Isaiah 38:17

Authorized King James Version

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Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

Original Language Analysis

הִנֵּ֥ה H2009
הִנֵּ֥ה
Strong's: H2009
Word #: 1 of 16
lo!
לְשָׁל֖וֹם Behold for peace H7965
לְשָׁל֖וֹם Behold for peace
Strong's: H7965
Word #: 2 of 16
safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
מָ֑ר I had great bitterness H4751
מָ֑ר I had great bitterness
Strong's: H4751
Word #: 3 of 16
bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly
לִ֣י H0
לִ֣י
Strong's: H0
Word #: 4 of 16
מָ֑ר I had great bitterness H4751
מָ֑ר I had great bitterness
Strong's: H4751
Word #: 5 of 16
bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly
וְאַתָּ֞ה H859
וְאַתָּ֞ה
Strong's: H859
Word #: 6 of 16
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
חָשַׁ֤קְתָּ but thou hast in love H2836
חָשַׁ֤קְתָּ but thou hast in love
Strong's: H2836
Word #: 7 of 16
to cling, i.e., join, (figuratively) to love, delight in; elliptically; to deliver
נַפְשִׁי֙ to my soul H5315
נַפְשִׁי֙ to my soul
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 8 of 16
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
מִשַּׁ֣חַת delivered it from the pit H7845
מִשַּׁ֣חַת delivered it from the pit
Strong's: H7845
Word #: 9 of 16
a pit (especially as a trap); figuratively, destruction
בְּלִ֔י of corruption H1097
בְּלִ֔י of corruption
Strong's: H1097
Word #: 10 of 16
properly, failure, i.e., nothing or destruction; usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc
כִּ֥י H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 11 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
הִשְׁלַ֛כְתָּ for thou hast cast H7993
הִשְׁלַ֛כְתָּ for thou hast cast
Strong's: H7993
Word #: 12 of 16
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
אַחֲרֵ֥י behind H310
אַחֲרֵ֥י behind
Strong's: H310
Word #: 13 of 16
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
גֵוְךָ֖ thy back H1460
גֵוְךָ֖ thy back
Strong's: H1460
Word #: 14 of 16
the back; by analogy, the middle
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 15 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חֲטָאָֽי׃ all my sins H2399
חֲטָאָֽי׃ all my sins
Strong's: H2399
Word #: 16 of 16
a crime or its penalty

Analysis & Commentary

Hezekiah's reflection that God's love 'cast all my sins behind thy back' is a profound statement of substitutionary atonement and divine forgetfulness of confessed sin. The Hebrew implies violent throwing away, anticipating the scapegoat imagery and Christ bearing sin 'far as east from west' (Psalm 103:12). His illness becoming 'for peace' demonstrates Romans 8:28 - God works all things for good.

Historical Context

This psalm was written for temple worship ('stringed instruments' v. 20), making Hezekiah's personal crisis a public liturgical testimony. His fifteen additional years included both faithful building projects and the pride of showing treasures to Babylon (Isaiah 39).

Questions for Reflection

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