Isaiah 38 21

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."

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.

NIV: Isaiah had said, "Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will 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."

NLT: Isaiah had said to Hezekiah's servants, "Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover."

Meaning

Isaiah 38:21 describes a specific instruction given by the Prophet Isaiah to King Hezekiah's attendants following God's miraculous promise of extended life. It directs them to take a cake made of figs and apply it as a poultice to Hezekiah's severe boil, with the explicit purpose that the king might recover. This action, divinely prescribed, illustrates God's use of a simple, natural remedy as part of His overarching plan for Hezekiah's healing.

Cross References

Context

Isaiah chapter 38 opens with a dire prophecy from Isaiah to King Hezekiah, stating that his illness is fatal and he should prepare for death. Hezekiah responds with fervent prayer and weeping, appealing to God's faithfulness and his own righteous walk. Before Isaiah even leaves the inner court, God dramatically intervenes, sending him back with a new message: God has heard Hezekiah's prayer, seen his tears, and will add fifteen years to his life, promising to deliver him and Jerusalem from the Assyrians. Verse 21 then details a specific, practical instruction for healing Hezekiah's life-threatening "boil," a severe ulcer or carbuncle. This verse, along with Hezekiah's request for a sign in verse 22, grounds the miraculous healing in a tangible act and demonstrates that God's intervention is not always purely ethereal but can involve specific, even natural, steps of action. The larger historical context places Hezekiah's illness around the time of the Assyrian threat to Judah, making God's intervention pivotal for both his life and the nation's security.

Word analysis

• Now Isaiah had said:
  • Original Hebrew: We'omar Yesha'yahu (וַיֹּאמֶר יְשַׁעְיָהוּ). Literally, "And Isaiah said."
  • Significance: This phrase acts as a parenthetical note within the narrative, clarifying the practical instructions for Hezekiah's physical healing. It underscores Isaiah's role as the divine messenger, through whom God's specific will, even in practical matters, is conveyed.
• Let them take:
  • Original Hebrew: Yiqḥu (יִקְחוּ). A third-person plural imperative/jussive, meaning "they shall take" or "let them take."
  • Significance: The instruction is directed to Hezekiah's attendants or servants, indicating that active human involvement was required for the prescribed remedy. It shows that God often uses human hands as instruments of His will.
• a cake of figs:
  • Original Hebrew: d'velah (דְּבֶלֶת). Refers to a pressed block of dried figs.
  • Significance: Figs were a common food item and possessed recognized medicinal properties in the ancient world, especially for drawing out impurities, reducing inflammation, or serving as a mild laxative. Its use here indicates God chose a common, accessible natural substance to mediate the healing.
• and apply it as a poultice:
  • Original Hebrew: wesîmû 'al haššeḥîn (וְשִׂימוּ עַל־הַשְּׁחִין). Literally, "and put (it) upon the boil." A poultice is a soft, moist mass applied topically.
  • Significance: This describes a practical, hands-on treatment. It highlights that divine healing does not always bypass natural processes but can incorporate and validate them, making the mundane sacred when consecrated to God's purpose.
• to the boil:
  • Original Hebrew: šheḥîn (שְׁחִין). A specific term for a severe, inflamed ulcer, carbuncle, or festering sore. It denotes a life-threatening skin ailment, similar to the affliction of Job or one of the Egyptian plagues.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the gravity of Hezekiah's condition. The severity of the disease magnifies the miraculous nature of the recovery, even with the application of a simple remedy.
• that he may recover:
  • Original Hebrew: wyeḥî (וְיֵחֶה). "And he will live" or "that he may live/recover." A purpose clause.
  • Significance: States the explicit objective of the applied treatment. It's not the fig cake itself that guaranteed recovery, but God's word through the prophet, validated by the means. Recovery was assured because it was God's decree.

Words-group analysis

• "Isaiah had said, 'Let them take...": This group of words emphasizes the divine origin of the instruction, relayed through God's chosen prophet, making it an authoritative command rather than mere medical advice. It signifies that the entire healing process was orchestrated by God.
• "a cake of figs and apply it as a poultice to the boil": This phrase details the specific, tangible action. It blends common ancient medicinal practice with prophetic command. The effectiveness of the figs was not in their inherent properties alone but in their divinely appointed application. It highlights that God can work through simple means, sanctifying them for His supernatural purposes.
• "that he may recover": This phrase clarifies the intended outcome. It ties the human action directly to God's pre-declared will for healing. The poultice wasn't a tentative solution, but a certain step in God's certain plan for restoration.

Commentary

Isaiah 38:21 serves as a crucial addendum to the profound miracle of King Hezekiah's extended life. While God had unequivocally promised his healing, this verse demonstrates God's willingness to use practical, natural means as part of His divine work. The application of a simple fig poultice was a known folk remedy in ancient times for boils, suggesting that God often sanctifies ordinary actions for extraordinary results. This command through Isaiah underscores that true healing emanates from God's sovereign power and mercy, and human efforts, when undertaken in obedience to His word, become instruments of His greater will. It illustrates the interplay between divine command, human obedience, and tangible action in the process of a divinely orchestrated recovery, reaffirming that the effectiveness was not in the figs themselves, but in the power of God operating through the prophet's instruction.

Bonus section

• The placement of this verse, following the divine decree of healing but preceding Hezekiah's request for a sign (v. 22), shows that God's supernatural intervention often still involves concrete steps that resonate with human understanding and practical effort.
• The use of figs for medical purposes highlights that ancient Israelites, even within a faith context, engaged in rudimentary medical practices, but recognized that the ultimate source of healing was God.
• This passage stands against the idea that God only works through immediately supernatural, interventionist acts. Instead, it suggests a profound interplay where God uses His creation, natural remedies, and human agency as vehicles for His power and purposes.
• The severity of sheḥîn (the boil), often linked to divine judgment or grave illness (Ex 9:9-11; Job 2:7), makes the recovery through simple means even more remarkable, underscoring that God triumphs over seemingly incurable conditions.

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