Isaiah 38:12

KJV

Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day [even] to night wilt thou make an end of me.

KJV (with Strong's)

Mine age {H1755} is departed {H5265}, and is removed {H1540} from me as a shepherd's {H7473} tent {H168}: I have cut off {H7088} like a weaver {H707} my life {H2416}: he will cut me off {H1214} with pining sickness {H1803}: from day {H3117} even to night {H3915} wilt thou make an end {H7999} of me.

Complete Jewish Bible

My home is uprooted and taken away from me like a shepherd's tent. Like a weaver, I have rolled up my life; he cuts me off from the loom. Between day and night you could finish me off.

Berean Standard Bible

My dwelling has been picked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom; from day until night You make an end of me.

American Standard Version

My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me as a shepherd’s tent: I have rolled up, like a weaver, my life; he will cut me off from the loom: From day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 38:12 poignantly captures King Hezekiah's profound anguish and despair as he confronts what he believes to be his imminent death from a grave illness. Through deeply evocative poetic imagery, he laments the abrupt and irreversible termination of his life, likening its departure to the swift dismantling of a temporary shepherd's tent and its severance to a weaver cutting thread from a loom. This verse powerfully conveys his overwhelming sense of helplessness and the swift, divinely ordained end he perceives is descending upon him, from one moment to the next.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of King Hezekiah's personal "writing" or prayer (Hebrew: *mikhtav*), recorded in [Isaiah 38:9-20](/isaiah/38-9-20 "Isaiah 38:9-20 - Hezekiah's Prayer of Thanksgiving"). While expressing the raw despair Hezekiah felt at the brink of death, it is crucial to note that this lament is presented as a song of thanksgiving *after* God had mercifully granted him an additional fifteen years of life, as promised in [Isaiah 38:5](/isaiah/38-5 "Isaiah 38:5 - God Grants Hezekiah Fifteen More Years"). The preceding narrative in [Isaiah 38:1-8](/isaiah/38-1-8 "Isaiah 38:1-8 - Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery") details the prophet Isaiah's initial pronouncement of death, Hezekiah's fervent prayer, and God's miraculous intervention, including the sign of the sundial moving backward. Thus, [Isaiah 38:12](/isaiah/38-12 "Isaiah 38:12 - Hezekiah's Lament") encapsulates the intense fear and sorrow Hezekiah experienced during his illness, even as he later recounted it from a place of gratitude and deliverance. It serves as a vivid flashback to his state of mind before God's miraculous healing.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Hezekiah reigned over Judah from approximately 715 to 686 BC, a period fraught with significant political and military pressures, particularly from the formidable Assyrian Empire. His severe illness, described in this chapter, is generally placed around the time of Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem, circa 701 BC, as suggested by the narrative flow in [Isaiah 36-39](/isaiah/36 "Isaiah 36-39 - Historical Interlude: Hezekiah and Assyria"). In ancient Israelite thought, severe illness and premature death were often perceived not merely as physical ailments but as signs of divine displeasure or judgment, leading to profound spiritual and existential distress for the afflicted. The vivid imagery Hezekiah employs—a shepherd's tent and a weaver's loom—would have resonated deeply with his contemporary audience. Shepherd's tents ([Hebrew: _ʼôhel_](/isaiah/38-12 "Strong's H168 - Tent")) were inherently temporary, easily erected and dismantled, symbolizing the transient and impermanent nature of human life. Weaving was a ubiquitous and essential craft, and the cutting of the finished cloth from the loom perfectly illustrated an abrupt, irreversible, and decisive end to a process or, metaphorically, to life itself.
* **Key Themes:** [Isaiah 38:12](/isaiah/38-12 "Isaiah 38:12 - Hezekiah's Lament") contributes significantly to several overarching theological and narrative themes within the [Book of Isaiah](/isaiah/1 "The Book of Isaiah") and the broader biblical canon. It powerfully underscores the **mortality and fragility of human life**, presenting a stark contrast to God's eternal nature and absolute sovereignty, a theme beautifully articulated in [Psalm 90:10](/psalms/90-10 "Psalm 90:10 - The Brevity of Life"). Hezekiah's words convey a deep sense of **despair and helplessness** in the face of death, vividly portraying the universal human experience of suffering and the fear of the unknown. Crucially, despite his anguish, Hezekiah acknowledges **divine sovereignty** over life and death, recognizing that God is the one who "will cut me off" and "make an end of me." This profound lament also serves as a testament to the **power of prayer and lament**, demonstrating how an individual can pour out their deepest fears and sorrows before God, a practice exemplified throughout the [Book of Psalms](/psalms/1 "The Book of Psalms - Songs of Praise and Lament").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Age (Hebrew, _dôwr'_):** From a root meaning "to revolve," this term properly refers to a revolution of time, signifying an age or a generation. In Hezekiah's lament, "Mine age is departed" expresses his profound conviction that his allotted span of life, his very existence within time, is being abruptly and prematurely concluded, far short of its natural expectation. It conveys a sense of life being cut off in its prime.
* **Departed (Hebrew, _nâçaʻ'_):** A primitive root meaning "to pull up," specifically referring to the pulling up of tent-pins to begin a journey or remove a dwelling. This word vividly evokes the image of a nomadic shepherd striking his tent, emphasizing the sudden, complete, and irreversible removal of Hezekiah's life, just as a temporary dwelling is taken down and moved away. It highlights the transient nature of his earthly existence.
* **Pining sickness (Hebrew, _dallâh'_):** From a root meaning "to dangle," this word properly describes something hanging loosely, like a loose thread or hair. Figuratively, it denotes indigence or weakness. In this context, "pining sickness" accurately portrays a debilitating, wasting, or languishing condition, vividly describing the severe, life-threatening nature of Hezekiah's illness that was causing him to waste away and lose his vitality.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent:"** Hezekiah expresses his profound conviction that his life's span is being abruptly and decisively cut short. The powerful simile of a "shepherd's tent" underscores the temporary and easily dismantled nature of his existence, suggesting that his life is being packed up and taken away with startling swiftness and finality, leaving no trace behind.
* **"I have cut off like a weaver my life:"** This clause shifts the imagery to the meticulous craft of weaving. A weaver, upon completing a piece of cloth, cuts it from the loom, signifying a finished work. Hezekiah uses this metaphor to describe the perceived abrupt severance of his own life, as if his thread of existence, or his life's work, has been prematurely and decisively cut by an external, sovereign hand. The "I have cut off" could be a poetic expression of his feeling of being cut off, rather than an active cutting by himself.
* **"he will cut me off with pining sickness:"** Here, the subject clearly shifts to God ("he"), acknowledging divine agency in his affliction. The "pining sickness" (a debilitating, wasting illness) is identified as the direct instrument through which God is bringing about his end. This reveals Hezekiah's profound theological understanding that God is ultimately sovereign over all aspects of life, including suffering and death.
* **"from day [even] to night wilt thou make an end of me."** This final clause emphasizes the extreme rapidity and completeness of his perceived demise. The transition from "day to night" signifies an immediate, sudden, and total cessation of life, highlighting the overwhelming sense of urgency, helplessness, and hopelessness Hezekiah felt as he faced what he believed to be his impending death.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 38:12 is rich in **Simile** and **Metaphor**, which powerfully convey Hezekiah's despair and the perceived swiftness of his demise. His life is directly compared to a "shepherd's tent," a temporary dwelling easily disassembled and moved, emphasizing its inherent fragility and the suddenness of its perceived removal. This is reinforced by the **Metaphor** of life as a woven fabric, where the act of "cutting off like a weaver" signifies an abrupt, decisive, and final termination of his existence. The verse also employs **Divine Agency**, as Hezekiah attributes his impending death directly to God ("he will cut me off," "wilt thou make an end of me"), underscoring his belief in God's ultimate sovereignty over life and death. The phrase "from day even to night" uses **Hyperbole** to intensify the sense of immediate and complete destruction, portraying death as an inescapable, rapid descent that offers no reprieve.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hezekiah's lament in [Isaiah 38:12](/isaiah/38-12 "Isaiah 38:12 - Hezekiah's Lament") profoundly articulates the universal human experience of mortality and the existential dread that often accompanies the anticipation of death. It serves as a stark reminder that life, irrespective of status, righteousness, or personal achievements, is inherently fragile and finite, ultimately subject to divine prerogative. His raw honesty in expressing his fear and sense of being "cut off" provides a powerful biblical model for lament, demonstrating that it is permissible and even necessary to voice profound sorrow, despair, and vulnerability directly to God. This passage ultimately points to God's absolute sovereignty, as Hezekiah recognizes the Lord's hand in his affliction, even in his deepest distress. It sets the stage for the subsequent narrative of God's compassionate response, highlighting His immense power to reverse even the most dire pronouncements and extend grace.

* [Psalm 90:10](/psalms/90-10 "Psalm 90:10 - The Brevity of Human Life") – "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."
* [Job 14:1-2](/job/14-1-2 "Job 14:1-2 - Man's Short and Troubled Life") – "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not."
* [1 Samuel 2:6](/1_samuel/2-6 "1 Samuel 2:6 - God's Sovereignty Over Life and Death") – "The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hezekiah's desperate cry in [Isaiah 38:12](/isaiah/38-12 "Isaiah 38:12 - Hezekiah's Lament") serves as a timeless mirror for our own human vulnerability and the profound preciousness of life. In a world that often seeks to deny or distract from the reality of mortality, this verse compels us to confront our finite existence, not necessarily with despair, but with a renewed sense of purpose, intentionality, and gratitude. It encourages us to live each day as a sacred gift, recognizing that our time is a finite resource entrusted to us by God. Furthermore, Hezekiah's example, even in his deepest anguish, underscores the profound importance of turning to God in moments of severe distress and perceived helplessness. His lament, though filled with sorrow and fear, is ultimately directed towards the One who holds ultimate power over life and death, reminding us that honest, heartfelt prayer is our most potent recourse and a vital expression of faith in times of suffering and uncertainty.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Hezekiah's raw honesty in lamenting his impending death resonate with your own experiences of fear or vulnerability in the face of life's uncertainties or perceived limitations?**
* **In what ways does the vivid imagery of a "shepherd's tent" or a "weaver's thread" challenge your perception of life's permanence and encourage you to live with greater intentionality and appreciation for each moment?**
* **How can acknowledging God's sovereignty over life and death, even in moments of deep suffering, strengthen your faith and prayer life, as it did for Hezekiah?**

### FAQ
**Why does Hezekiah say "thou wilt make an end of me" if God later grants him more life?**

Hezekiah's lament in [Isaiah 38:12](/isaiah/38-12 "Isaiah 38:12 - Hezekiah's Lament") reflects his state of mind *during* his severe illness, when he had received a direct and unequivocal prophecy from Isaiah that he would die ([Isaiah 38:1](/isaiah/38-1 "Isaiah 38:1 - Isaiah's Prophecy to Hezekiah")). His words are a raw, immediate expression of his despair and his deep theological understanding that God is sovereign over life and death. At that moment, he believed God was indeed bringing his life to an end as a divine decree. The subsequent granting of fifteen additional years of life ([Isaiah 38:5](/isaiah/38-5 "Isaiah 38:5 - God Grants Hezekiah Fifteen More Years")) was a miraculous intervention in response to his fervent prayer and tears, demonstrating God's compassion and willingness to alter His declared will based on human repentance and supplication. The prayer itself, including this verse, is recorded as part of his thanksgiving *after* his recovery, serving as a powerful testimony to the depth of despair from which God so mercifully delivered him.

**What is the significance of the "shepherd's tent" and "weaver" imagery?**

These two powerful similes in [Isaiah 38:12](/isaiah/38-12 "Isaiah 38:12 - Hezekiah's Poetic Imagery") vividly illustrate Hezekiah's perception of life's profound fragility and its abrupt, divinely ordained termination. A "shepherd's tent" ([Hebrew: _ʼôhel_](/isaiah/38-12 "Strong's H168 - Tent")) was a temporary dwelling, easily erected, dismantled, and moved from one location to another. This image symbolizes the transient and impermanent nature of human life on earth; its removal signifies a sudden, complete, and unceremonious departure. The "weaver" imagery refers to the common and intricate craft of weaving cloth on a loom. When the fabric is complete, the weaver cuts it from the loom, signifying a decisive and irreversible end to the work. This metaphor emphasizes that Hezekiah felt his life, like a finished piece of fabric, was being abruptly and definitively severed, its thread cut short by a sovereign hand. Both images underscore the swiftness, finality, and profound helplessness Hezekiah felt in the face of his perceived impending death.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hezekiah's desperate plea in [Isaiah 38:12](/isaiah/38-12 "Isaiah 38:12 - Hezekiah's Lament"), born from the primal fear of death and the perceived cutting short of his life, finds its ultimate answer and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Hezekiah received a temporary reprieve, a mere fifteen years added to his mortal life, Christ conquered death definitively and eternally. Hezekiah's experience of facing the "end" foreshadows the universal human condition and the inevitability of death for all, yet Jesus, the [Resurrection and the Life](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life"), offers not just a temporary extension of earthly existence but everlasting life to all who believe in Him. The "pining sickness" that threatened Hezekiah's life points to the pervasive reality of sin and its ultimate consequence, death. Yet, Christ, through His sacrificial death on the cross and His glorious resurrection, has swallowed up death in victory, as triumphantly declared in [1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1_corinthians/15-54-57 "1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Victory Over Death Through Christ"). Hezekiah's lament, though deeply poignant, reflects a limited understanding of the afterlife available in his era. But in Christ, believers are assured of a glorious future beyond the grave, a life that can never be "cut off" or "removed" by sickness, time, or any earthly power, for He is the [Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - Jesus, the Good Shepherd") and then takes it up again. Through His perfect empathy as our [great high priest](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest"), Jesus fully understands our fears of mortality, having Himself tasted death, and now offers true, abundant life and an enduring peace that transcends the fleeting "shepherd's tent" of this world.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Corinthians 5:1

¶ For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Psalms 73:14

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

Hebrews 1:12

And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

James 4:14

Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Job 9:25

¶ Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

Job 9:26

They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle [that] hasteth to the prey.

Isaiah 13:20

It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.