Isaiah 38:10 · Bible study
Isaiah 38:10 Commentary: Study: Lament and Hope in the Face of Death
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does a faithful king despair at death? This study examines Hezekiah's honest lament and the journey from grief to gratitude.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Hezekiah laments dying in his prime, but the full psalm moves from despair to gratitude after God’s healing.
- Key words: Demiy (quiet/cutting off) and Sheol (the underworld) anchor the verse’s tension between peace and death.
- Main debate: Whether demiy means “peacefulness” or “cutting off”, both point to an untimely death in middle age.
- Theological theme: Lament as an authentic expression of faith, even when facing death, and the hope of God’s rescue.
- Best use: A pastoral text for those wrestling with fear of death or praying through serious illness.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
I said, “In the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol. I am deprived of the residue of my years.”
KJV King James Version 1769
I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
I said, In the noontide of my days I shall go into the gates of Sheol: I am deprived of the residue of my years.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`I--I said in the cutting off of my days, I go in to the gates of Sheol, I have numbered the remnant of mine years.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
I said, In the meridian of my days I shall go to the gates of Sheol: I am deprived of the rest of my years.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
I said: In the midst of my days I shall go to the gates of hell: I sought for the residue of my years.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Yo dije: En el medio de mis días iré á las puertas del sepulcro: privado soy del resto de mis años.
Disse eu: No melhor de minha vida, irei às portas do mundo dos mortos; privado estou do resto dos meus anos.
Je disais: Quand mes jours sont en repos, je dois m’ en aller
Ich sprach: Nun muß ich zu der Höllen Pforten fahren in der Mitte meines Lebens, da ich gedachte, noch länger zu leben.
Ik zeide: Vanwege de afsnijding mijner dagen, zal ik tot de poorten des grafs heengaan, ik word beroofd van het overige mijner jaren.
“Io dicevo: Nel meriggio de’ miei giorni debbo andarmene alle porte del soggiorno de’ morti; io son privato del resto de’ miei anni!
Jam rzekł w ukróceniu dni moich: Wnijdę do bram grobu, pozbawion będę ostatka lat swoich;
"Я сказал в себе: в преполовение дней моих должен я идти во врата преисподней; я лишен остатка лет моих.
我 說：正在我中年（或譯：晌午）之日 必進入 陰間 的門；我餘剩的 年歲 不得享受。
I said, In the quiet of my days I am going down into the underworld: the rest of my years are being taken away from me.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 38:10
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators widely agree that Isaiah 38:10 records Hezekiah’s raw emotional response to the prospect of death in middle age. The context is his thanksgiving psalm (vv. 10, 20), written after recovery. The Hebrew phrase “in the cutting off of my days” (KJV) or “in the quiet of my days” (Gesenius, via Barnes) points to his prime, around age 39, when life should bring peace, not the grave. Calvin observes that Hezekiah “was oppressed by so great perplexity” and “sunk in lamentations,” yet this honest outpouring becomes a lesson in humility for all believers. Barnes notes that sickness here teaches Hezekiah not to count on future years, but to live wholly for God. The mention of “gates of Sheol” reflects the common ancient Near Eastern image of death as a walled city with gates, from which there is no return. Underlying the despair is a strong attachment to life, something the prophets often confronted, but the psalm as a whole moves from complaint to praise (vv. 15, 20), showing that faith does not deny grief but wrestles through it.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- ‘In the quiet of my days’ (Gesenius, Keil): The Hebrew דמי means ‘rest, peace’—Hezekiah expected tranquillity but was confronted with death.
- ‘In the cutting off of my days’ (KJV, Barnes): The sense is of a violent severing; he is cut down in mid-life.
What is clear: Regardless of the precise nuance, Hezekiah expresses the shock of facing death when he expected to live longer, and the overall psalm moves from lament to thanksgiving.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of demiy (דמי) | The word refers to a point in life when the king expected peace or was in the prime of life. | Some (KJV, Barnes) translate as 'cutting off,' implying sudden truncation; others (Gesenius, Keil) read it as 'quiet,' implying a peaceful season interrupted by death. |
| Hezekiah's faith at this moment | Hezekiah was a righteous king who trusted God, as shown by his earlier prayer (Isa 38:2, 3). | Calvin sees his lament as a sign of weakness overcome by grace; others (Matthew Henry) view it as a natural fear that does not negate his faith. |
| Liturgical function of the poem | The psalm was adapted for temple worship (Isa 38:20). | Cambridge Bible treats it as an independent insertion, while others see it as Hezekiah’s original composition. |
| How to understand Sheol | Sheol is the abode of the dead, a place of silence without praise of God (Isa 38:18). | Some traditions see it as a shadowy neutral realm; others (later Jewish and Christian) develop distinct ideas of heaven and hell. The Old Testament itself does not fully articulate a resurrection hope; that grows later. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Hezekiah’s sickness occurred around 701 BC, shortly after the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib’s army (Isaiah 37). The king was in his late thirties, at the height of his political and spiritual leadership, a time when he might have expected many more years to complete his reforms and enjoy peace. Instead, Isaiah delivered a stark death sentence (38:1). Hezekiah prayed with tears, and God granted him fifteen additional years, confirmed by the sign of the retreating shadow (38:7, 8). This thanksgiving song (38:10, 20) is not recorded in 2 Kings 20; the Cambridge Bible suggests it was inserted from an independent source and arranged for liturgical use in the temple.
The imagery of “gates of Sheol” draws on a widespread ancient concept of the underworld as a fortified city with bars and gates (cf. Job 17:16; Psalm 107:18). Sheol in the Old Testament is not a place of punishment but the shadowy realm of the dead, cut off from praise of God (38:18). The phrase “in the cutting off of my days” (KJV) has been translated variously as “the meridian of my days” (Rosenmüller) or “the quiet of my days” (Gesenius). Both capture the sense of a life cut short before its natural completion. Culturally, lament psalms like this one were common in Israel’s worship (e.g., Psalm 6, 42), giving voice to anguish while ultimately affirming trust. Hezekiah’s song follows that pattern: the first half (vv. 10, 14) describes despair, and the second (vv. 15, 20) moves to gratitude. This structure shows that biblical faith does not suppress honest emotions but brings them before God.
Textual Notes
Reception History
This psalm has been read as a model of honest lament. Calvin’s commentary emphasizes that Hezekiah’s struggle instructs believers in humility and the grace of God. The Cambridge Bible notes that the poem was adapted for public worship in the temple (38:20), suggesting it functioned as a liturgical text for those who had recovered from illness. In later Jewish tradition, the story of Hezekiah’s added years was seen as a sign of God’s mercy in response to prayer. Christian preachers have often drawn on this verse to comfort those facing premature death, showing that even a faithful king felt the sting of mortality, yet found hope.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Death comes without warning, even in the prime of life. Hezekiah was about 39, at the height of his success. His words “in the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol” remind us that mortality does not respect our plans.
- Faith permits honest lament. Hezekiah does not pretend to be unafraid. He expresses deep anguish, and this is part of the biblical tradition of lament. Calvin says this record is “advantageous to us” because it shows a man of faith wrestling with fear.
- God’s deliverance transforms despair into testimony. The song ends with praise (vv. 18, 20). Hezekiah’s psalm became a pattern for worship, a reminder that God hears and restores.
Five-point outline
- Despair is not the opposite of faith. Hezekiah’s cry is honest. He does not deny his feelings but brings them to God.
- Death is an enemy, even for the righteous. The language of “Sheol” as a place of silence and separation from worship is a theological statement: death was not part of God’s original plan.
- The longing for extended years is natural. Hezekiah wanted to see God’s work continue. His desire is not purely selfish but includes concern for his people and his legacy.
- God’s answer is not simply a reprieve; it is a gift. The fifteen extra years are a sign of grace, not a reward for merit. Hezekiah acknowledges this by recalling his sins in verse 17.
- Every day is a gift to praise. The final verses commit to singing in the temple. This turns the psalm into a pattern for corporate worship.
Illustration hooks
- A young parent diagnosed with a serious illness suddenly realizes the fragility of their plans. They are “in the prime of life” but face an uncertain future.
- An unexpected job loss or financial crisis can feel like a “cutting off” of the years one expected. The grief is real, but it can be brought to God in prayer.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Is it wrong to be afraid of death if I trust God?” (No; Hezekiah himself feared, yet his faith remained.)
- “How can I pray when I feel angry or bitter about my circumstances?” (Lament psalms show that God welcomes honest cries.)
Leading a Discussion
Hezekiah’s song teaches us that honest grief and trust in God can coexist. This discussion helps groups explore the tension between despair and faith when facing mortality.
Discussion questions
- Read Isaiah 38:10. What images stand out to you in Hezekiah’s description of his situation?
- The word “Sheol” appears often in the Old Testament. What does this verse suggest about how the ancient Israelites understood death? How is that similar or different from our understanding?
- Hezekiah says he is “deprived of the residue of my years.” Why does he feel this loss so keenly? What does this reveal about his hopes and expectations?
- Compare Hezekiah’s response to the prospect of death with Paul’s words in Philippians 1:21, 24. How can both perspectives be valid for a Christian?
- Verse 17 says God cast his sins behind his back. How does Hezekiah connect his physical healing with spiritual forgiveness?
- In what situations do you find it hard to bring your honest complaints to God? How might Hezekiah’s example help you pray more openly?
- How can this psalm shape the way you support someone who is facing a life-threatening illness?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Job 6:11 | What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient? |
| Job 7:7 | Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will no more see good. |
| Job 17:11 | My days are past. My plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart. |
| Job 17:16 | Shall it go down with me to the gates of Sheol, or descend together into the dust?” |
| Psalms 102:24 | I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations. |
| Psalms 107:18 | Their soul abhors all kinds of food. They draw near to the gates of death. |
| Isaiah 38:1 | 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.’” |
| II Corinthians 1:9 | Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws attention to the Hebrew word "demi," meaning stillness or quiet, and argues that Hezekiah was cut off in that quiet middle of life when he had every prospect of peace and usefulness. His point is that this sickness was God's way of correcting a misplaced desire for long life and turning the king fully toward preparing for death.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin observes that Hezekiah's desperate clinging to earthly life appears to contradict heavenly doctrine, yet this honest cry of weakness serves a vital purpose. It teaches all believers humility by exposing human frailty, and it magnifies God's grace in rescuing a ruined man from the depths of death.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This poem, inserted from an independent source, is likely a liturgical adaptation rather than a direct historical record. The personal details are suppressed for Temple worship, and the language points to a later date. The shift from "I" to "we" in verse 20 suggests it was used congregationally.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
I saide in the cutting off of my dayes, I shall goe to the gates of the graue: I am depriued of the residue of my yeeres.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill suggests that Hezekiah's phrase about being deprived of his remaining years could be read as "I am visited with more of my years." The king expected an early death, but this translation turns the line into a grateful recognition that God graciously added fifteen years to his life.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch focus on the exact meaning of the Hebrew words: Hezekiah is not simply "made to want" the rest of his years but is punished by being deprived of them. They also stress the weaver imagery -- Hezekiah rolled up his life like a finished cloth, and God was about to cut him free from the loom.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that Hezekiah's sickness actually happened before Sennacherib's invasion, not after as the chapter order suggests. The arrangement was rearranged for thematic connections, not chronology, and the Isaiah version shows signs of later editing that intensified the miracle.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that Hezekiah's sickness was the outward mark of inward trouble—his sins brought him to the brink. The king’s recovery is therefore not just physical but spiritual: God’s healing showed that He had also pardoned his sins, casting them behind His back.