King James Version

What Does Isaiah 38:17 Mean?

Isaiah 38:17 in the King James Version says “Behold, for peace I had great bitterness : but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for... — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 38 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Behold, for peace I had great bitterness : but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. for peace: or, on my peace came great bitterness thou hast in: Heb. thou hast loved my soul from the pit

Isaiah 38:17 · KJV


Context

15

What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.

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.

17

Behold, for peace I had great bitterness : but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. for peace: or, on my peace came great bitterness thou hast in: Heb. thou hast loved my soul from the pit

18

For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

19

The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Hezekiah's reflection that God's love 'cast all my sins behind thy back' is a profound statement of substitutionary atonement and divine forgetfulness of confessed sin. The Hebrew implies violent throwing away, anticipating the scapegoat imagery and Christ bearing sin 'far as east from west' (Psalm 103:12). His illness becoming 'for peace' demonstrates Romans 8:28 - God works all things for good.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This psalm was written for temple worship ('stringed instruments' v. 20), making Hezekiah's personal crisis a public liturgical testimony. His fifteen additional years included both faithful building projects and the pride of showing treasures to Babylon (Isaiah 39).

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you truly believe God has 'forgotten' your confessed sins, or do you keep retrieving them?
  2. How has God transformed your 'bitterness' into 'peace' through His sovereign purposes?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
הִנֵּ֥ה1 of 16
H2009

lo!

לְשָׁל֖וֹם2 of 16

Behold for peace

H7965

safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace

מָ֑ר3 of 16

I had great bitterness

H4751

bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly

לִ֣י4 of 16
H0
מָ֑ר5 of 16

I had great bitterness

H4751

bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly

וְאַתָּ֞ה6 of 16
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

חָשַׁ֤קְתָּ7 of 16

but thou hast in love

H2836

to cling, i.e., join, (figuratively) to love, delight in; elliptically; to deliver

נַפְשִׁי֙8 of 16

to my soul

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

מִשַּׁ֣חַת9 of 16

delivered it from the pit

H7845

a pit (especially as a trap); figuratively, destruction

בְּלִ֔י10 of 16

of corruption

H1097

properly, failure, i.e., nothing or destruction; usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc

כִּ֥י11 of 16
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

הִשְׁלַ֛כְתָּ12 of 16

for thou hast cast

H7993

to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)

אַחֲרֵ֥י13 of 16

behind

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

גֵוְךָ֖14 of 16

thy back

H1460

the back; by analogy, the middle

כָּל15 of 16
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

חֲטָאָֽי׃16 of 16

all my sins

H2399

a crime or its penalty


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 38:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 38:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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