Keraia
Isaiah 38

Isaiah 38:2

Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery · Isaiah 38:1–8
Read Isaiah 38

Translations

Modern
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
Traditional
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord,
Literal
And Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed to YHWH,
Latin
Et convertit Ezechias faciem suam ad parietem, et oravit ad Dominum,

Original

Hebrew
English
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,

Notes

Isaiah 38:1–9

The story of Hezekiah’s healing connects two events. It links the extension of Hezekiah’s life with Jerusalem’s rescue from the Assyrians.

These events happened before Jerusalem was saved. However, the book places them in this order because of their theme, not their time sequence. One main theme is the power of prayer (see Isaiah 37:14–20; 38:2–3). The Lord truly listens.

Hezekiah learned to trust God. His father, Ahaz, had refused to trust the Lord. Because Hezekiah trusted God, Judah and Jerusalem were spared complete destruction by the Assyrians.

Still, Hezekiah was not the promised Messiah, the Son of David (Isaiah 7:14; 9:1–7; 11:1–16; 16:5; 32:1; 33:17–22). He was a faithful king, but he was also human and would die. His failures and his sickness (chapters 38–39) prepare the reader for the coming of the true Messiah described in chapters 40–66.

Theme notes and profiles

Hezekiah Isaiah Salvation in Isaiah

Events

Parallels

2 Kings 20:1–11 2 Chronicles 32:24–31

People

Hezekiah: A righteous king of Judah

Glossary

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

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Disease of Hezekiah Hezekiah: King of Judah: Sickness and Restoration of Natural Life: Sometimes Prolonged, in Answer to Prayer Prayer: Importunity In Sickness: Saints: Pray for Recovery From