Isaiah 38:13

I reckoned till morning, [that], as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day [even] to night wilt thou make an end of me.

I reckoned {H7737} till morning {H1242}, that, as a lion {H738}, so will he break {H7665} all my bones {H6106}: from day {H3117} even to night {H3915} wilt thou make an end {H7999} of me.

I try to be strong like a lion till morning, but still my illness breaks all my bones - between day and night you could finish me off.

I composed myself until the morning. Like a lion He breaks all my bones; from day until night You make an end of me.

I quieted myself until morning; as a lion, so he breaketh all my bones: From day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

Commentary on Isaiah 38:13 (KJV)

Isaiah 38:13 captures the raw, desperate cry of King Hezekiah of Judah during a grave illness. This verse is part of a psalm or prayer Hezekiah composed after God, through the prophet Isaiah's stark prophecy, had informed him he would die. Despite this grim outlook, Hezekiah prayed fervently, and God miraculously added fifteen years to his life. This specific verse reflects his intense suffering and the feeling of imminent, brutal death before God's intervention.

Context

King Hezekiah was a righteous king who initiated significant religious reforms in Judah. However, he fell mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah delivered God's message that Hezekiah should set his house in order, for he would die. Rather than despairing completely, Hezekiah turned to God in passionate prayer, weeping bitterly (Isaiah 38:3). This verse, "I reckoned till morning, [that], as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day [even] to night wilt thou make an end of me," vividly portrays his anguish and the terrifying certainty of his impending demise, believing God Himself was bringing about his end.

Key Themes

  • Extreme Suffering and Despair: Hezekiah's language conveys profound physical agony and mental anguish. He feels utterly helpless, as if his body is being violently destroyed.
  • Imminent and Swift Death: The phrase "from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me" underscores the terrifying speed and inevitability of the death he anticipates. He expects a quick, painful demise.
  • Divine Agency in Suffering: Hezekiah attributes his suffering directly to God ("so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me"). This reflects a common biblical perspective where illness and death are seen as being within God's sovereign control, even if for reasons unknown to the sufferer.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "I reckoned till morning" suggests Hezekiah spent a sleepless night, anticipating the arrival of death with the new day. The vivid imagery of "as a lion, so will he break all my bones" uses the Hebrew word 'aryeh (lion), a powerful predator, to symbolize the overwhelming, destructive force of his illness or God's judgment upon him. This metaphor highlights the ferocity and totality of the perceived attack. Similar imagery of God's overwhelming power can be found in Job 10:16. The phrase "break all my bones" (Hebrew: shabar kol 'atsmotay) is a powerful hyperbole, not necessarily literal bone fractures, but rather a profound sense of physical collapse, utter weakness, and crushing pain, akin to being utterly crushed or pulverized.

Practical Application

Hezekiah's prayer in this passage offers comfort and insight for those experiencing severe suffering or facing death. It shows that:

  • Honest Lament is Valid: It is permissible and biblical to pour out raw, desperate feelings, even despair, before God. Hezekiah did not hide his fear or pain.
  • God Hears Desperate Prayers: Even when death seems certain, God can intervene and change the course of events, as He did for Hezekiah.
  • Trust in Sovereignty: While Hezekiah saw God as the agent of his suffering, his prayer ultimately led to a deeper trust and experience of God's mercy and power. This reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God remains sovereign and accessible.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 6:24

    And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

  • Psalms 51:8

    Make me to hear joy and gladness; [that] the bones [which] thou hast broken may rejoice.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:30

    For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:32

    But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

  • 1 Kings 13:24

    And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.

  • 1 Kings 13:26

    And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard [thereof], he said, It [is] the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him.

  • Job 10:16

    For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.
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