The Meaning of Isaiah 38:11 Explained

Isaiah 38:11

KJV: I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.

YLT: I said, I do not see Jah -- Jah! In the land of the living, I do not behold man any more, With the inhabitants of the world.

Darby: 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.

ASV: I said, I shall not see Jehovah, even Jehovah in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I said,  I shall not see  the LORD,  [even] the LORD,  in the land  of the living:  I shall behold  man  no more with the inhabitants  of the world. 

What does Isaiah 38:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

He sorrowed because his contact with God and with people as a living human being would end. He was not saying anything about his relationship with God after death. He only meant that his present relationship with God and people would end when he died.

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Isaiah 38:11 mean?

I said not I shall see YAH YAH in the land of the living no I shall observe man more among the inhabitants of the world
אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ לֹא־ אֶרְאֶ֣ה יָ֔הּ יָ֖הּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ הַחַיִּ֑ים לֹא־ אַבִּ֥יט אָדָ֛ם ע֖וֹד עִם־ י֥וֹשְׁבֵי חָֽדֶל

אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙  I  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֶרְאֶ֣ה  I  shall  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
יָ֔הּ  YAH 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָהּ  
Sense: Jah (Jehovah in the shortened form).
יָ֖הּ  YAH 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָהּ  
Sense: Jah (Jehovah in the shortened form).
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הַחַיִּ֑ים  of  the  living 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
לֹא־  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אַבִּ֥יט  I  shall  observe 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: נָבַט  
Sense: to look, regard.
אָדָ֛ם  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
ע֖וֹד  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
י֥וֹשְׁבֵי  the  inhabitants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
חָֽדֶל  of  the  world 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶדֶל  
Sense: rest, cessation.