Isaiah 38:11

11 I said: I will never see the Lord, the Lord in the land of the living; I will not look on humanity any longer with the inhabitants of what is passing away.^[a]

Isaiah 38:11 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 38:11

I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord in the land
of the living
Not any more, in this world, though in the other, and that more clearly, even face to face: his meaning is, that he should no more see him in the glass of the word; no more praise him in his house; worship him in his temple; enjoy him in his ordinances; and see his beauty, power, and glory, in the sanctuary; and confess unto him, and praise his name ^F7. The Targum is,

``I shall no more appear before the face of the Lord in the land of the house of his Shechinah, in which is length of life; and I shall no more serve him in the house of the sanctuary.''

In the Hebrew text it is, "I shall not see Jah, Jah"; a word, the same with Jehovah; and is repeated, to show the vehemency of his affection for the Lord, and his ardent desire of communion with him: unless it should be rendered, "I shall not see the Lord's Lord in the land of the living ^F8"; or the Lord's Christ in the flesh: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world;
or "time" {i}; of this fading transitory world, which will quickly cease, as the word for it signifies: next to God, his concern was, that he should no more enjoy the company of men, of his subjects, of his courtiers, of his relations, companions, and acquaintance; particularly of the saints, the excellent in the earth.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 Ben Melech observes, that seeing or appearing before the Creator signifies confession and praise before him, and consideration of his ways; and this sense of the words, he says, R. Sandiah gives.
F8 (hy hy hara al) (ouketi ou mh idw to swthrion tou yeou) , Sept. "non videbo Jah Jah", Montanus, Vatablus.
F9 (ldx ybvwy) "cum habitoribus temporis", Montanus. So Ben Melech explains it; and which will quickly cease. (ldx) , "mundus, tempus cito desinens"----(ldx) , "prodit mundi cessabilitatem, quatenus est colectio rerum pereuntium", Gusset. Ebr. Comment. p. 242. "cum habitatoribus terrae cessationis", Vitringa.

Isaiah 38:11 In-Context

9 A poem by Hezekiah king of Judah after he had been sick and had recovered from his illness:

10 I said: In the prime of my life I must go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the rest of my years.

11 I said: I will never see the Lord, the Lord in the land of the living; I will not look on humanity any longer with the inhabitants of what is passing away.

12 My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me like a shepherd's tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom. You make an end of me from day until night.

13 I thought until the morning: He will break all my bones like a lion; You make an end of me day and night.

Footnotes

• [a]. Some Hb mss, Tg read of the world