Isaiah 38:1
New International Version
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”

New Living Translation
About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’”

English Standard Version
In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of 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, you shall not recover.”

Berean Standard Bible
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’ ”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your house in order, for you are going to die and not live.’”

NASB 1995
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. 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.’”

NASB 1977
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. 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.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
In those days Hezekiah became ill to the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’”

Amplified Bible
In those days Hezekiah [king of Judah] became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him and said, “For the LORD says this, ‘Set your house in order and prepare a will, for you shall die; you will not live.’”

Christian Standard Bible
In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your affairs in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”

American Standard Version
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

Contemporary English Version
About this time, Hezekiah got sick and was almost dead. So I went in and told him, "The LORD says you won't ever get well. You are going to die, and so you had better start doing what needs to be done."

English Revised Version
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In those days Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Give final instructions to your household, because you're about to die. You won't get well."

Good News Translation
About this time King Hezekiah became sick and almost died. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to see him and said to him, "The LORD tells you that you are to put everything in order because you will not recover. Get ready to die."

International Standard Version
During that time, Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. Then Amoz's son Isaiah the prophet came to him and told him, "This is what the LORD says: 'Put your house in order, because you are going to die. You won't recover.'"

Majority Standard Bible
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”

NET Bible
In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and told him, "This is what the LORD says, 'Give instructions to your household, for you are about to die; you will not get well.'"

New Heart English Bible
In those days was Hezekiah sick and near death. 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 will die, and not live.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
In those days was Hezekiah sick with a mortal disease. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thy house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.

World English Bible
In those days Hezekiah was 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.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
In those days has Hezekiah been sick to death, and Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, comes to him and says to him, “Thus said YHWH: Give a charge to your house, for you [are] dying, and do not live.”

Young's Literal Translation
In those days hath Hezekiah been sick unto death, and come in unto him doth Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, and saith unto him, 'Thus said Jehovah: Give a charge to thy house, for thou art dying, and dost not live.'

Smith's Literal Translation
In those days Hezekiah was sick to death. And Isaiah son of Amos, the prophet, will come in to him, and say to him, Thus said Jehovah, Command to thy house, for thou diest, and shalt not live.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
IN those days Ezechias was sick even to death, and Isaias the son of Amos the prophet came unto him, and said to him: Thus saith the Lord: Take order with thy house, for thou shalt die, and not live.

Catholic Public Domain Version
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was near death. And so, Isaiah, the son of Amoz, the prophet, entered to him, and he said to him: “Thus says the Lord: Put your house in order, for you shall die, and you shall not live.”

New American Bible
In those days, when Hezekiah was mortally ill, the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him: “Thus says the LORD: Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you shall not recover.”

New Revised Standard Version
In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
IN those days Hezekiah became deathly sick, 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.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In those days Hezekiah was ill to die, and Eshaiya the Prophet son of Amuts came to him and said to him: “Thus says LORD JEHOVAH, ‘Order concerning your house, because you are dying and you will not live’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him: 'Thus saith the LORD: Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass at that time, that Ezekias was sick even to death. And Esaias the prophet the son of Amos came to him, and said to him, Thus saith the Lord, Give orders concerning thy house: for thou shalt die, and not live.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery
1In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’” 2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,…

Cross References
2 Kings 20:1-11
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’” / Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, / “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. ...

2 Chronicles 32:24-26
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. So he prayed to the LORD, who spoke to him and gave him a sign. / But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. / Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.

Psalm 6:2-5
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am frail; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are in agony. / My soul is deeply distressed. How long, O LORD, how long? / Turn, O LORD, and deliver my soul; save me because of Your loving devotion. ...

Psalm 30:2-3
O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. / O LORD, You pulled me up from Sheol; You spared me from descending into the Pit.

Psalm 39:4-5
“Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is. / You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah

Psalm 102:24
I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days! Your years go on through all generations.

Psalm 116:3-4
The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish of Sheol overcame me; I was confronted by trouble and sorrow. / Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, deliver my soul!”

Job 14:1-2
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. / Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

Job 17:11-16
My days have passed; my plans are broken off—even the desires of my heart. / They have turned night into day, making light seem near in the face of darkness. / If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness, ...

Jeremiah 15:1
Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Send them from My presence, and let them go!

Matthew 9:18-26
While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.” / So Jesus got up and went with him, along with His disciples. / Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak. ...

Mark 5:22-43
A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet / and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.” / So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him. ...

Luke 8:41-56
Just then a synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Him to come to his house, / because his only daughter, who was about twelve, was dying. As Jesus went with him, the crowds pressed around Him, / including a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on physicians, but no one was able to heal her. ...

John 11:1-44
At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. / (Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was to anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair.) / So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.” ...

Acts 9:36-42
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity. / At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room. / Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

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

A.

2 Kings 20:1-11
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…

2 Chronicles 32:24
In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.

John 11:1-5
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha…

and Isaiah

Isaiah 37:21
Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:

Isaiah 39:3,4
Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon…

set thine house in order.

2 Samuel 17:23
And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

for thou

Jeremiah 18:7-10
At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; …

Jonah 3:4,10
And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown…

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Amoz Death Die Hezekiah House Ill Isaiah Live Mortal Mortally Order Prophet Sick
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Amoz Death Die Hezekiah House Ill Isaiah Live Mortal Mortally Order Prophet Sick
Isaiah 38
1. Hezekiah, having received a message of death, by prayer has his life lengthened
8. The sun goes ten degrees backward, for a sign of that promise
9. His song of thanksgiving.














In those days
This phrase situates the events within a specific historical context. "In those days" refers to the period of King Hezekiah's reign over Judah, a time marked by political turmoil and spiritual challenges. Historically, this was around the late 8th century BC, a period when the Assyrian Empire was a dominant force in the region. The phrase invites readers to consider the broader narrative of Judah's history and Hezekiah's role as a reformer king who sought to restore the worship of Yahweh amidst idolatrous practices.

Hezekiah
Hezekiah was the 13th king of Judah, known for his faithfulness to God and his efforts to purify the temple and restore proper worship. His name in Hebrew, "Chizkiyahu," means "Yahweh strengthens," reflecting his reliance on God during his reign. Hezekiah's leadership is significant in the biblical narrative as he is often remembered for his trust in God during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem and his subsequent miraculous deliverance.

became mortally ill
This phrase indicates a severe illness that threatened Hezekiah's life. The Hebrew term used here suggests a sickness that was beyond natural healing, emphasizing the gravity of his condition. In the ancient Near Eastern context, illness was often seen as a sign of divine displeasure or a test of faith. Hezekiah's illness sets the stage for a profound encounter with God, highlighting themes of mortality, divine intervention, and the power of prayer.

and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz
Isaiah, a major prophet in the Hebrew Bible, was a contemporary of Hezekiah. His role as a prophet was to convey God's messages to the people and the king. The mention of "son of Amoz" distinguishes him from other Isaiahs and underscores his prophetic authority. Isaiah's involvement in this narrative underscores the importance of prophetic guidance and the role of God's messengers in delivering divine truth and hope.

came to him
This action signifies a direct and personal communication from God to Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah. The act of coming to someone in biblical times often implied bringing an important message or offering counsel. It highlights the intimate relationship between God, the prophet, and the king, and sets the stage for a pivotal moment of revelation and decision.

and said, This is what the LORD says
This phrase introduces a divine oracle, a common feature in prophetic literature. "This is what the LORD says" is a formulaic expression that asserts the authority and authenticity of the message as coming directly from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It prepares the reader for a message of great significance, emphasizing the seriousness and divine origin of the words that follow.

Put your house in order
This command reflects the urgency and seriousness of Hezekiah's situation. To "put your house in order" means to prepare for death, ensuring that one's affairs are settled. In the ancient world, this would involve making arrangements for succession, settling debts, and ensuring the well-being of one's family. Spiritually, it also implies a call to repentance and readiness to meet God, underscoring the transient nature of life and the importance of living in accordance with God's will.

for you are about to die
This stark pronouncement underscores the inevitability of death, a common theme in biblical wisdom literature. It serves as a reminder of human mortality and the limits of earthly power. For Hezekiah, a king with significant responsibilities, this message would have been both a personal and political crisis, challenging him to trust in God's sovereignty even in the face of death.

you will not recover
The finality of this statement emphasizes the seriousness of Hezekiah's condition. In the Hebrew text, the phrase suggests a definitive outcome, yet it also sets the stage for a dramatic reversal through prayer and divine intervention. This part of the verse invites reflection on the power of faith, the possibility of divine mercy, and the belief in God's ability to alter circumstances in response to sincere supplication.

XXXVIII.

(1) In those days.--On any supposition, the narrative of Hezekiah's illness throws us back to a time fifteen years before his death, and therefore to an earlier date than the destruction of the Assyrian army, which it here follows. So in Isaiah 38:6, the deliverance of the city is spoken of as still future. Assuming the rectified chronology given above, we are carried to a time ten or eleven years before the invasion, which was probably in part caused by the ambitious schemes indicated in Isaiah 39. It follows from either view that we have no ground for assuming, as some commentators have done, (1) that the illness was an attack of the plague that destroyed the Assyrian army, or (2) that the treasures which Hezekiah showed to the Babylonian ambassadors were in part the spoil of that army.

Set thine house in order.--Literally, Give orders to thy house, euphemistic for "make thy will." The words are a striking illustration, like Jonah's announcement that Nineveh should be destroyed in three days (Jonah 3:4), of the conditional character of prophecy. It would seem as if Isaiah had been consulted half as prophet and half as physician as to the nature of the disease. It seemed to him fatal; it was necessary to prepare for death. The words may possibly imply a certain sense of disappointment at the result of Hezekiah's reign. In the midst of the king's magnificence and prosperity there was that in the inner house of the soul, as well as in that of the outer life, which required ordering.

Verse 1. - In those days. The illness of Hezekiah is fixed by ver. 5 (and 2 Kings 20:6) to the fourteenth year of his reign, or B.C. 714. The entire narrative of this chapter and the next is therefore thirteen or fourteen years earlier than that of ch. 36, 37, which belongs to Hezekiah's closing years, B.C. 701-698 (see the comment on Isaiah 26:l, 2). Sick unto death; i.e. attacked by a malady which, if it had run its natural course, would have been fatal. Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. This double designation of Isaiah, by his office and by his descent, marks the original independence of this narrative, which was not intended for a continuation of ch. 37. Thou shalt die, and not live. Prophecies were often threats, and, when such, were conditional, announcing results which would follow unless averted by prayer or repentance (compare Jonah's prophecy, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown," Jonah 3:4).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
In those
הָהֵ֔ם (hā·hêm)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

days
בַּיָּמִ֣ים (bay·yā·mîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

Hezekiah
חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ (ḥiz·qî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2396: Hezekiah -- 'Yah has strengthened', a king of Judah, also several other Israelites

became mortally
לָמ֑וּת (lā·mūṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

ill.
חָלָ֥ה (ḥā·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2470: To be weak or sick

The prophet
הַנָּבִ֗יא (han·nā·ḇî)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet

Isaiah
יְשַׁעְיָ֨הוּ (yə·ša‘·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3470: Isaiah -- 'salvation of Yah', four Israelites

son
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Amoz
אָמ֜וֹץ (’ā·mō·wṣ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 531: Amoz -- 'strong', the father of Isaiah

came
וַיָּב֣וֹא (way·yā·ḇō·w)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to him
אֵ֠לָיו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

and said,
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“This is what
כֹּֽה־ (kōh-)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

says:
אָמַ֤ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Put your house
לְבֵיתֶ֔ךָ (lə·ḇê·ṯe·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

in order,
צַ֣ו (ṣaw)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

for
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you
אַתָּ֖ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are about to die;
מֵ֥ת (mêṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

you will not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

recover.’”
תִֽחְיֶֽה׃ (ṯiḥ·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 38:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 37:38
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