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John Trapp Complete Commentary

Isaiah 38:16

O Lord, by these [things men] live, and in all these [things is] the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.

Ver. 16. O Lord, by these things men live.] By thy promises so performed "the just do live by faith," and live long in a little while; for life consisteth in action, and some live more in a day than others do in a year. An elephant liveth two hundred years, saith Aristotle; three hundred and fifty, saith Philostratus; and yet man, though of much shorter a continuance, is not inferior to an elephant. For this is not the best thing in nature, saith Scaliger, to live longest, but to live to best purpose. Now, man's life is a way to life eternal. Other creatures have what they live for: not so man, while here.

And in all these things is the life of my spirit.] The godly esteem of life by that stirring they find in their souls; else they lament as over a dead soul.

So wilt thou recover me.] Or, Hast thou recovered me?

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See also Isaiah 38:16 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Isaiah 38:16. _BY THESE_ THINGS MEN _LIVE_ - "For this cause shall it be declared"] Περι αυτης γαρ ανηγγελη σοι, και εξηγειρας μου την πνοην, Sept. They read in their copies עליה יחוו לך ותחיי...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    O LORD, BY THESE THINGS MEN LIVE - The design of this and the following verses is evidently to set forth the goodness of God, and to celebrate his praise for what he had done. The phrase ‘these things...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 38 Hezekiah's Sickness and Healing 1. _Isaiah's startling message (Isaiah 38:1)_ 2. _Hezekiah's prayer (Isaiah 38:2)_ 3. _The prayer heard and the sign (Isaiah 38:4)_ 4. The king's sorrow and...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ISAIAH 36-39. This section has been extracted from 2 Kings 18:13 to 2 Kings 20:19, and the Song of Hezekiah has been added. For an exposition see the notes on 2 K.; here we have simply to deal with th...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BY THESE, &C.. upon these [Thy doings (Isaiah 38:15) men] revive (Psalms 104:29; Psalms 104:30), and the reviving of my spirit [is] altogether in them. SPIRIT. Hebrew. _ruach_....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Hezekiah's thanksgiving for his recovery. This poem, which is not given in the parallel narrative in 2 Kings, must have been inserted here from an independent source. An external mark of the insertion...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Two extremely difficult verses. As commonly explained, Isaiah 38:15 introduces the second half of the song with an exclamation of amazement at the wonderful deliverance experienced. Literally it reads...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The thought expressed by E.V. is somewhat as follows: "By such Divine words and deeds (Isaiah 38:15) men are preserved in life; and by such things my spirit is revived." No one will say that this is e...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    O LORD, BY THESE THINGS MEN LIVE— The meaning is, that the promises of grace, attained by humble prayer, and their quick and ready application, give life to the soul; or, that divine grace, and the pr...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. PRAISE TEXT: Isaiah 38:9-20 9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness. 10 I said, In the noontide of my days I shall go into the gates o...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness: -The prayer and thanksgiving song of Hezekiah is only given here, not in the parallel passages of 2...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BY THESE THINGS] i.e. the word of God and the action of His providence. The reference is to the first part of Isaiah 38:15 : cp. Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4. SO WILT THOU] RV 'wherefore.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SICKNESS AND RECOVERY OF HEZEKIAH Continuation of the historical appendix to Isaiah's prophecies. The chapter is parallel to 2 Kings 20:1 (where see notes), but contains a considerable addition in the...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD DEFENDS *JERUSALEM ISAIAH CHAPTER S 31 TO 39 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 38 HEZEKIAH IS SERIOUSLY ILL V1 About that time, Hezekiah became very ill. He believe...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BY THESE THINGS..._ — i.e.,_ by the word of God and the performance which fulfils it. For “in all these things,” read _wholly through them._ The words remind us of Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man doth not live...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    אֲדֹנָ֖י עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם יִֽחְי֑וּ וּ לְ כָל ־בָּהֶ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XI DRIFTING TO EGYPT 720-705 13. B.C. Isaiah 20:1; Isaiah 21:1; Isaiah 38:1; Isaiah 39:1 FROM 720, when chapter 11 m

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    BOOK 4 JERUSALEM AND SENNACHERIB 701 B.C. INTO this fourth book we put all the rest of the prophecies of the Book of Isaiah, that have to do with the prophet's own time: Chapter s 1, 22 and 33, wi...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In this chapter we have the story of the sickness of Hezekiah. That sickness would seem to have been intimately connected with the invasion of Sennacherib, for in Isaiah's message to Hezekiah that his...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    O Lord, (q) by these [things men] live, and in all these [things is] the life of my spirit: so wilt thou (r) restore me, and make me to live. (q) They who will outlive the men that are now alive, and...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    16._O Lord, even to all who shall live after them. _The concise style of the Prophet has given rise to various interpretations. The interpretation most commonly received is “O Lord, they shall live be...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 36, 37, 38, AND 39. Chapter s 36-39 relate the history of the invasion of Sennacherib, its result, and the sickness unto death of Hezekiah, which preceded it:...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    O LORD, BY THESE THINGS MEN LIVE,.... Not by bread only, but by the word of God: by the promise of God, and by his power performing it; and by his favour and goodness continually bestowed; it is in hi...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _By these things men live_ By virtue of thy gracious word, or promise, and powerful work; or, by thy promises, and thy performance of them: and therefore it is not strange that one word of God hath br...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Hezekiah's Hymn of Praise...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit, namely, by the blessings of God's goodness and mercy; SO WILT THOU RECOVER ME AND MAKE ME TO LIVE, preserving his li...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    9-22 We have here Hezekiah's thanksgiving. It is well for us to remember the mercies we receive in sickness. Hezekiah records the condition he was in. He dwells upon this; I shall no more see the Lor...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    BY THESE THINGS; by virtue of thy gracious word or promise, and powerful work; by thy promises, and thy performances of them, mentioned in the foregoing verse. This place may be explained by comparing...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Isaiah 38:16 Lord H136 live H2421 (H8799) life H2416 spirit H7307 restore H2492 (H8686) live H2421 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    HEZEKIAH'S PSALM OF PRAISE (ISAIAH 38:9). Isaiah 38:9 ‘The writing of Hezekiah the king of Judah when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness.' This was clearly originally a record on i...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Isaiah 38:16 Affliction as related to life. I. Take first the conception of life as a whole, and see how that is modified or altered by experiences like those through which Hezekiah passed. They who...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Hezekiah's sickness and recovery in answer to prayer. CHARACTERS: God, Isaiah, Hezekiah. CONCLUSION: Neither men's greatness nor goodness will exempt them from the arrests of sickness. If o...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Isaiah 38:1. _Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die, and not live._ This burden of the Lord placed the prophet in a critical situation. God saw that nothing milder than this harsh and tremendou...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The writing of Hezekiah, king of Judah_ HEZEKIAH’S RECOVERY 1. He was sick, and then he prayed. 2. He is recovered, and now he gives thanks. (_R. Harris, D. D._) HEZEKIAH’S SONG I. THE INSCRIPT...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _O Lord, by these things men live_ AFFLICTION AS RELATED TO LIFE The conception and quality of life as affected by the discipline of any form of trial--that is the topic. I. Take THE CONCEPTION OF L...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 38:9 Hezekiah’s psalm is clear about this truth: God alone has the power of life and death, and he prefers life. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    HEZEKIAH’S RESOLUTION (_A New-Year Motto_.) Isaiah 38:15. _I shall go softly all my years, &c._ This resolution grows out of that singular experience of sickness and recovery recorded in the precedin...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    HEZEKIAH’S PRAYER Isaiah 38:1 In this narrative there are three points of difficulty and many points of instruction. I. THREE POINTS OF DIFFICULTY. 1. _Why was Hezekiah afraid to die?_ Answer: (1.)...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    SECTION II.—HEZEKIAH'S ILLNESS, AND THE EMBASSY OF MERODACH-BALADAN (Isaiah 38:1; Isaiah 39:1.). EXPOSITION The present chapte

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set your house in order: for you shall die, and not live (Isai...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 11:32; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Deuteronomy 8:3; Hebrews 12:10;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    By these — By thy promises, and thy performance of them; therefore it is not strange, that one word of God hath brought me back from the jaws of death....

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