Isa 38:17 | JFB | STEP | 17. for peace —instead of the prosperity which I had previously. great bitterness —literally, "bitterness to me, bitterness"; expressing intense emotion. in love —literally, "attachment," such as joins one to another tenderly; "Thou hast been lovingly attached to me from the pit"; pregnant phrase for, Thy love has gone down to the pit, and drawn me out from it. The "pit" is here simply death, in Hezekiah's sense; realized in its fulness only in reference to the soul's redemption from hell by Jesus Christ ( ), who went down to the pit for that purpose Himself ( ). "Sin" and sickness are connected ( ; compare ), especially under the Old Testament dispensation of temporal sanctions; but even now, sickness, though not invariably arising from sin in individuals, is connected with it in the general moral view. cast . . . behind back —consigned my sins to oblivion. The same phrase occurs ( ). Contrast , "Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. "

Isaiah 38:17

17. for peace—instead of the prosperity which I had previously.

great bitterness—literally, "bitterness to me, bitterness"; expressing intense emotion.

in love—literally, "attachment," such as joins one to another tenderly; "Thou hast been lovingly attached to me from the pit"; pregnant phrase for, Thy love has gone down to the pit, and drawn me out from it. The "pit" is here simply death, in Hezekiah's sense; realized in its fulness only in reference to the soul's redemption from hell by Jesus Christ (Isa 61:1), who went down to the pit for that purpose Himself (Ps 88:4-6; Zec 9:11, 12; Heb 13:20). "Sin" and sickness are connected (Ps 103:3; compare Isa 53:4, with Mt 8:17; 9:5, 6), especially under the Old Testament dispensation of temporal sanctions; but even now, sickness, though not invariably arising from sin in individuals, is connected with it in the general moral view.

cast . . . behind back—consigned my sins to oblivion. The same phrase occurs (1Ki 14:9; Ne 9:26; Ps 50:17). Contrast Ps 90:8, "Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance."