Isaiah 38:14

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 38:13-14

Isaiah 38:13-14. I reckoned till morning, &c. When night came I reckoned I should die before the next morning, my pains being as great as if my bones had been broken, and the whole frame of my body crushed by a lion. Bishop Lowth reads: I roared until the morning like the lion; so did he break to pieces all my bones. Like a crane or a swallow, &c. “My pains were sometimes so violent that they forced me to cry aloud; at other times my strength was so exhausted that I could only... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 38:1-22

Hezekiah’s illness and recovery (38:1-22)The events recorded in Chapters 38 and 39 probably happened before those of the previous chapters. Hezekiah was about to die (38:1), but in answer to his prayer God gave him an extension of life. It seems that the reason for preserving Hezekiah’s life was to enable him to bring Judah through the time of conflict with Assyria (2-6). God gave Hezekiah a miraculous sign to confirm that this extension of life was according to the divine will (7-8).Hezekiah... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 38:14

Like a crane or a swallow: or, like a twittering swallow. mourn. See note on Psalms 55:17 . Compare Ezekiel 7:16 . undertake = be a surety. Compare Job 17:3 ("put me in surety"). read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 38:14

Isaiah 38:14. Like a crane, or a swallow— That is, "My pains were sometimes so violent, that they forced me to cry aloud; at other times my strength was so exhausted, that I could only groan inwardly, and bemoan my unhappy condition in sighs." The reader will find in Bochart. Hieroz. pars ii. 1. 1. c. 10. copious illustration of this verse, and also in Scheuchzer on the place. See Psa 119:122 and Psalms 130:1; Psa 130:8 which fully explain the latter phrase. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:14

14. Rather, "Like a swallow, or a crane" (from a root; "to disturb the water," a bird frequenting the water) [MAURER], (Jeremiah 8:7). chatter—twitter: broken sounds expressive of pain. dove—called by the Arabs the daughter of mourning, from its plaintive note (Jeremiah 8:7- :). looking upward—to God for relief. undertake for—literally, "be surety for" me; assure me that I shall be restored (Jeremiah 8:7- :). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 38:9-22

Hezekiah’s record of his crisis 38:9-22The bulk of this section is a psalm of lamentation and thanksgiving that Hezekiah composed after his recovery (Isaiah 38:10-20). It is the only extant narrative in the Old Testament written by a king of Judah after the time of Solomon. [Note: The New Scofield . . ., p. 744. ] Compare King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon’s similar testimony of praise, after God delivered him from insanity (Daniel 4:34-35). This psalm is also chiastic in structure. It begins with... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 38:14

His incessant prayers to the Lord reminded Hezekiah of the twittering of birds. He looked to the Lord for help in the oppression of his illness and for security. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 38:1-22

Sickness and Recovery of HezekiahContinuation of the historical appendix to Isaiah’s prophecies. The chapter is parallel to 2 Kings 20:1-11 (where see notes), but contains a considerable addition in the shape of Hezekiah’s song of thanks-giving upon his recovery. Chronologically this chapter precedes 36 and 37: see on Isaiah 36:1.1-8. To Hezekiah in his sickness Isaiah promises 15 more years of life, and confirms the promise by a sign. 9-20. Hezekiah’s song of thanksgiving. 21, 22. The remedy... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 38:14

(14) Like a crane . . .—The three birds—strictly, the “swift,” the “crane,” the “dove”—each with its special note of lamentation, represent, as it were, the cries of pain and the low suppressed wail of the sufferer. The three appear again together in Jeremiah 8:7.Undertake for me—i.e., as in Genesis 43:9; Genesis 44:32; Job 17:3, Be surety for me. The idea is that of Death, who, yet in another sense, is but the minister of Jehovah, as being the creditor pressing for immediate payment. The words... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Isaiah 38:1-22

Added Years Isaiah 38:5 I. God adds Years to Many Men's Lives. For example: a. In recovery from sickness. The sickness seems unto death. Hope is gone, or wellnigh gone. But a 'favourable turn,' as we say, is taken, and another course of years is added unto the man's days. b. In the gradual strengthening of the constitution. A new and deeper spring seems to be found in the blood, which has 'earnest in it of far springs to be'. The delicate youth becomes a strong man. c. In escape from... read more

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