What does Isaiah 38:15 mean?
"What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul." - Isaiah 38:15
The verse Isaiah 38:15 in the King James Version of the Bible reads, "What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul."
This verse is from a passage in which King Hezekiah of Judah falls ill and is told by the prophet Isaiah that he will die. Hezekiah prays earnestly to God and God grants him fifteen more years of life. This verse comes from Hezekiah's response to this gift of extra years, as he reflects on the bitterness of his soul and the remainder of his days.
The verse has rich themes of human emotion, divine intervention, and the acceptance of mortality. Hezekiah's turmoil and fear over his impending death are evident in his words. The bitterness of his soul reflects the heaviness and sorrow he feels at the prospect of his own mortality. This is a universal theme that resonates with all people, as we all must face our mortality and the sorrow that can come with it.
However, the verse also highlights the idea of divine intervention and the power of prayer. Hezekiah acknowledges that God not only spoke to him, but also acted on his behalf. This demonstrates the belief in the power of God to bring about change and intervene in the lives of individuals. It also brings forth the theme of gratitude and humility, as Hezekiah recognizes that his extended life is a gift from God.
The idea of going "softly all my years" can be interpreted as a commitment to live a life of humility, gratitude, and reverence for the gift of life that has been given to him. Hezekiah seems to express a desire to live out these additional years in a way that honours the sanctity and preciousness of life.
The context of this verse is also important to understand its full significance. Hezekiah was a king of Judah, and his illness and eventual recovery were significant events in the history of the kingdom. His extension of life was a demonstration of God's power and grace, and it also had larger implications for the political and spiritual leadership of Judah.
In terms of symbolism, the verse can be seen as a representation of the human experience of suffering, fear, and the struggle to find hope and meaning in the face of mortality. Hezekiah's words capture the depth of human emotion and the complexities of faith in the midst of adversity.
Additionally, the verse can also symbolize the idea of living the remaining years of one's life with purpose and humility. Hezekiah's resolve to "go softly" speaks to the wisdom and maturity that can come with facing one's own mortality, and the desire to live in a way that reflects gratitude and reverence for the gift of life.
In conclusion, Isaiah 38:15 from the King James Version of the Bible offers a profound reflection on the human experience of mortality, divine intervention, and the response of gratitude and humility in the face of suffering. It is a verse that invites us to contemplate the depths of our own souls and the way we choose to live out our days, regardless of the adversities we may face. It is a reminder of the power of faith, prayer, and the capacity for hope and renewal in the face of life's challenges.
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Isaiah 38:15 - "What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul."
"What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul." - Isaiah 38:15
Isaiah 38:4 - "¶ Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,"
Isaiah 38:17
"¶ Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying," - Isaiah 38:4
Joshua 15:38 - "And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,"
Isaiah 38:21 - "For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover."
Isaiah 38:2 - "Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,"
Mark 15:38 - "And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom."
"And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel," - Joshua 15:38
Isaiah 38:6 - "And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city."
Job 38:15 - "And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken."
Isaiah 38:9 - "¶ The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:"
Isaiah 38:22 - "Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?"
Isaiah 38:7 - "And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;"
Matthew 15:38 - "And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children."
Isaiah 38:18 - "For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth."
1 Corinthians 15:38 - "But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body."
Isaiah 38:1 - "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live."
Isaiah 38:19 - "The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth."
Psalms 38:15 - "For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God."
Exodus 38:15 - "And for the other side of the court gate, on this hand and that hand, were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three."
Isaiah 38:11 - "I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world."
Isaiah 38:20 - "The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD."
Isaiah 38:10 - "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."
Genesis 38:15 - "When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face."
Acts 15:38 - "But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work."
Isaiah 38:16 - "O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live."
"And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom." - Mark 15:38
"For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover." - Isaiah 38:21