Isaiah 38:1

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Set: Heb. Give charge concerning thy house

KJV

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In those days was Hezekiah sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.’”

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.

In those days was Hezekiah sick to death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, Thus says the LORD, Set your house in order: for you shall die, and not live.

38:2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,

What does Isaiah 38:1 mean?

Isaiah 38:1 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include יוֹם (yôwm), חִזְקִיָּה (Chizqîyâh), חָלָה (châlâh). It connects to 5 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

those

daysיוֹםyôwm/yome/H3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)

was

HezekiahחִזְקִיָּהChizqîyâh/khiz-kee-yaw'/H2396Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites

sickחָלָהchâlâh/khaw-law'/H2470properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to be weak, sick, afflicted; or (causatively) to grieve, make sick; also to stroke (in flattering), entreat

unto

death.מוּתmûwth/mooth/H4191to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

And

IsaiahיְשַׁעְיָהYᵉshaʻyâh/yesh-ah-yaw'/H3470Jeshajah, the name of seven Israelites

the

prophetנָבִיאnâbîyʼ/naw-bee'/H5030a prophet or (generally) inspired man

the

sonבֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)

AmozאָמוֹץʼÂmôwts/aw-mohts'/H531Amots, an Israelite

cameבּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/H935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

unto

him,

and

saidאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)

unto

him,

Thus

saithאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)

the

LORD,יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God

Set

thine

houseבַּיִתbayith/bah'-yith/H1004a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

order:צָוָהtsâvâh/tsaw-vaw'/H6680(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

for

thou

shalt

die,מוּתmûwth/mooth/H4191to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

and

not

live.חָיָהchâyâh/khaw-yaw'/H2421to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive

Set:

Heb.

Give

charge

concerning

thy

house

Commentary on Isaiah 38:1

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 38:1

deth only to penury. Note, 1. Working, without talking, will make men rich: In all labour of the head, or of the hand, there is profit; it will turn to some good account or other. Industrious people are generally thriving people, and where there is something done there is something to be had. The stirring hand gets a penny. It is good therefore to keep in business, and to keep in action, and what our hand finds to do to do it with all our might. 2. Talking, without working, will make men poor. Those that love to boast of their business and make a noise about it, and that waste their time in tittle-tattle, in telling and hearing new things, like the Athenians, and, under pretence of improving themselves by conversation, neglect the work of their place and day, they waste what they have, and the course they take tends to penury, and will end in it. It is true in the affairs of our souls; those that take pains in the service of God, that strive earnestly in prayer, will find profit in it. But if men's religion runs all out in talk and noise, and their praying is only the labour of the lips, they will be spiritually poor, and come to nothing. 24 The crown of the wise is their riches:

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Isaiah 38:5

Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

Acts 20:21

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 26:16

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Peter 3:3

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

People & places in this verse

People

Isaiah Amoz Hezekiah

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 38:1.

2 Kings 20:1

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Set: Heb. Give charge concerning thine house

2 Kings 19:20

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.

2 Chronicles 26:22

Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.

2 Chronicles 32:20

And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

2 Chronicles 32:32

Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. goodness: Heb. kindnesses

2 Kings 19:2

And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

2 Kings 19:5

So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

2 Kings 20:12

At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. Berodachbaladan: or, Merodachbaladan

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 38:1 say?

Isaiah 38:1 (King James Version) reads: "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Set: Heb. Give charge concerning thy house"

Is Isaiah 38:1 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 38:1 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 38:1, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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