and the nation of Judah, highlighting that even in dire circumstances, hope can be found in turning to the divine. The rapidity of this divine word—delivered even before Isaiah had physically left Hezekiah, as confirmed in 2 Kings 20:4—accentuates God's attentiveness and swiftness in response to His children's cries, manifesting His character as faithful, merciful, and actively involved in human history. This event illustrates the living and dynamic nature of God's interaction with His people, revealing that His decrees, though mighty, are sometimes conditional upon human response and intercession, especially when rooted in a righteous life.