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Isaiah 38:5

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 38:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
Isaiah 38:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 38

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Jehovah,
3and said, Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4Then came the word of Jehovah to Isaiah, saying,
5Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
6And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.
7And this shall be the sign unto thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do this thing that he hath spoken:
8behold, I will cause the shadow on the steps, which is gone down on the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the dial whereon it was gone down.
← Isaiah 38:4Isaiah 38:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Go and say to Hezekiah, &c.] Turn again, and tell him, (<122005>2 Kings 20:5): thus saith the Lord the God of David thy father; this is said, to show that he remembered the covenant he made with David his father, concerning the kingdom, and the succession of his children in it; and that he had a regard to him, as walking in his steps: I have heard thy prayer; and therefore was not surely a foolish one, as Luther somewhere calls it, since it was heard and answered so quickly: I have seen thy tears; which he shed in prayer, and so studiously concealed from others, when he turned his face to the wall: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years; that is, to the days he had lived already, and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“God of David thy father--God remembers the covenant with the father to the children (Exo 20:5; Psa 89:28-29). tears-- (Psa 56:8). days . . . years--Man's years, however many, are but as so many days (Gen 5:27).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The God of David thy father - David is mentioned here, probably, because Hezekiah had a strong resemblance to him 2 Kings 18:3, and because a long and happy reign had been granted to David; and also because the promise had been made to David that there should not fail a man to sit on his throne (see the note at Isaiah 37:35). As Hezekiah resembled David, God promised that his reign should be lengthened out; and as he perhaps was then without a son and successor, God promised him a longer life, with the prospect that he might have an heir who should succeed him on the throne. Behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years - This is perhaps the only instance in which any man has been told…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“38:5 the God of your ancestor David: Hezekiah faithfully walked in David’s footsteps (see 37:35; 38:1-22).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“and say: Sa2 7:3-5; Ch1 17:2-4 God: Isa 7:13, Isa 7:14; Kg1 8:25, Kg1 9:4, Kg1 9:5, Kg1 11:12, Kg1 11:13, Kg1 15:4; Ch2 34:3; Psa 89:3, Psa 89:4; Mat 22:32 I have heard: Kg2 19:20; Psa 34:5, Psa 34:6; Luk 1:13; Jo1 5:14, Jo1 5:15 I have seen: Psa 39:12, Psa 56:8, Psa 147:3; Co2 7:6; Rev 7:17 I will: Job 14:5; Psa 116:15; Act 27:24 Isaiah 38:6”
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Related study paths

Read Isaiah 38 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification