Isaiah 38:15

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"What is there that I can say? He has spoken to me and acted! I will go humbly all my years, remembering how bitter I was.

Berean Standard Bible:

What can I say? He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done this. I will walk slowly all my years because of the anguish of my soul.

American Standard Version:

What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

What shall I say^{H1696}? he hath both spoken^{H559} unto me, and himself hath done^{H6213} it: I shall go softly^{H1718} all my years^{H8141} in the bitterness^{H4751} of my soul^{H5315}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Isaiah 38:15

Isaiah 38:15 is a verse from the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament, found within the book of Isaiah, which is a collection of prophecies attributed to the prophet Isaiah. This particular verse is part of a larger narrative concerning the illness and recovery of King Hezekiah of Judah.

In the historical context, Hezekiah was a king known for his religious reforms and for seeking to restore the worship of Yahweh in Judah. In the chapters leading up to Isaiah 38, Hezekiah faces a severe illness that is believed to be life-threatening. The prophet Isaiah delivers a message from God to Hezekiah, telling him to put his house in order because he is going to die (Isaiah 38:1). Hezekiah prays to God, asking for mercy and reminding God of his faithfulness. Moved by his prayer, God decides to extend Hezekiah's life by fifteen years and promises to deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrians (Isaiah 38:5-6).

In Isaiah 38:15, after Hezekiah has been informed of his recovery, he reflects on the experience. The verse captures Hezekiah's response to God's intervention in his life. "What shall I say? He hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done [it]" expresses Hezekiah's acknowledgment of God's power and faithfulness. God has not only promised to heal him but has also brought about the healing. The latter part of the verse, "I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul," suggests a profound change in Hezekiah's demeanor and outlook on life. The phrase "go softly" can be interpreted as living with humility and caution, recognizing his vulnerability and dependence on God. The "bitterness of my soul" may refer to the lingering sorrow or reflection on his mortality and the gravity of his illness, which has left a lasting impact on his spirit.

The themes present in this verse include divine intervention, human vulnerability, and the transformative power of personal experience with the divine. It speaks to the power of prayer and the reality of human suffering, as well as the hope and humility that can arise from a personal encounter with the mercy and power of God. Hezekiah's words resonate with the broader themes of the book of Isaiah, which often emphasizes trust in God, the importance of righteousness, and the assurance of God's deliverance for those who are faithful.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1718
   There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּדָה
   Transliteration: dâdâh
   Pronunciation: daw-daw'
   Description: a doubtful root; to walk gently; go (softly, with).
   
5. Strong's Number: H8141
   There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁנֶה
   Transliteration: shâneh
   Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
   Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly).
   
6. Strong's Number: H4751
   There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַר
   Transliteration: mar
   Pronunciation: mar
   Description: or (feminine) מָרָה; from מָרַר; bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly; [phrase] angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented, [idiom] great, heavy.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5315
   There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
   Transliteration: nephesh
   Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
   Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.