Isaiah 38:10-11
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Hezekiah’s lament isn't just about dying; it’s about being cut off at the "stillness" or "noon" of his days, a time when life should be settled and productive, not prematurely ending. This phrase highlights his deep sorrow at losing not just years, but the potential for continued service and fulfillment in the prime of his life.
I said, In the middle of my days I must depart; I am consigned to the gates of Sheol for the rest of my years. I said, I shall not see the LORD, the LORD in the land of the living; I shall look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Facing a mortal illness, Hezekiah cries out in despair, believing his life is being cut short in its prime. He laments that he will be taken from the land of the living and will no longer see the Lord or his people. This expression of his grief comes after God, through Isaiah, initially tells him he will die and offers no hope of recovery.
Hezekiah feels his life is cut short. But when did he feel this most intensely? Was it in sickness, or in the prime of his days?
The phrase "in the cutting off of my days" or "in the noontide of my days" is a fascinating point of discussion. While Hezekiah is clearly facing a life-threatening illness, the language suggests a sense of being cut off not just from future life, but from the current prime of his life.
Hezekiah faces death with a stark, chilling image. What does the 'gates of Sheol' represent to him, and why is it so terrifying?
The image of the "gates of Sheol" is powerful and bleak. Sheol, in the Old Testament understanding, was the place of the departed, a shadowy realm of the dead.
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Hezekiah feels 'deprived.' Is this just a lament, or is there a deeper cry of perceived injustice against God's plan?
The phrase "I am deprived of the residue of my years" carries a weight of loss and perhaps even a sense of being cheated.
Understand the original words
she’owl · Hebrew Noun
A realm of the dead or the underworld in Old Testament thought, representing the grave or the place where human existence continues in a shadowy, separated state away from the presence of the living.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenant-keeping name of God in the Old Testament, representing His self-existence, holiness, and redemptive relationship with His people.
chayyim · Hebrew Noun
A term often used to describe the present, earthly life of humanity as opposed to the realm of the dead (Sheol); it emphasizes the sphere where God's presence and blessing are experienced.
cheled · Hebrew Noun
In this context, referring to the transient nature of human existence, highlighting the frailty and mortality of people compared to the eternal Creator.
This passage captures King Hezekiah's raw despair and vulnerability during a life-threatening illness, a critical moment that led to a profound demonstration of God's power and mercy.
c. 705 BC
Hezekiah becomes king
Hezekiah begins his reign as king of Judah, known for his religious reforms and seeking God's favor.
701 BC
Assyrian invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, conquering many cities and threatening Jerusalem. This event profoundly impacted Hezekiah's reign.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Hezekiah's illness and prayer
Hezekiah is struck with a fatal illness, and through prayer and divine intervention, receives a miraculous recovery and an extension of his life.
c. 686 BC
Hezekiah's death
Hezekiah dies after reigning for 29 years, succeeded by his son Manasseh. His reign is remembered for its faithfulness and the miraculous deliverance from Assyria.
This passage shares Hezekiah's deep despair and questioning of God's presence in the face of death, lamenting that the grave offers no praise to God.
Job 3:11-13Similar to Hezekiah's cry, Job expresses profound anguish and regret over his birth when facing suffering and a seemingly premature death, wishing he had died at birth.
Psalm 30:2-3This psalm reflects a similar experience of being brought back from the brink of death, where the psalmist praises God for healing and preventing their descent into the pit.
John 11:4While Jesus says Lazarus's illness was 'not unto death,' Hezekiah's experience in Isaiah directly confronts what he believed was a final, deadly illness, highlighting the theme of God's power over death itself.
2 Corinthians 5:1This verse speaks of a 'heavenly dwelling' we long for, contrasting with Hezekiah's intense desire for continued life on earth, showing the different perspectives on life and death across covenants.
bensonIsaiah 38:10: "I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years."
Isaiah 38:10-11 . I said — Within myself; I concluded, in the cutting off of my days — When my days were cut off by the sentence of God, related Isaiah 38:1 ; I shall go to the gates of the grave — I perceive that I must die without any hopes of prevention. The grave is called man’s long home, Ecclesiastes 12:5 ; and the house appointed for all living, Job 30:23…
barnesIsaiah 38:10: "I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years."
I said - Probably the words 'I said' do not imply that he said or spoke this openly or audibly; but this was the language of his heart, or the substance of his reflections. In the cutting off of my days - There has been considerable diversity of interpretation in regard to this phrase. Vitringa renders it as our translators have done. Rosenmuller renders it, 'In…
Hezekiah’s lament isn't just about dying; it’s about being cut off at the "stillness" or "noon" of his days, a time when life should be settled and productive, not prematurely ending. This phrase highlights his deep sorrow at losing not just years, but the potential for continued service and fulfillment in the prime of his life.
Facing a mortal illness, Hezekiah cries out in despair, believing his life is being cut short in its prime. He laments that he will be taken from the land of the living and will no longer see the Lord or his people. This expression of his grief comes after God, through Isaiah, initially tells him he will die and offers no hope of recovery.
Facing a mortal illness, Hezekiah cries out in despair, believing his life is being cut short in its prime. He laments that he will be taken from the land of the living and will no longer see the Lord or his people. This expression of his grief comes after God, through Isaiah, initially tells him he will die and offers no hope of recovery.
"I said, In the middle of my days I must depart; I am consigned to the gates of Sheol for the rest of my years. I said, I shall not see the LORD, the LORD in the land of the living; I shall look on man no mor…" — Hezekiah’s lament isn't just about dying; it’s about being cut off at the "stillness" or "noon" of his days, a time when life should be settled and productive, not prematurely ending. This phrase h…
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Last reviewed October 2026
