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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 38:18 For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/38-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/23_Isa_38_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 38:18 - Hezekiah's Song of Thanksgiving" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/isaiah/38-18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/isaiah/38-18.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/38.htm">Chapter 38</a> > Verse 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad18.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/isaiah/38-17.htm" title="Isaiah 38:17">◄</a> Isaiah 38:18 <a href="/isaiah/38-19.htm" title="Isaiah 38:19">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/isaiah/38.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/isaiah/38.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/isaiah/38.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those who go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/isaiah/38.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/38.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/isaiah/38.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For the grave cannot praise thee, death can <i>not</i> celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/isaiah/38.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/38.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/38.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/38.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“For Sheol cannot thank Thee, Death cannot praise Thee; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Thy faithfulness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/38.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot keep watch for Your truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/38.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“For Sheol cannot praise <i>or</i> thank You, Death cannot praise You <i>and</i> rejoice in You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/38.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For Sheol cannot thank you; Death cannot praise you. Those who go down to the Pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/38.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who go down to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/38.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For Sheol cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/isaiah/38.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />No one in the world of the dead can thank you or praise you; none of those in the deep pit can hope for you to show them how faithful you are. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/38.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/38.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Sheol doesn't thank you! Death doesn't praise you! Those who go down to the pit cannot expect you to be faithful.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/38.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />No one in the world of the dead can praise you; The dead cannot trust in your faithfulness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/38.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />For Sheol cannot thank you, death cannot sing your praise; and those who go down to the Pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/38.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/38.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Indeed Sheol does not give you thanks; death does not praise you. Those who descend into the pit do not anticipate your faithfulness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/38.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For Sheol can't praise you. And death can't celebrate you. And those who go down into the pit can't hope for your truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/38.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/38.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For Sheol can’t praise you. Death can’t celebrate you. Those who go down into the pit can’t hope for your truth. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/38.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />For Sheol does not confess You, "" Death does not praise You, "" Those going down to the pit do not hope for Your truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/38.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> For Sheol doth not confess Thee, Death doth not praise Thee, Those going down to the pit hope not for Thy truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/38.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For not hades shall praise thee, death celebrate: they going down to the pit shall not hope for thy truth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/38.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />For hell shall not confess to thee, neither shall death praise thee: nor shall they that go down into the pit, look for thy truth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/38.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For Hell will not confess to you, and death will not praise you. Those who descend into the pit will not hope for your truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/38.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For it is not Sheol that gives you thanks, nor death that praises you; Neither do those who go down into the pit await your kindness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/38.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />For Sheol cannot thank you, death cannot praise you; those who go down to the Pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/38.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But the living shall give thanks to thee, as I do this day; the father to the children shall make known thy truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/38.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Because Sheol will not confess you, neither will death praise you, and those that descend into the pit will not hope for your truth<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/38.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />For the nether-world cannot praise Thee, Death cannot celebrate Thee; They that go down into the pit cannot hope for Thy truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/38.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For they that are in the grave shall not praise thee, neither shall the dead bless thee, neither shall they that are in Hades hope for thy mercy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/38-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=8287" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/38.htm">Hezekiah's Song of Thanksgiving</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">17</span>Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back. <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/7585.htm" title="7585: šə·’ō·wl (N-cs) -- Or shol; from sha'al; Hades or the world of the dead, including its accessories and inmates.">Sheol</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">cannot</a> <a href="/hebrew/3034.htm" title="3034: tō·w·ḏe·kā (V-Hifil-Imperf-3fs:: 2mse) -- To throw, cast. ">thank You;</a> <a href="/hebrew/4194.htm" title="4194: mā·weṯ (N-ms) -- Death. From muwth; death; concretely, the dead, their place or state; figuratively, pestilence, ruin.">Death</a> <a href="/hebrew/1984.htm" title="1984: yə·hal·le·kā (V-Piel-Imperf-3ms:: 2mse) -- To shine.">cannot praise You.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3381.htm" title="3381: yō·wr·ḏê- (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- To come or go down, descend. ">Those who descend</a> <a href="/hebrew/953.htm" title="953: ḇō·wr (N-ms) -- A pit, cistern, well. From buwr; a pit hole.">to the Pit</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">cannot</a> <a href="/hebrew/7663.htm" title="7663: yə·śab·bə·rū (V-Piel-Imperf-3mp) -- To scrutinize, to expect. Erroneously shabar; a primitive root; to scrutinize; by implication to expect.">hope</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">for</a> <a href="/hebrew/571.htm" title="571: ’ă·mit·te·ḵā (N-fsc:: 2ms) -- Firmness, faithfulness, truth. Contracted from 'aman; stability; certainty, truth, trustworthiness.">Your faithfulness.</a> </span><span class="reftext">19</span>The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/6-5.htm">Psalm 6:5</a></span><br />For there is no mention of You in death; who can praise You from Sheol?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/30-9.htm">Psalm 30:9</a></span><br />“What gain is there in my bloodshed, in my descent to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/88-10.htm">Psalm 88:10-12</a></span><br />Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? Selah / Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? / Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:5-6</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-10.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:10</a></span><br />Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/7-7.htm">Job 7:7-10</a></span><br />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. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21-22</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/17-13.htm">Job 17:13-16</a></span><br />If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness, / and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’ / where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/115-17.htm">Psalm 115:17</a></span><br />It is not the dead who praise the LORD, nor any who descend into silence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/3-6.htm">Lamentations 3:6</a></span><br />He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/22-32.htm">Matthew 22:32</a></span><br />‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/20-38.htm">Luke 20:38</a></span><br />He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/11-25.htm">John 11:25-26</a></span><br />Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/14-8.htm">Romans 14:8-9</a></span><br />If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. / For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/15-54.htm">1 Corinthians 15:54-57</a></span><br />When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” / “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” / The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For the grave cannot praise you, death can not celebrate you: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for your truth.</p><p class="hdg">the grave</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/6-5.htm">Psalm 6:5</a></b></br> For in death <i>there is</i> no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/30-9.htm">Psalm 30:9</a></b></br> What profit <i>is there</i> in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/88-11.htm">Psalm 88:11</a></b></br> Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? <i>or</i> thy faithfulness in destruction?</p><p class="hdg">they that</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/16-33.htm">Numbers 16:33</a></b></br> They, and all that <i>appertained</i> to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/14-32.htm">Proverbs 14:32</a></b></br> The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/8-12.htm">Matthew 8:12</a></b></br> But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/36-20.htm">Able</a> <a href="/isaiah/30-29.htm">Celebrate</a> <a href="/isaiah/26-13.htm">Confess</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-10.htm">Death</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-3.htm">Faithfulness</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-8.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-10.htm">Grave</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-35.htm">Honour</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-10.htm">Hope</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-10.htm">Nether-World</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-17.htm">Pit</a> <a href="/isaiah/25-1.htm">Praise</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-10.htm">Sheol</a> <a href="/isaiah/35-6.htm">Sing</a> <a href="/isaiah/12-1.htm">Thank</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-3.htm">Truth</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-17.htm">Underworld</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/40-12.htm">Able</a> <a href="/jeremiah/30-19.htm">Celebrate</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-19.htm">Confess</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-19.htm">Death</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-19.htm">Faithfulness</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-27.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/isaiah/53-9.htm">Grave</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-5.htm">Honour</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-31.htm">Hope</a> <a href="/isaiah/57-9.htm">Nether-World</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-1.htm">Pit</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-19.htm">Praise</a> <a href="/isaiah/57-9.htm">Sheol</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-20.htm">Sing</a> <a href="/daniel/2-23.htm">Thank</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-19.htm">Truth</a> <a href="/isaiah/45-19.htm">Underworld</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 38</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/38-1.htm">Hezekiah, having received a message of death, by prayer has his life lengthened</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/38-8.htm">The sun goes ten degrees backward, for a sign of that promise</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/38-9.htm">His song of thanksgiving.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/38.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/isaiah/38.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>For Sheol cannot thank You;</b><br>In the Hebrew Bible, "Sheol" refers to the realm of the dead, a shadowy place where the deceased reside. It is often depicted as a place of silence and inactivity, contrasting with the vibrant life of the living who can actively worship and thank God. The concept of Sheol reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of the afterlife, which was less developed than later Jewish and Christian eschatology. The inability to thank God in Sheol underscores the importance of praising God while alive, as seen in <a href="/psalms/6-5.htm">Psalm 6:5</a>, which similarly states that in death there is no remembrance of God.<p><b>Death cannot praise You.</b><br>Death is personified here, emphasizing its power to silence the living. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, praising God was a central aspect of life, and death was seen as an interruption to this vital activity. This phrase highlights the finality and separation that death brings, a theme echoed in <a href="/psalms/115-17.htm">Psalm 115:17</a>, which states that the dead do not praise the Lord. The emphasis on praising God during one's lifetime is a call to live a life of worship and gratitude.<p><b>Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.</b><br>"The Pit" is another term for the grave or Sheol, reinforcing the idea of a place where the dead reside. In the biblical context, God's faithfulness is often associated with His covenant promises and acts of deliverance. The inability to hope for God's faithfulness in the Pit suggests a separation from the living relationship with God that is possible on earth. This reflects the belief that God's covenantal faithfulness is experienced in the land of the living, as seen in <a href="/psalms/27-13.htm">Psalm 27:13</a>. The phrase serves as a reminder of the urgency to trust and rely on God's faithfulness during one's lifetime.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/h/hezekiah.htm">Hezekiah</a></b><br>The king of Judah who is the central figure in <a href="/bsb/isaiah/38.htm">Isaiah 38</a>. Hezekiah was ill and prayed to God for healing, and God extended his life by 15 years.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/isaiah.htm">Isaiah</a></b><br>The prophet who delivered God's message to Hezekiah, including the promise of healing and the sign of the sun moving backward.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/sheol.htm">Sheol</a></b><br>In Hebrew thought, Sheol is the realm of the dead, a place where the dead reside, often depicted as a shadowy existence.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/d/death.htm">Death</a></b><br>Personified in this verse as an entity that cannot offer praise to God, highlighting the finality and silence associated with it.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_pit.htm">The Pit</a></b><br>Another term for the grave or Sheol, emphasizing the separation from the living and the inability to participate in worship or hope.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_urgency_of_worship.htm">The Urgency of Worship</a></b><br>Life is the time to worship and thank God. We should not take for granted the opportunity to praise God while we are alive.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_death.htm">The Reality of Death</a></b><br>Death is a separation from the earthly realm and its activities, including worship. This should motivate us to live purposefully and in gratitude.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_faithfulness.htm">Hope in God's Faithfulness</a></b><br>While the dead cannot hope for God's faithfulness, the living can. We should actively place our hope in God's promises and faithfulness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_gift_of_life.htm">The Gift of Life</a></b><br>Life is a precious gift from God, and we should use it to glorify Him. Hezekiah's extended life reminds us of God's sovereignty over life and death.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/eternal_perspective.htm">Eternal Perspective</a></b><br>While <a href="/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18</a> reflects an Old Testament view of death, Christians have the hope of eternal life through Christ, which transforms our understanding of death.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_isaiah_38.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 38</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/meaning_of_'the_gates_of_hell_will_not_prevail'.htm">What does 'The Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_grace_present_in_all_life_aspects.htm">Will the covenant with death be annulled?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/end_times__major_revival_coming.htm">What does the Bible say about Death and Hades?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_sheol_and_abaddon_align_today.htm">Proverbs 15:11: How do ancient concepts of Sheol and Abaddon align with modern historical or archaeological findings on the afterlife?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/38.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) <span class= "bld">For the grave . . .</span><span class= "ital">--i.e., Sheol, </span>or <span class= "ital">Hades. </span>We return to the king's thoughts of the dim shadow-world, <span class= "ital">Death and Sheol </span>(joined together, as in <a href="/isaiah/28-15.htm" title="Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing whip shall pass through, it shall not come to us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:">Isaiah 28:15</a>; <a href="/psalms/6-5.htm" title="For in death there is no remembrance of you: in the grave who shall give you thanks?">Psalm 6:5</a>). In that region of dimness there are no psalms of thanksgiving, no loud hallelujahs. The thought of spiritual energies developed and intensified after death is essentially one which belongs to the "illuminated" immortality (<a href="/2_timothy/1-10.htm" title="But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:">2Timothy 1:10</a>), of Christian thought. (Comp. <a href="/psalms/6-5.htm" title="For in death there is no remembrance of you: in the grave who shall give you thanks?">Psalm 6:5</a>; <a href="/psalms/30-9.htm" title="What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise you? shall it declare your truth?">Psalm 30:9</a>; <a href="/context/psalms/88-11.htm" title="Shall your loving kindness be declared in the grave? or your faithfulness in destruction?">Psalm 88:11-12</a>; <a href="/psalms/115-17.htm" title="The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.">Psalm 115:17</a>; <a href="/context/ecclesiastes/9-4.htm" title="For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.">Ecclesiastes 9:4-5</a>; <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-10.htm" title="Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, where you go.">Ecclesiastes 9:10</a>). . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/38.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> <span class="cmt_word">The grave cannot praise thee</span> (cormpare the comment on ver. 11). It is avoiding the plain force of these passages to say that Hezekiah <span class="accented">only means</span> that those who go to Hades in a state of condemnation cannot be expected there to praise God (Kay). He speaks broadly and generally of all: "The living, the living, shall praise thee; <span class="accented">Sheol</span> cannot praise thee; Death cannot celebrate thee." Manifestly, though he believes in a future state, it is one in which there is either no energy at all, or at any rate no devotional energy. He may think, with Isaiah. that "the righteous man," when he is "taken away," will "enter into peace" (<a href="/isaiah/57-1.htm">Isaiah 57:1, 2</a>); but absolute "peace" precludes energy (see Arist., 'Eth. Nit.,' 1. 10. § 2). Hezekiah shrinks from losing all his activities, including his sense of personal communion with God. He does not, perhaps, "look on the condition of the faithful departed as one of <span class="accented">comfortless gloom</span>;" but he views it as one of deprivation, and is unwilling to enter into it. It was by the coming of Christ and the preaching of his gospel that "life and immortality" were first truly "brought to light" (<a href="/2_timothy/1-10.htm">2 Timothy 1:10</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/38-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">For</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Sheol</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁא֛וֹל</span> <span class="translit">(šə·’ō·wl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7585.htm">Strong's 7585: </a> </span><span class="str2">Underworld (place to which people descend at death)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cannot</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">thank You;</span><br /><span class="heb">תּוֹדֶ֖ךָּ</span> <span class="translit">(tō·w·ḏe·kā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3034.htm">Strong's 3034: </a> </span><span class="str2">To throw, at, away, to revere, worship, to bemoan</span><br /><br /><span class="word">death</span><br /><span class="heb">מָ֣וֶת</span> <span class="translit">(mā·weṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4194.htm">Strong's 4194: </a> </span><span class="str2">Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cannot praise You.</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהַלְלֶ֑ךָּ</span> <span class="translit">(yə·hal·le·kā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1984.htm">Strong's 1984: </a> </span><span class="str2">To shine</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Those who go down</span><br /><span class="heb">יֽוֹרְדֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(yō·wr·ḏê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3381.htm">Strong's 3381: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come or go down, descend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the Pit</span><br /><span class="heb">ב֖וֹר</span> <span class="translit">(ḇō·wr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_953.htm">Strong's 953: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pit, cistern, well</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cannot</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹֽא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">hope</span><br /><span class="heb">יְשַׂבְּר֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yə·śab·bə·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7663.htm">Strong's 7663: </a> </span><span class="str2">To scrutinize, to expect</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Your faithfulness.</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·mit·te·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_571.htm">Strong's 571: </a> </span><span class="str2">Stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/38-18.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 38:18 For Sheol can't praise you (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/38-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 38:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 38:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/38-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 38:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 38:19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>