Isaiah 38:4

KJV

Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,

KJV (with Strong's)

Then came the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068} to Isaiah {H3470}, saying {H559},

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the word of ADONAI came to Yesha'yahu:

Berean Standard Bible

And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying,

American Standard Version

Then came the word of Jehovah to Isaiah, saying,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 38:4 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of King Hezekiah's life, serving as the divine turning point where the word of the LORD comes directly to the prophet Isaiah with a new message for the ailing king. This verse signals God's immediate and merciful response to Hezekiah's fervent prayer, reversing the previously declared death sentence and demonstrating God's dynamic interaction with humanity in the face of sincere petition. It underscores the authority of divine communication channeled through His chosen prophet.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the dramatic account of King Hezekiah's illness and miraculous recovery, found in [Isaiah 38](/isaiah/38 "Isaiah 38 - Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery"). It immediately follows Hezekiah's desperate and tearful prayer after receiving a grim prophecy from Isaiah that he would die ([Isaiah 38:1](/isaiah/38-1 "Isaiah 38:1 - Isaiah's Prophecy of Death")). While the initial message from God through Isaiah was absolute ("Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live"), Hezekiah's earnest plea, turning his face to the wall and weeping bitterly while recalling his faithful service ([Isaiah 38:2-3](/isaiah/38-2 "Isaiah 38:2-2 - Hezekiah's Prayer for Life")) prompts this swift and compassionate divine intervention. Isaiah 38:4 thus acts as the hinge between God's initial decree and His subsequent, merciful reversal, highlighting the power of prayer within God's sovereign plan and the immediacy of divine response.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Hezekiah reigned over Judah from approximately 715-686 BC, a period marked by significant political and religious turmoil. The Assyrian Empire was the dominant world power, threatening Judah's existence, as seen in the preceding chapters of Isaiah concerning Sennacherib's invasion ([Isaiah 36](/isaiah/36 "Isaiah 36 - Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah")-[37](/isaiah/37 "Isaiah 37 - God Delivers Jerusalem")). In this context, the health and succession of the king were paramount for national stability and continuity, as the king embodied the nation's well-being. Illness, particularly a life-threatening one, could be interpreted as divine judgment or a sign of weakness, potentially undermining the king's authority and the nation's morale. The practice of seeking a prophet for divine counsel regarding such matters was a common cultural norm in ancient Israel, underscoring the prophet's role as a direct conduit for God's will and a vital source of guidance for the monarchy. Hezekiah's public display of grief and prayer reflects the deep spiritual and emotional responses expected of a faithful king facing mortality and seeking divine favor.
* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 38:4 significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Isaiah and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **Divine Communication and Revelation**, emphasizing that God actively speaks into human history, often through His chosen messengers like Isaiah, thereby revealing His will and character. Secondly, it highlights **God's Responsiveness to Prayer**, demonstrating that while God is sovereign, He is also intimately involved and responsive to the sincere cries of His people, even to the point of altering a previously declared outcome. This dynamic interaction between divine sovereignty and human petition is a recurring motif throughout Scripture, as seen in passages like [Jeremiah 33:3](/jeremiah/33-3 "Jeremiah 33:3 - Call to Me and I Will Answer"). Thirdly, the verse reinforces **The Role of the Prophet** as an authoritative intermediary between God and humanity, carrying messages that can profoundly impact the lives of individuals and nations. This divine-human interaction underscores God's personal engagement with His covenant people and His willingness to engage with their heartfelt pleas.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **word (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** From the root דָבַר, this term signifies more than just spoken sound; it encompasses a "matter," "thing," "affair," "decree," or "event." In this context, "the word of the LORD" (dabar YHWH) is not merely information but carries inherent power and authority, capable of bringing about action and change. It represents God's active will and intention being communicated, often with performative force.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, God's covenant name, often translated as "Jehovah" or "the Lord." Derived from the verb "to be" (הָיָה), it emphasizes God's self-existence, eternality, and His personal, relational nature as the God who makes and keeps covenants with His people. The use of this name here underscores that the message is from the ultimate, sovereign, and faithful God of Israel, who is intimately involved in the affairs of His creation.
* **saying (Hebrew, _ʼâmar'_):** A primitive root meaning "to say," but used with great latitude to include "answer," "appoint," "declare," "command," or "utter." Here, it denotes the direct, explicit, and authoritative pronouncement of God's message through Isaiah, indicating that the prophet is faithfully relaying the divine utterance without addition or subtraction. It emphasizes the verbal and intentional nature of God's communication.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then came the word of the LORD":** This opening phrase signifies an immediate and direct divine intervention, a fresh communication from God. The "word of the LORD" is personified as actively "coming" or arriving, highlighting its power, urgency, and the divine initiative in communicating. It implies a new revelation, distinct from the previous message, underscoring God's dynamic engagement with Hezekiah's situation.
* **"to Isaiah, saying,":** This clause precisely identifies the specific recipient of the divine message—the prophet Isaiah—and explicitly confirms his crucial role as God's chosen messenger. The inclusion of "saying" indicates that what follows is the direct content of God's spoken word, reinforcing the authenticity, authority, and verbal nature of the message that Isaiah is about to deliver to King Hezekiah. It emphasizes the direct line of communication established between God and His prophet, validating Isaiah's prophetic office.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Direct Revelation** and **Conciseness**. **Direct Revelation** is profoundly evident as the "word of the LORD" is explicitly stated to "come to Isaiah, saying," positioning Isaiah as a direct and immediate conduit for God's divine communication. This device powerfully establishes the unquestionable divine authority and origin of the message that follows. The **Conciseness** of the verse, a mere six words in the KJV, lends it a sense of profound urgency and directness. There is no elaborate preamble or descriptive flourish; only the stark, impactful statement of divine communication, which dramatically heightens the sense of divine immediacy and prepares the reader for the astonishing message of healing and extended life that immediately follows.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 38:4 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of God's interaction with humanity. It reveals a God who is not distant or immutable in a way that precludes responsiveness, but rather one who hears, cares, and actively intervenes in the lives of His people. The swift arrival of "the word of the LORD" immediately after Hezekiah's prayer powerfully illustrates the efficacy of fervent petition and God's compassionate willingness to alter circumstances in response to genuine repentance and faith. This verse underscores the dynamic relationship between divine sovereignty and human agency, demonstrating that while God's ultimate purposes remain steadfast, His specific dealings with individuals can be influenced by their heartfelt appeals. It is a testament to God's character as both just and merciful, capable of reversing a decree of death and extending life, revealing His profound personal engagement with His covenant people.

* [Psalm 66:19](/psalm/66-19 "Psalm 66:19 - God Has Surely Heard Me")
* [James 5:16](/james/5-16 "James 5:16 - The Prayer of a Righteous Person")
* [1 John 5:14](/1_john/5-14 "1 John 5:14-15 - Confidence in Prayer")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 38:4 offers immense encouragement to believers today, reminding us that God is intimately involved in our lives and profoundly attentive to our prayers. Hezekiah’s story, punctuated by this verse, teaches us that even when circumstances seem dire or a divine decree appears final, sincere and humble prayer can move the heart of God. This is not to suggest that God changes His character or His ultimate, eternal plan, but rather that His interaction with us is dynamic, inviting our participation through prayer and responding within the framework of His perfect wisdom and love. It challenges us to approach God with boldness and unwavering faith, believing that He hears us and is capable of intervention beyond our expectations or human limitations. This verse calls us to cultivate a consistent and fervent prayer life, trusting that our petitions are not unheard, and that God, in His sovereign wisdom and boundless mercy, delights to respond to the earnest cries of His children.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Isaiah 38:4 challenge your understanding of God's sovereignty and His responsiveness to prayer?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to bring a "Hezekiah-like" earnestness to your prayers, trusting in God's ability to intervene?**
* **How does the swiftness of God's response in this verse encourage you to pray without delay or despair, even in seemingly hopeless situations?**

### FAQ
**Does Isaiah 38:4 imply that God changes His mind?**

Answer: Isaiah 38:4 does not imply that God changes His mind in a way that suggests fickleness, imperfection, or a lack of foreknowledge. Instead, it reveals the dynamic and relational nature of God's covenant with humanity. God's ultimate character, eternal purposes, and overarching plan remain constant, but His interactions and specific decrees can be conditional upon human response, particularly prayer, repentance, and obedience. In this instance, Hezekiah's heartfelt prayer and his appeal to his faithful walk with God ([Isaiah 38:2-3](/isaiah/38-2 "Isaiah 38:2-3 - Hezekiah's Earnest Prayer")) provided a new context for God's mercy to be extended. This demonstrates God's willingness to respond to His people's cries, fulfilling His promise to hear those who call upon Him in truth ([Psalm 145:18](/psalm/145-18 "Psalm 145:18 - The LORD is Near to All Who Call on Him")). It's less about God changing His mind and more about His comprehensive plan including His gracious response to the faithful prayers of His people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah 38:4 directly concerns God's word to King Hezekiah, it finds a profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the ultimate "Word of the LORD" who came to humanity: Jesus Christ. Just as the word came to Isaiah, bringing life and healing to Hezekiah, so too did the eternal Word, God's very self-expression and perfect revelation, become flesh in Jesus ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). Hezekiah's temporary reprieve from death and extension of physical life foreshadows the ultimate victory over death achieved by Christ, who is the resurrection and the life for all who believe ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). The divine word in Isaiah 38:4 brought physical healing and an extension of earthly life, but Jesus, the living Word, offers eternal life and spiritual healing from the bondage of sin to all who believe in Him ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). Moreover, while the prophet Isaiah acted as a human mediator of God's word, Christ is the ultimate and perfect Mediator between God and humanity, embodying the divine message, fulfilling all prophecy, and making reconciliation possible through His atoning sacrifice ([1 Timothy 2:5](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 1:5 - One Mediator Between God and Man")). Thus, Isaiah 38:4, with its emphasis on the powerful, life-altering word of God, points forward to the person and work of Jesus, through whom God's most complete, redemptive, and life-giving word was spoken to the 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.