I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
Parallel translations
- WEB I waited patiently until morning. He breaks all my bones like a lion. From day even to night you will make an end of me.
- BSB I composed myself until the morning. Like a lion He breaks all my bones; from day until night You make an end of me.
- NKJV I have considered until morning— Like a lion, So He breaks all my bones; From day until night You make an end of me.
- NASB “I composed my soul until morning. Like a lion—so He breaks all my bones, From day until night You make an end of me.
- NLT I waited patiently all night, but I was torn apart as though by lions. Suddenly, my life was over.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Hezekiah likens his pain to a lion breaking his bones, day and night. His suffering felt relentless and overwhelming.
Overview
The king describes God's chastening as crushing, like a lion, with no relief from day to night. His raw lament does not hide the severity of his distress. Such honest prayer in suffering is welcomed by God, who invites his people to bring even their agony to him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ps 51:8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
- Dan 6:24And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
- 1 Kgs 13:24–26And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
- Ps 39:10Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
- Job 10:16–17For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.
- Hos 5:14For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
- Ps 50:22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
- 1 Cor 11:30–32For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
- Job 16:12–14I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
- 1 Kgs 20:36Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 38:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.