Lexical Summary qaphad: To mourn, lament Original Word: קָפַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cut off A primitive root; to contract, i.e. Roll together -- cut off. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition gather together, roll up NASB Translation rolled (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [קָפַד] verb Pi`el gather together, roll up (Arabic  wind turban snugly; Aramaic קְפַד,  , Ithpe`el be drawn in, together; also קוּפְדָא,  , porcupine; so Arabic ( ) (compare LagBN 182), Ethiopic  ); — Perfect1singular קִמַּדְתִּי Isaiah 38:12 I have rolled up, like a weaver, my life (i.e. finished it; BuhlLex 13 תָּ- [of ׳י], but 3 masculine singular following of ׳י). Topical Lexicon Context of UsageThe sole appearance of the verb occurs in Isaiah 38:12, within King Hezekiah’s psalm of thanksgiving after his near-fatal illness. The king looks back on the moment when he believed death was certain: “My dwelling has been pulled up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom; from dawn to dusk You make an end of me” (Berean Standard Bible). The word translated “cuts me off” expresses the abrupt, decisive severing of life that Hezekiah feared before the Lord granted him fifteen additional years (Isaiah 38:5). Underlying Imagery Ancient Near-Eastern shepherds struck their tents quickly and moved on; weavers finished a length of cloth and then severed the thread from the loom. Both pictures convey the fragility and brevity of human life. The verb highlights the final, irreversible moment when the work is halted. Hezekiah felt his “bolt of cloth” had reached the point of being sliced from the loom, yet God intervened and lengthened the weave. Historical Significance Hezekiah’s illness (described historically in 2 Kings 20:1-11) came at a critical juncture for Judah, just after the Assyrian invasion was turned back. The threatened “cutting off” of the Davidic king would have left the kingdom leaderless and appeared to jeopardize the covenant promise of an enduring throne (2 Samuel 7:16). By sparing Hezekiah, the Lord affirmed His faithfulness, preserved the Messianic line, and demonstrated sovereignty over the timing of death. Theological Emphasis 1. Sovereign Determination of Life Span Scripture repeatedly teaches that God numbers every day (Psalm 139:16; Job 14:5). The verb in Isaiah 38:12 underscores that ultimate control: a single divine motion can end or extend a life’s weaving. 2. Human Frailty and Dependence Hezekiah, despite zeal for reform (2 Chronicles 31:20-21), recognized that his righteousness could not avert mortality. The imagery serves as a humbling reminder that even kings must rest in God’s mercy. 3. Redemptive Pattern The king’s deliverance foreshadows a greater cutting off and restoration. Isaiah later speaks of the Servant who would be “cut off from the land of the living” (Isaiah 53:8), only to see “the light of life” (Isaiah 53:11). The isolated verb in 38:12 therefore anticipates the ultimate victory over death secured in Christ. Intertextual Parallels • Job 7:6 compares life to a weaver’s shuttle speeding toward its end. Ministry Applications • Pastoral Care: When believers confront terminal illness, Hezekiah’s testimony validates honest lament yet encourages appeal to the God who can lengthen days. Lessons for Believers 1. Cherish God-given time; it is a gift, not an entitlement. Conclusion Though occurring only once, the verb portrays the knife-edge upon which human existence rests. In Hezekiah’s story, the Lord stays the blade; in Christ’s death and resurrection, He shatters it forever. Until that final triumph is fully revealed, Isaiah 38:12 summons every generation to humility, gratitude, and steadfast hope. Forms and Transliterations קִפַּ֨דְתִּי קפדתי kipPadti qip·paḏ·tî qippaḏtîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 38:12 HEB: כְּאֹ֣הֶל רֹעִ֑י קִפַּ֨דְתִּי כָאֹרֵ֤ג חַיַּי֙ NAS: from me; As a weaver I rolled up my life. KJV: tent: I have cut off like a weaver INT: tent A shepherd's rolled A weaver my life 1 Occurrence |
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