Isaiah 38:21 Isaiah had said, "Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover."

◄ Isaiah 38:21 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Isaiah had said, "Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he 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.”

New American Standard Bible
Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may 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.

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."

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."

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.

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.

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

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

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

38:9-22 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 Lord. A good man wishes not to live for any other end than that he may serve God, and have communion with him. Our present residence is like that of a shepherd in his hut, a poor, mean, and cold lodging, and with a trust committed to our charge, as the shepherd has. Our days are compared to the weaver's shuttle, Job 7:6, passing and repassing very swiftly, every throw leaving a thread behind it; and when finished, the piece is cut off, taken out of the loom, and showed to our Master to be judged of. A good man, when his life is cut off, his cares and fatigues are cut off with it, and he rests from his labours. But our times are in God's hand; he has appointed what shall be the length of the piece. When sick, we are very apt to calculate our time, but are still at uncertainty. It should be more our care how we shall get safe to another world. And the more we taste of the loving-kindness of God, the more will our hearts love him, and live to him. It was in love to our poor perishing souls that Christ delivered them. The pardon does not make the sin not to have been sin, but not to be punished as it deserves. It is pleasant to think of our recoveries from sickness, when we see them flowing from the pardon of sin. Hezekiah's opportunity to glorify God in this world, he made the business, and pleasure, and end of life. Being recovered, he resolves to abound in praising and serving God. God's promises are not to do away, but to quicken and encourage the use of means. Life and health are given that we may glorify God and do good.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

20. was ready—not in the Hebrew; "Jehovah was for my salvation," that is, saved me (compare Isa 12:2).

we—I and my people.

in the house of the Lord—This song was designed, as many of the other Psalms, as a form to be used in public worship at stated times, perhaps on every anniversary of his recovery; hence "all the days of our life."

lump of figs—a round cake of figs pressed into a mass (1Sa 25:18). God works by means; the meanest of which He can make effectual.

boil—inflamed ulcer, produced by the plague.