Isaiah 38:3

Authorized King James Version

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And said, Remember now, O LORD, 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.

Original Language Analysis

וַיֹּאמַ֗ר And said H559
וַיֹּאמַ֗ר And said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 1 of 19
to say (used with great latitude)
אָנָּ֤ה I beseech H577
אָנָּ֤ה I beseech
Strong's: H577
Word #: 2 of 19
oh now!
יְהוָה֙ now O LORD H3068
יְהוָה֙ now O LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 3 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
זְכָר Remember H2142
זְכָר Remember
Strong's: H2142
Word #: 4 of 19
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
נָ֞א H4994
נָ֞א
Strong's: H4994
Word #: 5 of 19
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
אֵ֣ת H853
אֵ֣ת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 6 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֲשֶׁ֧ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 7 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי thee how I have walked H1980
הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי thee how I have walked
Strong's: H1980
Word #: 8 of 19
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
לְפָנֶ֗יךָ before H6440
לְפָנֶ֗יךָ before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 9 of 19
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
בֶּֽאֱמֶת֙ thee in truth H571
בֶּֽאֱמֶת֙ thee in truth
Strong's: H571
Word #: 10 of 19
stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness
וּבְלֵ֣ב heart H3820
וּבְלֵ֣ב heart
Strong's: H3820
Word #: 11 of 19
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
שָׁלֵ֔ם and with a perfect H8003
שָׁלֵ֔ם and with a perfect
Strong's: H8003
Word #: 12 of 19
complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly
וְהַטּ֥וֹב that which is good H2896
וְהַטּ֥וֹב that which is good
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 13 of 19
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ in thy sight H5869
בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ in thy sight
Strong's: H5869
Word #: 14 of 19
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
עָשִׂ֑יתִי and have done H6213
עָשִׂ֑יתִי and have done
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 15 of 19
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ wept H1058
וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ wept
Strong's: H1058
Word #: 16 of 19
to weep; generally to bemoan
חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ And Hezekiah H2396
חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ And Hezekiah
Strong's: H2396
Word #: 17 of 19
chizkijah, a king of judah, also the name of two other israelites
בְּכִ֥י H1065
בְּכִ֥י
Strong's: H1065
Word #: 18 of 19
a weeping; by analogy, a dripping
גָדֽוֹל׃ sore H1419
גָדֽוֹל׃ sore
Strong's: H1419
Word #: 19 of 19
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

Cross References

Hebrews 6:10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.Hebrews 5:7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;Nehemiah 13:14Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.Nehemiah 5:19Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.Nehemiah 13:22And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.John 1:47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!2 Corinthians 1:12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.Deuteronomy 6:18And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,Psalms 6:8Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.1 Chronicles 29:19And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

Analysis & Commentary

Hezekiah's prayer appeals to his covenant faithfulness and wholehearted devotion, not as merit earning salvation, but as evidence of genuine faith. The Hebrew 'perfect heart' (shalem) means complete or undivided loyalty, not sinless perfection. His 'sore weeping' demonstrates that mature faith includes honest emotional expression before God, not stoic denial of human frailty.

Historical Context

Hezekiah's reforms (removing high places, breaking images, destroying the bronze serpent) and faithful tribute payment to God distinguished him from his predecessors. His 'walking before God' echoed the language of his ancestor David.

Questions for Reflection

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