Isaiah 38:11
New International Version
I said, “I will not again see the LORD himself in the land of the living; no longer will I look on my fellow man, or be with those who now dwell in this world.

New Living Translation
I said, “Never again will I see the LORD God while still in the land of the living. Never again will I see my friends or be with those who live in this world.

English Standard Version
I said, I shall not see the LORD, the LORD in the land of the living; I shall look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world.

Berean Standard Bible
I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
I said, “I shall not see YAH, The LORD in the land of the living; I shall observe man no more among the inhabitants of the world.

New American Standard Bible
I said, “I will not see the LORD, The LORD in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind among the inhabitants of the world.

NASB 1995
I said, “I will not see the LORD, The LORD in the land of the living; I will look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world.

NASB 1977
I said, “I shall not see the LORD, The LORD in the land of the living; I shall look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world.

Legacy Standard Bible
I said, “I will not see Yah, Yah in the land of the living; I will look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world.

Amplified Bible
I said, “I will not see the LORD, The LORD in the land of the living; I will no longer see man among the inhabitants of the world.

Christian Standard Bible
I said: I will never see the LORD, the LORD in the land of the living; I will not look on humanity any longer with the inhabitants of what is passing away.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I said: I will never see the LORD, the LORD in the land of the living; I will not look on humanity any longer with the inhabitants of what is passing away.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
I thought I would never again see you, my LORD, or any of the people who live on this earth.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I thought that I wouldn't see the LORD in this world. Even with all the people in the world, I thought I would never see another person.

Good News Translation
I thought that in this world of the living I would never again see the LORD Or any living person.

International Standard Version
I said, "I won't see the LORD in the land of the living; and I'll no longer observe human beings among the denizens of the grave.

Majority Standard Bible
I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world.

NET Bible
"I thought, 'I will no longer see the LORD in the land of the living, I will no longer look on humankind with the inhabitants of the world.

New Heart English Bible
I said, "I won't see the LORD in the land of the living. I will not look on humankind any longer with the inhabitants of the world.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
I said, “I won’t see Yah, Yah in the land of the living. I will see man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I said, I do not see YAH—YAH! In the land of the living, "" I do not behold man anymore, "" With the inhabitants of the world.

Young's Literal Translation
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.

Smith's Literal Translation
I said, I shall not see Jah Jah, in the land of the living: I shall no more behold man with the inhabitants of the place of rest.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I said: I shall not see the Lord God in the land of the living. I shall behold man no more, nor the inhabitant of rest.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I said: I will not see the Lord God in the land of the living. I will no longer behold man, nor the habitation of rest.

New American Bible
I said, I shall see the LORD no more in the land of the living. Nor look on any mortals among those who dwell in the world.

New Revised Standard Version
I said, I shall not see the LORD in the land of the living; I shall look upon mortals no more among the inhabitants of the world.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I said, I shall not see the LORD in the land of the living; I shall behold man no more among the inhabitants of the world.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I said: I shall not see LORD JEHOVAH in the land of life and I shall see no man again with the dwellers of the pit
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I said, I shall no more at all see the salvation of God in the land of the living: I shall no more at all see the salvation of Israel on the earth: I shall no more at all see man.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hezekiah's Song of Thanksgiving
10I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.” 11I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world. 12My dwelling has been picked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom; from day until night You make an end of me.…

Cross References
Psalm 27:4
One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.

Psalm 88:5
I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care.

Job 7:7-10
Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness. / The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more. / As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. ...

Psalm 6:5
For there is no mention of You in death; who can praise You from Sheol?

Psalm 115:17
It is not the dead who praise the LORD, nor any who descend into silence.

Ecclesiastes 9:5-6
For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten. / Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.

Job 10:21-22
before I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom, / to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”

Psalm 39:13
Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”

Psalm 30:9
“What gain is there in my bloodshed, in my descent to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?

Lamentations 3:54-56
The waters flowed over my head, and I thought I was going to die. / I called on Your name, O LORD, out of the depths of the Pit. / You heard my plea: “Do not ignore my cry for relief.”

2 Corinthians 5:6-8
Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. / For we walk by faith, not by sight. / We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Philippians 1:23-24
I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. / But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. / For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

2 Timothy 4:6-8
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. / I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. / From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.

Hebrews 9:27
Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Job 35:14,15
Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him…

Psalm 6:4,5
Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake…

Psalm 27:13
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

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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.














I said
This phrase introduces a personal lament, reflecting the intimate and immediate nature of Hezekiah's prayer. The Hebrew root "אָמַר" (amar) conveys a sense of speaking or declaring, often used in contexts of personal reflection or divine communication. Hezekiah's words are a direct expression of his heart, revealing his deep sorrow and the gravity of his situation.

I will never see the LORD
Here, Hezekiah expresses a profound sense of loss. The Hebrew word for "see" is "רָאָה" (ra'ah), which implies not just physical sight but also experiencing or perceiving. In the context of ancient Israel, seeing the LORD was synonymous with experiencing His presence and favor. Hezekiah fears that his impending death will sever his connection with God, a poignant reflection of his spiritual longing.

the LORD, the LORD
The repetition of "the LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes the covenantal name of God, underscoring His eternal and unchanging nature. This repetition is a literary device that highlights the depth of Hezekiah's relationship with God. It reflects a deep reverence and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, even in the face of personal despair.

in the land of the living
This phrase refers to the earthly realm, contrasting with Sheol, the abode of the dead. The Hebrew "אֶרֶץ הַחַיִּים" (eretz ha-chayyim) signifies the vibrancy and activity of life on earth. Hezekiah laments the loss of his place among the living, highlighting the biblical view of life as a precious gift from God.

I will no longer look on mankind
The phrase conveys a sense of isolation and separation. The Hebrew "אָדָם" (adam) for "mankind" connects to the creation narrative, reminding us of humanity's unique role and relationship with God. Hezekiah's lament reflects the communal aspect of life, emphasizing the loss of fellowship and shared experiences with others.

or be with those who dwell in this world
This part of the verse underscores the finality of death as understood in the ancient Near Eastern context. The Hebrew "יֹשֵׁב" (yoshev) means "to dwell" or "to inhabit," indicating a settled, ongoing presence. Hezekiah mourns the impending end of his earthly journey and the relationships that define human existence. This lamentation serves as a reminder of the transient nature of life and the hope of eternal communion with God beyond this world.

(11) I shall not see the Lord . . .--The words are eminently characteristic of the cheerless dimness of the Hebrew's thoughts of death. To St. Paul and those who share his faith death is to "depart, and to be with Christ" (Philippians 1:23), to be "ever with the Lord" (1Thessalonians 4:17). To Hezekiah, it would seem, the outward worship of the Temple, or possibly, the consciousness of God's presence in the full activity of brain and heart, was a joy which he could not bear to lose. The spiritual perceptions of the life after death would be spectral and shadowy, like the dead themselves. (Comp. the Greek idea of Hades in Homer (Od. xi. 12-19). It may be noted that the Hebrew for "the Lord" is the shorter, possibly the poetical, form "Jah" (as in Psalm 68:4). The LXX paraphrases "I shall not see the salvation of God."

Verse 11. - I shall not see the Lord (comp. Psalm 6:5, "In death there is no remembrance of thee; in the grave (Sheol) who shall give thee thanks?" and see also Psalm 30:9; Psalm 88:10-12; Psalm 115:17). The Jews had not yet attained the conception of a blissful region in Hades, where God manifested himself, and the saints, who were awaiting the resurrection, saw him and praised him. Even the Lord. (For examples of repetition for the sake of emphasis, see Isaiah 29:1; Isaiah 33:22; Isaiah 38:19; Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 51:17, etc.) In the land of the living; i.e. "as I do now in the land of the living" (comp. Psalm 27:13; Psalm 116:9).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I said that
אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ (’ā·mar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

I will never
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

see
אֶרְאֶ֣ה (’er·’eh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

the LORD,
יָ֔הּ (yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3050: LORD -- the name of the God of Israel

[even] the LORD,
יָ֖הּ (yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3050: LORD -- the name of the God of Israel

in the land
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of the living;
הַחַיִּ֑ים (ha·ḥay·yîm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

I will no
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

longer
ע֖וֹד (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

look on
אַבִּ֥יט (’ab·bîṭ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5027: To scan, look intently at, to regard

mankind
אָדָ֛ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

those who dwell
י֥וֹשְׁבֵי (yō·wō·šə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in this world.
חָֽדֶל׃ (ḥā·ḏel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2309: Rest, the state of the dead


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 38:11 I said I won't see Yah Yah (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 38:10
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