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The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:
Isaiah 38:9 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered of his sickness.
  • BSB This is a writing by Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:
  • NKJV This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness:
  • NASB This is a writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:
  • NLT When King Hezekiah was well again, he wrote this poem:

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

This heading introduces Hezekiah's written thanksgiving after his recovery. The king records his ordeal and rescue in poetry.

Overview

The verse marks the beginning of a psalm-like composition by Hezekiah reflecting on his sickness and healing. Putting the experience into writing turns personal deliverance into lasting testimony and worship. Like the biblical psalms, it preserves a believer's journey through suffering to praise for the encouragement of others.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 14

  • Isa 12:1–6And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
  • Hos 6:1–2Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
  • Job 5:18For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
  • Exod 15:1–21Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
  • Ps 30:11–12Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
  • 2 Chr 29:30Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
  • Ps 18:1I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
  • 1 Sam 2:1–10And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
  • Deut 32:39See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
  • Judg 5:1–31Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
  • Jonah 2:1–9Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly,
  • Ps 118:18–19The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
  • Ps 116:1–4I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
  • Ps 107:17–22Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Isaiah videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Isaiah 38:9YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on IsaiahMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 38:9 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.