Isaiah 38:11

11 I said, I shall not see Jah, Jah in the land of the living. With those who dwell where all has ceased to be, I shall behold man no more.

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 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness:

10 I said, In the meridian of my days I shall go to the gates of Sheol: I am deprived of the rest of my years.

11 I said, I shall not see Jah, Jah in the land of the living. With those who dwell where all has ceased to be, I shall behold man no more.

12 Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent. I have cut off like a weaver my life. He separateth me from the thrum: -- from day to night thou wilt make an end of me.

13 I kept still until the morning; ... as a lion, so doth he break all my bones. From day to night thou wilt make an end of me.

Footnotes

• [a]. See ch. 12.2; Ps. 68.4.