Isaiah 38:21
ESV
Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover."
NIV
Isaiah had said, "Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover."
NASB
Now Isaiah had said, 'Have them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover.'
CSB
Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a lump of pressed figs and apply it to his infected skin, so that he may recover."
NLT
Isaiah had said to Hezekiah’s servants, 'Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.'
KJV
For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.
NKJV
Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a lump of figs, and apply it as a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover.”
What does Isaiah 38:21 mean?
Isaiah adds details to this story which are also found in 2 Kings chapter 20. Hezekiah's illness is not specifically labeled (Isaiah 38:1). However, the mention of a "boil" here might suggest a tumor or other mass. That would correspond with God's diagnosis that the disease was fatal. Using natural means to treat the condition would not change the miraculous nature of the cure. What eased swelling was not necessarily what stopped a terminal illness.A "poultice" is an application of something soft and damp to a wound or skin condition. In this case, the moist material is made of figs. Traditional medicine claims that figs accelerate the drainage and healing process of an abscess, as well as helping to keep the skin moist.
This addendum also notes Hezekiah's curiosity about a miraculous sign confirmation (Isaiah 38:22). When Hezekiah's healing was first announced, God noted that He would perform a miracle demonstrating His influence. Most likely, the instruction and question of these last two verses happened as soon as Isaiah delivered his updated message (Isaiah 38:4–5). Unlike Ahaz, who refused to consider a sign (Isaiah 7:10–12), or Zechariah, who doubted God's news (Luke 1:18–20), Hezekiah asks expectantly to know what God plans to do to confirm the claim. According to other information (2 Kings 20:8–11), Hezekiah was allowed to choose between two options, and He took the more spectacular of the two.
