Isaiah 38:5
ESV
"Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.
NIV
"Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.
NASB
Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David says: 'I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.
CSB
"Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I am going to add fifteen years to your life.
NLT
Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life,
KJV
Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
NKJV
“Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.
What does Isaiah 38:5 mean?
The Lord seems to reverse His earlier message (Isaiah 38:1). Isaiah was sent to tell Hezekiah that his serious illness was fatal. The king was told to set his affairs in order and prepare to die. Hezekiah responded with humble and desperate prayer (Isaha 38:2–3). The Lord immediately sent Isaiah back with a new set of instructions (Isaiah 38:4). However, this is not a failed prophecy or a change in God's plans. Lacking divine intervention, Hezekiah's disease would take his life. Isaiah's first message was an accurate diagnosis. Had Hezekiah done nothing, or sought help from other gods and healers, it would have taken his life. This new message responds to Hezekiah's godly reaction to such news.Scripture often records the Lord responding to sincere prayers from His people (James 5:16). Of course, not all desperate requests are granted. In an earlier story, David prayed for his dying child and his request was denied (2 Samuel 12:22–23). Believers trust God's decisions because He has shown His love through Christ (Romans 5:6–10).
Hezekiah began his rule at the age of twenty-five (2 Kings 18:2). He will die after ruling twenty-nine years, so this prayer came when he was thirty-nine years of age. Historical records indicate that this illness happened prior to the Assyrian invasion (Isaish 36—37). Isaiah has organized his accounts to make a clearer transition to discussions about the Messiah, starting in chapter 40.
