Isaiah 38:21
“For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Healing sometimes uses humble means, applied with faith in God's power.
Context
This is a narrative detail inserted into Hezekiah's song of thanksgiving, reminding the reader that God's healing came through both prophetic word and practical remedy. It may have been included to establish that Hezekiah's recovery was genuine, not merely spiritual.
What Does Isaiah 38:21 Mean?
This verse steps back into the narrative. Isaiah, the prophet, did not only prophesy about Hezekiah's recovery; he also prescribed a remedy. A lump of figs, a poultice, applied to the boil. It is strikingly ordinary. No magical incantation, no secret spell, no elaborate ritual. Just figs. Yet it worked. Hezekiah recovered.
This tells us something important about how God works. He does not despise the ordinary. He does not require us to choose between faith in Him and the use of reason, medicine, or the simple resources at hand. The figs did not heal; God healed. But God used the figs. Faith and practical care are not opposites. They move together. Isaiah, the prophet of God's word, also knew about figs.
In the Original Language
plaister is an obsolete spelling of poultice; figs were known in ancient medicine for their healing properties, and this was likely a folk remedy with real efficacy.
Application
We can trust God while also using the wisdom and means available to us. Prayer and medicine are not in competition. When we are ill or in need, we can both seek God's direction and act wisely with what we have. God honors both faith and reason.