Isaiah 39:8

Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good [is] the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

Then said {H559} Hezekiah {H2396} to Isaiah {H3470}, Good {H2896} is the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068} which thou hast spoken {H1696}. He said {H559} moreover, For there shall be peace {H7965} and truth {H571} in my days {H3117}.

Hizkiyahu said to Yesha'yahu, "The word of ADONAI which you have just told me is good"; because he thought, "At least peace and truth will continue during my lifetime."

But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “At least there will be peace and security in my lifetime.”

Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of Jehovah which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

Isaiah 39:8 captures King Hezekiah's controversial reaction to a dire prophecy delivered by the prophet Isaiah. This verse provides a poignant look into human nature and the immediate acceptance of divine judgment when it doesn't directly impact one's personal present.

Context of Isaiah 39:8

This verse immediately follows Isaiah's pronouncement of judgment upon King Hezekiah and Judah. Earlier in the chapter (Isaiah 39:1-7), Hezekiah, having recovered from illness (see Isaiah 38), proudly displayed all his royal treasures and armories to envoys from Babylon. This act of showing off, perhaps intended to impress or form an alliance, was a significant misstep. Isaiah then revealed that all these treasures, and even Hezekiah's own descendants, would one day be carried away to Babylon, foreshadowing the devastating Babylonian exile. Hezekiah's response in verse 8, "Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken," followed by his focus on "peace and truth in my days," reveals a potentially self-centered acceptance of the prophecy, relieved that the worst of it would not occur during his lifetime.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Acceptance of Divine Will: Hezekiah acknowledges the prophecy as "the word of the LORD," indicating an understanding of its divine origin and authority.
  • Short-Sightedness and Self-Preservation: The king's immediate follow-up, "For there shall be peace and truth in my days," highlights a focus on his own immediate comfort and reign rather than the long-term consequences for his descendants or the nation. This response is often interpreted as selfish, prioritizing personal peace over the future well-being of his people.
  • The Nature of Prophecy and Judgment: The passage underscores that God's prophecies of judgment are certain, even if their full impact is delayed. It also shows how human leaders can react to such difficult truths.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "good" (טוֹב - tov) can mean agreeable, pleasant, or right. While Hezekiah affirms the word as coming from God, his subsequent statement suggests his understanding of "good" here is primarily in terms of his personal comfort and the absence of immediate hardship. The phrase "peace and truth" uses the Hebrew words shalom (peace, wholeness, well-being) and emet (truth, faithfulness, stability). Hezekiah expresses relief that he will experience these positive conditions during his lifetime, despite the terrible future foretold for his kingdom.

Practical Application

Isaiah 39:8 offers several lessons for believers today:

  • Responding to Difficult Truths: How do we react when confronted with uncomfortable truths or the consequences of our actions, especially when they impact others more than ourselves? Do we accept God's word fully, or do we seek only our immediate comfort?
  • Considering Future Generations: This verse challenges us to look beyond our own immediate circumstances and consider the legacy we leave for those who come after us. A truly godly perspective involves concern for the future well-being of God's people and His kingdom, not just our own present peace. For a contrasting perspective on God's plans for the future, consider Jeremiah 29:11.
  • Humility in Leadership: Hezekiah's initial pride in showing off his treasures led to this prophecy. His response here highlights the temptation for leaders to prioritize personal comfort over the long-term good of those they lead. True leadership involves selfless foresight and a willingness to face difficult realities.
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.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:26

    Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, [both] he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:28

    Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.

  • 1 Peter 5:6

    Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

  • Leviticus 10:3

    ¶ Then Moses said unto Aaron, This [is it] that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

  • Lamentations 3:39

    Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

  • Job 1:21

    And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

  • 1 Samuel 3:18

    And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It [is] the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

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