Isaiah 38

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:8

Behold, I will bring again the shadow - The shadow, or shade which is made by the interception of the rays of the sun by the gnomon on the dial. The phrase ‘bring again’ (Hebrew, משׁיב mēshı̂yb) means to cause to return (Hiphil, from שׁוב shûb, to return); that is, I will cause it retrograde, or bring back. Septuagint, Στρέψω Strepsō - ‘I will turn back.’ Few subjects have perplexed commentators more than this account of the sun-dial of Ahaz. The only other place where a sun-dial is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:9

The writing of Hezekiah - This is the title to the following hymn - a record which Hezekiah made to celebrate the goodness of God in restoring him to health. The writing itself is poetry, as is indicated by the parallelism, and by the general structure. It is in many respects quite obscure - an obscurity perhaps arising from the brevity and conciseness which are apparent in the whole piece. It is remarkable that this song or hymn is not found in the parallel passage in the Book of Kings. The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:10

I said - Probably the words ‘I said’ do not imply that he said or spoke this openly or audibly; but this was the language of his heart, or the substance of his reflections.In the cutting off of my days - There has been considerable diversity of interpretation in regard to this phrase. Vitringa renders it as our translators have done. Rosenmuller renders it, ‘In the meridian of my days.’ The Septuagint, Ἐν τῷ ὕψει τῶν ἡμερῶν μου En tō hupsei tōn hēmerōn mou - ‘In the height of my... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:11

I shall not see the Lord - In the original, the Hebrew which is rendered ‘Lord,’ is not Yahweh, but יה יה yâhh yâhh. On the meaning of it, see the note at Isaiah 12:2 (compare the note at Isaiah 7:14). The repetition of the name here denotes emphasis or intensity of feeling - the deep desire which he had to see Yahweh in the land of the living, and the intense sorrow of his heart at the idea of being cut off from that privilege. The idea here is, that Hezekiah felt that he would not be spared... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:12

Mine age - The word which is used here (דור dôr) means properly the revolving period or circle of human life. The parallelism seems to demand, however, that it should be used in the sense of dwelling or habitation, so as to correspond with the ‘shepherd’s tent.’ Accordingly, Lowth and Noyes render it, ‘Habitation.’ So also do Gesenius and Rosenmuller. The Arabic word has this signification; and the Hebrew verb דור dûr also means “to dwell, to remain,” as in the Chaldee. Here the word means a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:13

I reckoned - There has been considerable variety in interpreting this expression. The Septuagint renders it, ‘I was given up in the morning as to a lion.’ The Vulgate renders it, ‘I hoped until morning;’ and in his commentary, Jerome says it means, that as Job in his trouble and anguish Isaiah 7:4 sustained himself at night expecting the day, and in the daytime waiting for the night, expecting a change for the better, so Hezekiah waited during the night expecting relief in the morning. He knew,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:14

Like a crane - The word used here (סוּס sûs) usually denotes a horse. The rabbis render it here ‘a crane.’ Gesenius translates it ‘a swallow;’ and in his Lexicon interprets the word which is translated ‘a swallow’ (עגוּר 'āgûr) to mean “circling,” making gyrations; and the whole phrase, ‘as the circling swallow.’ The Syriac renders this, ‘As the chattering swallow.’ The Vulgate, ‘As the young of the swallow.’ The Septuagint simply reads: ‘As the swallow.’ That two birds are intended here, or... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:15

What shall I say? - This language seems to denote surprise and gratitude at unexpected deliverance. It is the language of a heart that is overflowing, and that wants words to express its deep emotions. In the previous verse he had described his pain, anguish, and despair. In this he records the sudden and surprising deliverance which God had granted; which was so great that no words could express his sense of it. Nothing could be more natural than this language; nothing would more appropriately... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:16

O Lord, by these things men live - The design of this and the following verses is evidently to set forth the goodness of God, and to celebrate his praise for what he had done. The phrase ‘these things,’ refers evidently to the promises of God and their fulfillment; and the idea is, that people are sustained in the land of the living only by such gracious interpositions as he had experienced. It was not because people had any power of preserving their own lives, but because God interposed in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:17

Behold, for peace - That is, instead of the health, happiness, and prosperity which I had enjoyed, and which I hope still to enjoy.I had great bitterness - Hebrew, ‘Bitterness to me, bitterness;’ an emphatic expression, denoting intense sorrow.But thou hast in love to my soul - Margin, ‘Loved my soul from the pit.’ The word which occurs here (חשׁקת châshaqtâ) denotes properly to join or fasten together; then to be attached to anyone; to be united tenderly; to embrace. Here it means that God... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:17

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands