I waited patiently all night, but I was torn apart as though by lions. Suddenly, my life was over.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
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 51:8Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
- Dan 6:24The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions mauled them, and broke all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den.
- 1 Kgs 13:24–26When he had gone, a lion met him by the way and killed him. His body was thrown on the path, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the body.
- Ps 39:10Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
- Job 10:16–17If my head is held high, you hunt me like a lion. Again you show yourself powerful to me.
- Hos 5:14For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver.
- Ps 50:22“Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you into pieces, and there be no one to deliver.
- 1 Cor 11:30–32For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.
- Job 16:12–14I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.
- 1 Kgs 20:36Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed Yahweh’s voice, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will kill you.” As soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and killed 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.