Keraia
Isaiah 38

Isaiah 38:10

Hezekiah’s Song of Thanksgiving · Isaiah 38:9–22
Read Isaiah 38

Translations

Modern
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.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
I said, “In the prime of my life I will go inside the gates of Sheol; I am consigned there for the remainder of my years.”
Latin
Ego dixi in dimidio dierum meorum: Vadam ad portas inferi; quæsivi residuum annorum meorum.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.”

Notes

Isaiah 38:10

go through the gates of Sheol: This image comes from an ancient belief that people enter death through gates (see Isaiah 14:9). Old Testament believers did not understand the afterlife as the New Testament describes it. They saw it as a shadowy place where all the dead gathered, and where no one praised God (see Isaiah 38:18; Psalms 88:10; 115:17).

Isaiah 38:9–20

Hezekiah’s poem includes both lament (Isaiah 38:9–14) and praise (38:15–20). The praise remains restrained until the final verse.

Theme notes and profiles

Hezekiah Isaiah Salvation in Isaiah

Events

Glossary

Hell Hezekiah History of Israel Inscriptions Isaiah, Book of Kings, Books of First and Second Miracle Sheol

Topics

Death: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Gates of the Grave Gates: (Of the Grave) Death Hezekiah: King of Judah: His Psalm of Thanksgiving Murmuring: Hezekiah Psalms of Hezekiah, Celebrating Deliverance from Death