Isaiah 38:11

Death is the end of all communion both with God and men. To see the Lordis to enjoy the sense of His presence in the appointed acts of worship (see on ch. Isaiah 1:12), The thought that Sheol afforded no such opportunities of converse with the living God was that which made death a terror to O.T. believers (cf. Isaiah 38:18; Psalms 88:5, &c.).

the inhabitants of the world The received text has "the inhabitants of cessation" (ḥedel), i.e. "of the place where life ceases," an expression for the underworld. The reading ḥeled("the world") is found in some Heb. MSS.; and is rightly preferred by A.V.