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Hezekiah's Thanksgiving
This passage is Hezekiah’s own writing after sickness and recovery. He looks back on the fear of dying, remembers his cry to the Lord, and responds to restored life with praise, truth-telling, and worship.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
The text presents itself as a thanksgiving written by Hezekiah after he had recovered. In the poem he recalls what he said during the illness, using strong images for weakness and approaching death. He then speaks of the Lord’s restoration, and the passage closes with two short notes linked to his recovery.
Isaiah 38:9–22Main takeaway
Hezekiah’s thanksgiving shows that restored life leads him to careful living, praise, and making Yahweh’s truth known.
Explore the prayer
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A writing after sicknessThe opening verse identifies the passage as Hezekiah’s writing after he had been sick and had recovered.
Explanation
The opening verse identifies the passage as Hezekiah’s writing after he had been sick and had recovered. This tells us the poem is a reflection written from the far side of suffering. He is not predicting what will happen, but remembering what his illness felt like and what followed.
02He remembers life slipping awayHezekiah says he was going to the gates of Sheol and being deprived of the rest of his years.
Explanation
Hezekiah says he was going to the gates of Sheol and being deprived of the rest of his years. He feared no longer seeing Yah in the land of the living. His dwelling seemed taken down like a shepherd’s tent, and his life like cloth cut from the loom.
03He cries out in oppressionThe distress continues through the night into morning. He describes crushing pain and compares his sounds to a swallow, a crane, and a dove.
Explanation
The distress continues through the night into morning. He describes crushing pain and compares his sounds to a swallow, a crane, and a dove. His eyes grow weak looking upward. In that pressure he speaks plainly to the Lord: “I am oppressed. Be my security.”
04Restored life leads to praiseHezekiah says the Lord has spoken and done this, so he will walk carefully because of his anguish.
Explanation
Hezekiah says the Lord has spoken and done this, so he will walk carefully because of his anguish. He then says the Lord restored him, caused him to live, delivered his soul from the pit of corruption, and cast his sins behind his back. Therefore the living praise God and tell his truth to the next generation.
05The closing notes on recoveryThe last two verses add brief notes connected to the recovery. Isaiah had said to apply a cake of figs as a poultice on the boil, and that he would recover.
Explanation
The last two verses add brief notes connected to the recovery. Isaiah had said to apply a cake of figs as a poultice on the boil, and that he would recover. Hezekiah had also asked what the sign would be that he would go up to Yahweh’s house. These lines tie the thanksgiving to his healing and worship.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which images in the poem show that Hezekiah felt his life was ending?
Look for the gates of Sheol, the shepherd’s tent, and the loom, and consider what each picture suggests.
02What exact request does Hezekiah make when he says he is oppressed?
Read the last line of his cry and notice how short and direct the prayer is.
03How do the final two verses connect recovery with worship?
One verse mentions what Isaiah said to do for the boil, and the other mentions Hezekiah’s question about going up to Yahweh’s house.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 38:9–22
9The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered of his sickness:
10I said, “In the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol. I am deprived of the residue of my years.”
11I said, “I won’t see Yah, Yah in the land of the living. I will see man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
12My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver. He will cut me off from the loom. From day even to night you will make an end of me.
13I waited patiently until morning. He breaks all my bones like a lion. From day even to night you will make an end of me.
14I chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security.”
15What will I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I will walk carefully all my years because of the anguish of my soul.
16Lord, men live by these things; and my spirit finds life in all of them. You restore me, and cause me to live.
17Behold, for peace I had great anguish, but you have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for you have cast all my sins behind your back.
18For Sheol can’t praise you. Death can’t celebrate you. Those who go down into the pit can’t hope for your truth.
19The living, the living, he shall praise you, as I do today. The father shall make known your truth to the children.
20Yahweh will save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in Yahweh’s house.
21Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover.”
22Hezekiah also had said, “What is the sign that I will go up to Yahweh’s house?”