Menu

Isaiah 38:9

Isaiah 38:9 in Multiple Translations

This is a writing by Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:

¶ The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:

The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness.

The writing of Hezekiah, king of Judah, after he had been ill, and had got better from his disease.

This is what Hezekiah, king of Judah, wrote after he recovered from his sickness:

The writing of Hezekiah King of Iudah, when he had bene sicke, and was recouered of his sickenesse.

A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah concerning his being sick, when he reviveth from his sickness:

The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered of his sickness:

The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered from his sickness:

The writing of Ezechias king of Juda, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness.

When King Hezekiah was almost well again, he wrote this:

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

Enable Study Highlights
God & Jesus
Holy Spirit
Divine Actions
Repeated Words

Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 38:9

BAB
Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Isaiah 38:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB מִכְתָּ֖ב לְ/חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה בַּ/חֲלֹת֕/וֹ וַ/יְחִ֖י מֵ/חָלְיֽ/וֹ
מִכְתָּ֖ב miktâb H4385 writing N-ms
לְ/חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ Chizqîyâh H2396 Hezekiah Prep | N-proper
מֶֽלֶךְ melek H4428 King's N-ms
יְהוּדָ֑ה Yᵉhûwdâh H3063 Judah N-proper
בַּ/חֲלֹת֕/וֹ châlâh H2470 be weak Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
וַ/יְחִ֖י châyâh H2421 to live Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
מֵ/חָלְיֽ/וֹ chŏlîy H2483 sickness Prep | N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

Use arrow keys to navigate between words.

Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 38:9

מִכְתָּ֖ב miktâb H4385 "writing" N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to something written, like a letter or poem. It appears in books like Psalms and Isaiah, often describing God's written word. This word is about written things.
Definition: 1) writing, thing written 1a) handwriting 1b) thing written 1c) writing
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: writing. See also: Exodus 32:16; 2 Chronicles 35:4; Isaiah 38:9.
לְ/חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ Chizqîyâh H2396 "Hezekiah" Prep | N-proper
Hezekiah was a king of Judah who served Jehovah and removed idolatrous practices. He was the son of Ahaz and Abijah, and a great-great-grandfather of Zephaniah the prophet. His name means Jehovah is my strength.
Definition: A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at Zep.1.1; father of: Amariah (H0568O) § Hezekiah or Hizkiah or Hizkijah = "Jehovah is my strength" 1) 12th king of Judah, son of Ahaz and Abijah; a good king in that he served Jehovah and did away with idolatrous practices 2) great-great-grandfather of Zephaniah the prophet 3) son of Neariah, a descendant of David 4) head of a family of returning exiles in the time of Nehemiah
Usage: Occurs in 119 OT verses. KJV: Hezekiah, Hizkiah, Hizkijah. Compare H3169 (יְחִזְקִיָּה). See also: 2 Kings 16:20; 2 Chronicles 31:20; Proverbs 25:1.
מֶֽלֶךְ melek H4428 "King's" N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
יְהוּדָ֑ה Yᵉhûwdâh H3063 "Judah" N-proper
Judah is the name of the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob. It is also the name of the region where the tribe lived. The name means 'praised' and is first mentioned in Genesis.
Definition: § Judah = "praised" the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob
Usage: Occurs in 754 OT verses. KJV: Judah. See also: Genesis 29:35; 1 Samuel 23:3; 2 Kings 14:13.
בַּ/חֲלֹת֕/וֹ châlâh H2470 "be weak" Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
To beg or entreat means to ask or pray for something, often with a sense of weakness or sickness, like when someone is grieving or in pain.
Definition: : weak/disabled 1) to be or become weak, be or become sick, be or become diseased, be or become grieved, be or become sorry 1a) (Qal) to be weak, be sick 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to be or become weak, feel weak 1b2) to become sick, become ill 1c) (Niphal) 1c1) to make oneself sick 1c2) to be made sick 1c3) to be tired 1d) (Pual) to be made weak, become weak 1e) (Hithpael) to make oneself sick 1f) (Hiphil) 1f1) to make sore 1f2) to make sick 1f3) to show signs of sickness, become sick 1f4) to grieve 1g) (Hophal) 1g1) to be made sick 1g2) to be wounded
Usage: Occurs in 73 OT verses. KJV: beseech, (be) diseased, (put to) grief, be grieved, (be) grievous, infirmity, intreat, lay to, put to pain, [idiom] pray, make prayer, be (fall, make) sick, sore, be sorry, make suit ([idiom] supplication), woman in travail, be (become) weak, be wounded. See also: Genesis 48:1; Psalms 119:58; Psalms 35:13.
וַ/יְחִ֖י châyâh H2421 "to live" Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
To live or have life is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also mean to revive or be quickened. It is used in the Bible to describe God's power to sustain life and restore people to health, as seen in the stories of the prophets and Jesus' miracles.
Definition: 1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to live 1a1a) to have life 1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive 1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon 1a1d) to live (prosperously) 1a2) to revive, be quickened 1a2a) from sickness 1a2b) from discouragement 1a2c) from faintness 1a2d) from death 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to preserve alive, let live 1b2) to give life 1b3) to quicken, revive, refresh 1b3a) to restore to life 1b3b) to cause to grow 1b3c) to restore 1b3d) to revive 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to preserve alive, let live 1c2) to quicken, revive 1c2a) to restore (to health) 1c2b) to revive 1c2c) to restore to life
Usage: Occurs in 239 OT verses. KJV: keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole. See also: Genesis 5:3; 2 Samuel 16:16; Psalms 22:27.
מֵ/חָלְיֽ/וֹ chŏlîy H2483 "sickness" Prep | N-ms | Suff
This word describes sickness or disease in the Bible, often causing grief or anxiety. It is used in Proverbs and Isaiah to describe physical and emotional suffering.
Definition: sickness
Usage: Occurs in 22 OT verses. KJV: disease, grief, (is) sick(-ness). See also: Deuteronomy 7:15; 2 Chronicles 21:19; Psalms 41:4.

Study Notes — Isaiah 38:9

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Psalms 18:1 I love You, O LORD, my strength.
2 Exodus 15:1–21 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. The LORD is a warrior, the LORD is His name. Pharaoh’s chariots and army He has cast into the sea; the finest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have covered them; they sank there like a stone. Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy. You overthrew Your adversaries by Your great majesty. You unleashed Your burning wrath; it consumed them like stubble. At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; like a wall the currents stood firm; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’ But You blew with Your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand, and the earth swallowed them up. With loving devotion You will lead the people You have redeemed; with Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling. The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the dwellers of Philistia. Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away, and terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of Your arm they will be as still as a stone until Your people pass by, O LORD, until the people You have bought pass by. You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of Your inheritance— the place, O LORD, You have prepared for Your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, Your hands have established. The LORD will reign forever and ever!” For when Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them. But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang back to them: “Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.”
3 Job 5:18 For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal.
4 Psalms 118:18–19 The LORD disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter and give thanks to the LORD.
5 2 Chronicles 29:30 Then King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD in the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.
6 Psalms 30:11–12 You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever.
7 Isaiah 12:1–6 In that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, and You have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He also has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation, and on that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD; proclaim His name! Make His works known among the peoples; declare that His name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for He has done glorious things. Let this be known in all the earth. Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.”
8 Hosea 6:1–2 Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.
9 Judges 5:1–31 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: “When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD. Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel. O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water. The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel. In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted and the travelers took the byways. Life in the villages ceased; it ended in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel. When they chose new gods, then war came to their gates. Not a shield or spear was found among forty thousand in Israel. My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD! You who ride white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and you who travel the road, ponder the voices of the singers at the watering places. There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous deeds of His villagers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates: ‘Awake, awake, O Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, O Barak, and take hold of your captives, O son of Abinoam!’ Then the survivors came down to the nobles; the people of the LORD came down to me against the mighty. Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun. The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision. Why did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision. Gilead remained beyond the Jordan. Dan, why did you linger by the ships? Asher stayed at the coast and remained in his harbors. Zebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield. Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver. From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera. The River Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the River Kishon. March on, O my soul, in strength! Then the hooves of horses thundered— the mad galloping of his stallions. ‘Curse Meroz,’ says the angel of the LORD. ‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants; for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’ Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women. He asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds. She reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera and crushed his skull; she shattered and pierced his temple. At her feet he collapsed, he fell, there he lay still; at her feet he collapsed, he fell; where he collapsed, there he fell dead. Sisera’s mother looked through the window; she peered through the lattice and lamented: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? What has delayed the clatter of his chariots?’ Her wisest ladies answer; indeed she keeps telling herself, ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil— a girl or two for each warrior, a plunder of dyed garments for Sisera, the spoil of embroidered garments for the neck of the looter?’ So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years.
10 Jonah 2:1–9 From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God, saying: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me; all Your breakers and waves swept over me. At this, I said, ‘I have been banished from Your sight; yet I will look once more toward Your holy temple.’ The waters engulfed me to take my life; the watery depths closed around me; the seaweed wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I descended; the earth beneath me barred me in forever! But You raised my life from the pit, O LORD my God! As my life was fading away, I remembered the LORD. My prayer went up to You, to Your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion. But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!”

Isaiah 38:9 Summary

Isaiah 38:9 is a special note from Hezekiah, the king of Judah, after he got very sick and then got better. This verse shows that Hezekiah wanted to remember and write down what happened to him, so he could thank God for healing him, just like God promised in Isaiah 38:7. Hezekiah's story teaches us to trust God, even when things seem really tough, because God is always with us, as promised in Psalms 23:4. By looking at Hezekiah's experience, we can learn to be thankful for God's faithfulness in our own lives, just like Hezekiah was.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of Hezekiah's writing in Isaiah 38:9?

Hezekiah's writing is a personal testimony of his experience with illness and recovery, showcasing his trust in God's faithfulness, as seen in Isaiah 38:9 and supported by the promise in Isaiah 38:7.

How does Hezekiah's situation relate to our lives today?

Hezekiah's experience reminds us that God is always with us, even in times of sickness or hardship, as promised in Psalms 23:4 and Isaiah 43:2.

What can we learn from Hezekiah's response to his illness?

Hezekiah's writing demonstrates his reflection on his mortality and his desire to trust God, as expressed in Isaiah 38:10-11, and encourages us to do the same in our own struggles, as seen in James 1:2-4.

How does Isaiah 38:9 fit into the larger narrative of Hezekiah's story?

Isaiah 38:9 serves as an introduction to Hezekiah's personal reflections on his illness and recovery, which are recorded in Isaiah 38:10-20, and highlights God's faithfulness in his life, as seen in 2 Kings 20:1-11 and Isaiah 38:1-8.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some ways you can reflect on your own experiences of hardship or struggle, and how can you trust God in those situations?
  2. How does Hezekiah's writing inspire you to trust God with your own life and circumstances?
  3. In what ways can you apply the lessons from Hezekiah's story to your own relationships with others, particularly in times of need or struggle?
  4. What does Hezekiah's story teach you about the importance of gratitude and thankfulness, especially in the face of adversity?

Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 38:9

The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah,.... The Septuagint and Arabic versions call it a "prayer": but the Targum, much better, "a writing of confession;'' in which the king owns his murmurings and

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 38:9

The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness: -The prayer and thanksgiving song of Hezekiah is only given here, not in the parallel passages of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Verse 9.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 38:9

Hezekiah was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and inspired by him to write this, both as a testimony of his own gratitude to God, and for the instruction of after-ages.

Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 38:9

Isaiah 38:9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:Ver. 9. The writing of Hezekiah.] Scriptum confessionis, a song of thanksgiving set forth by Hezekiah, and here inserted by the prophet Isaiah, as a public instrument and lasting monument of God’ s great goodness to him in his late recovery; such a thankful man is worth his weight in the gold of Ophir. Heathens in such a case were wont to hang up tables in the temples of their gods. Papists build chapels, erect altars, hang up memories, as they call them, and vow presents to their he saints and she saints. But among us, alas! it is according to the Italian proverb, When the disease is once removed, God is utterly defrauded: “ Aegrotus surgit, sed pia vota iacent. ” We may he wondered at, not without cause, as the Emperor Constantine marvelled at his people that were newly become Christians: I marvel, said he, how it comes to pass that many of my people are worse now than before they were Christians. Sciapato il morbo, fraudato il sancto.

Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 38:9

(9) The writing of Hezekiah . . .—Isaiah 38:21-22 would seem to have their right place before the elegiac psalm that follows. The culture which the psalm implies is what might have been expected from one whom Isaiah had trained, who had restored and organised the worship of the Temple (2 Chronicles 29:25-30), who spoke to Levites and soldiers as a preacher (2 Chronicles 30:22; 2 Chronicles 32:6), “speaking comfortably” (literally, to their heart), and who had directed the compilation of a fresh set of the proverbs ascribed to Solomon (Proverbs 25:1). It will be seen, as we go through the hymn, that it presents echoes of the Book of Job as well as of the earlier Psalms.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 38:9

Verse 9. The writing of Hezekiah] Here the book of Kings deserts us, the song of Hezekiah not being inserted in it. Another copy of this very obscure passage (obscure not only from the concise poetical style, but because it is probably very incorrect) would have been of great service. The MSS. and ancient Versions, especially the latter, will help us to get through some of the many difficulties which we meet with in it.

Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 38:9

9–20. Hezekiah’s thanksgiving for his recovery. This poem, which is not given in the parallel narrative in 2 Kings, must have been inserted here from an independent source. An external mark of the insertion is found in the displacement of Isa 38:21-22 from their proper context. The superscription (Isaiah 38:9) resembles several of those in the book of Psalms, and was no doubt found in the document from which the poem was transcribed. The song, therefore, was in all probability traditionally ascribed to Hezekiah, but whether this judgment rests on historical authority, or merely on its inherent suitability to his circumstances, it is impossible to say. The linguistic evidence seems to point to a late date. The poem, like many of the Psalms, is a record of individual experience, but adapted for use in the Temple worship (Isaiah 38:20). The experience is that of a man who has been brought face to face with death, who has prayed for life, and has been “heard in that he feared”; but with the reticence which characterises the Psalmists all details of merely personal interest are suppressed with a view to the liturgical use of the poem. The psalm may be divided into two parts (both indicated in the superscription, Isaiah 38:9):— i. Isaiah 38:10-14. A description of the writer’s anguish and despair in the near prospect of death. ii. Isaiah 38:15-20. His joy and gratitude when assured of his recovery.

Barnes' Notes on 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.

Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 38:9

9. The writing of Hezekiah — A psalm celebrating God’s goodness in restoring him to health. By some it is supposed to be Isaiah’s composition for the king.

Sermons on Isaiah 38:9

SermonDescription
Carter Conlon Are the Giants Really Necessary by Carter Conlon This sermon emphasizes the necessity of facing and overcoming the giants in our lives, symbolizing the obstacles, fears, and opposition that stand in the way of our God-given promi
Carter Conlon Are the Giants Really Necessary? by Carter Conlon In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the power of God to overcome any opposition that stands in the way of fulfilling His purpose for our lives. The speaker references verses fro
Chuck Smith God as the Sovereign Saviour by Chuck Smith In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses Psalm 18, where David recounts his experience of being delivered by God from his enemies. David describes the sorrows and fears he face
Carter Conlon The Call of the Shipmaster by Carter Conlon This sermon is a powerful call to prayer and revival, emphasizing the need for believers to awaken to the urgency of the times and seek God's presence. Drawing from the story of Jo
Phil Beach Jr. Pride - the Root of Anger by Phil Beach Jr. Phil Beach Jr. addresses the issue of pride as the root cause of anger, emphasizing that anger often arises when our desires are thwarted. He draws parallels between the psalmist's
Phil Beach Jr. The Secret Place by Phil Beach Jr. Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the significance of living in the 'secret place' of God, as illustrated in Psalms 18. He describes how David, amidst great distress, discovered the power
Michael Koulianos He First Loves Us by Michael Koulianos Michael Koulianos emphasizes the profound truth that God first loves us, which is the foundation for our love and worship in return. He encourages the congregation to recognize the

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate