Isaiah 38:21
New International Version
Isaiah had said, “Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.”

New Living Translation
Isaiah had said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.”

English Standard Version
Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover.”

Berean Standard Bible
Now Isaiah had said, “Prepare a lump of pressed figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.”

King James Bible
For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.

New King James Version
Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a lump of figs, and apply it as a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover.”

New American Standard Bible
Now Isaiah had said, “Have them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover.”

NASB 1995
Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover.”

NASB 1977
Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs, and apply it to the boil, that he may recover.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take up a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may live.”

Amplified Bible
Now Isaiah had said, “Have them take a cake of figs and rub it [as an ointment] on the inflamed spot, that he may recover.”

Christian Standard Bible
Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a lump of pressed figs and apply it to his infected skin, so that he may recover.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a lump of pressed figs and apply it to his infected skin, so that he may recover.”

American Standard Version
Now Isaiah had said, Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover.

Contemporary English Version
I had told King Hezekiah's servants to put some mashed figs on the king's open sore, and he would get well.

English Revised Version
Now Isaiah had said, Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Isaiah said, "Take a fig cake, and place it over the boil so that the king will get well."

Good News Translation
Isaiah told the king to put a paste made of figs on his boil, and he would get well.

International Standard Version
Now Isaiah had said, "Let them prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover."

Majority Standard Bible
Now Isaiah had said, ?Prepare a lump of pressed figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.?

NET Bible
Isaiah ordered, "Let them take a fig cake and apply it to the ulcerated sore and he will get well."

New Heart English Bible
Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover."

Webster's Bible Translation
For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he will recover.

World English Bible
Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Isaiah says, “Let them take a bunch of figs, and plaster over the ulcer, and he lives.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Isaiah saith, 'Let them take a bunch of figs, and plaster over the ulcer, and he liveth.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Isaiah will say, They shall lift up round cakes of figs, and rub over the burning sore, and he shall live.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now Isaias had ordered that they should take a lump of figs, and lay it as it plaster upon the wound, and that he should be healed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now Isaiah had ordered them to take a paste of figs, and to spread it like plaster over the wound, so that he would be healed.

New American Bible
Then Isaiah said, “Bring a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil for his recovery.”

New Revised Standard Version
Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a lump of figs, and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Isaiah said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it as a plaster upon the boil and he shall recover,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Hezekiah said: “What is the sign that I go up to the house of LORD JEHOVAH?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Isaiah said: 'Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Now Esaias had said to Ezekias; Take a cake of figs, and mash them, and apply them as a plaster, and thou shalt be well.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hezekiah's Song of Thanksgiving
20The LORD will save me; we will play songs on stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the house of the LORD. 21Now Isaiah had said, “Prepare a lump of pressed figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.” 22And Hezekiah had asked, “What will be the sign that I will go up to the house of the LORD?”…

Cross References
2 Kings 20:7
Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” So they brought it and applied it to the boil, and Hezekiah recovered.

James 5:14-15
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. / And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

2 Chronicles 32:24
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. So he prayed to the LORD, who spoke to him and gave him a sign.

Matthew 9:22
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that very hour.

Mark 5:34
“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

Luke 8:48
“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

John 9:6-7
When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes. / Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.

Exodus 15:26
saying, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, then I will not bring on you any of the diseases I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

Psalm 103:3
He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases,

Jeremiah 8:22
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?

Jeremiah 30:17
But I will restore your health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD, because they call you an outcast, Zion, for whom no one cares.”

Hosea 6:1
Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.

Matthew 8:13
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

Mark 6:13
They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

Luke 10:9
Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’


Treasury of Scripture

For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster on the boil, and he shall recover.

for Isaiah

2 Kings 20:7
And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

Mark 7:33
And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

John 9:6
When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

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Isaiah 38
1. Hezekiah, having received a message of death, by prayer has his life lengthened
8. The sun goes ten degrees backward, for a sign of that promise
9. His song of thanksgiving.














Now Isaiah had said
This phrase introduces the prophet Isaiah, a central figure in the Old Testament known for his role as a messenger of God. The Hebrew root for "said" is "אָמַר" (amar), which often conveys not just speaking but declaring or commanding with authority. Isaiah's words are not merely suggestions; they carry the weight of divine instruction. Historically, prophets like Isaiah were seen as God's mouthpieces, and their words were considered direct communications from God Himself.

Prepare a lump of pressed figs
The instruction to "prepare a lump of pressed figs" is both practical and symbolic. In ancient times, figs were not only a common food but also used for medicinal purposes. The Hebrew word for "pressed figs" is "דְּבֵלָה" (develah), indicating a cake or mass of figs. This reflects the practical wisdom found in the Bible, where natural remedies are often employed alongside divine intervention. The use of figs here symbolizes God's provision through natural means, reminding us that God often works through the ordinary to achieve the extraordinary.

and apply it to the boil
The act of applying the fig poultice to the boil is a direct and tangible action. The Hebrew word for "boil" is "שְׁחִין" (shechin), which refers to an inflamed sore or ulcer. This specific instruction highlights the importance of obedience to God's guidance, even in matters of health. It also underscores the belief that God cares about the physical well-being of His people, providing specific solutions to their ailments.

and he will recover
The promise of recovery is a testament to God's power to heal and restore. The Hebrew root for "recover" is "חָיָה" (chayah), meaning to live or revive. This assurance of healing is not just physical but also spiritual, as it reflects God's desire for wholeness in every aspect of life. In the broader scriptural context, healing is often a sign of God's favor and a precursor to spiritual renewal. This phrase inspires faith in God's ability to bring about complete restoration, encouraging believers to trust in His promises.

(21) For Isaiah had said . . .--The direction implies some medical training on the part of Isaiah (see Note on Isaiah 1:6, and Introduction), such as entered naturally into the education of the prophet-priests. They were to Israel, especially in the case of leprosy and other kindred diseases, what the priests of Asclepios were to Greece. The Divine promise guaranteed success to the use of natural remedies, but did not dispense with them, and they, like the spittle laid on the eyes of the blind in the Gospel miracles (Mark 7:33, John 9:6), were also a help to the faith on which the miracle depended. Both this and the following verse seem, as has been said, to have been notes to Isaiah 38:8, supplied from the narrative of 2 Kings 20, and placed at the end of the chapter instead of at the foot of the page, as in modern MSS. or print. The word for "boil" appears in connection with leprosy in Exodus 9:9, Leviticus 13:18, but is used generically for any kind of abscess, carbuncle, and the like. (Comp. Job 2:7.) . . . Verse 21. - For Isaiah had said; literally, and Isaiah said. It seems as if this verse and the next had been accidentally omitted from their proper place in the narrative, which was between vers. 6 and 7, and had then been appended by an after-thought. They reproduce nearly, but not exactly, the words of 2 Kings 19:7, 8. Let them take a lump of figs. This remedy is said to be one still employed in the East for the cure of ordinary boils; but it must have been quite insufficient for the cure of such a dangerous tumour, or carbuncle, as that from which Hezekiah was suffering. In miraculous cures, both the Old Testament prophets and our Lord himself frequently employed a means, insufficient in itself, but supernaturally rendered sufficient, to effect the intended purpose (see 1 Kings 17:21; 2 Kings 4:35, 41, 5:14; John 9:6; Mark 7:33; Mark 8:23, etc.). Upon the boil. The term here translated "boil" is used in Exodus (Exodus 9:9-11) for the affliction which constituted the sixth plague, in Leviticus (Leviticus 13:18-23) for an ulcer accompanying one of the worst forms of leprosy, in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 28:27, 35) for "the botch of Egypt," and in Job (Job 2:7) for the last of the visitations from which he suffered. It is not unlikely that it was of a leprous character.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now Isaiah
יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ (yə·ša‘·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3470: Isaiah -- 'salvation of Yah', four Israelites

had said,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Prepare
יִשְׂא֖וּ (yiś·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

a lump
דְּבֶ֣לֶת (də·ḇe·leṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1690: A lump (of pressed figs), a pressed (fig) cake

of pressed figs
תְּאֵנִ֑ים (tə·’ê·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8384: Of foreign derivation, the fig

and apply
וְיִמְרְח֥וּ (wə·yim·rə·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4799: To soften by rubbing, pressure, to apply as an emollient

it to
עַֽל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the boil,
הַשְּׁחִ֖ין (haš·šə·ḥîn)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7822: Inflammation, an ulcer

and he will recover.”
וְיֶֽחִי׃ (wə·ye·ḥî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 38:21 Now Isaiah had said Let them take (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 38:20
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